Category: World

Elon Musk called Social Security a “Ponzi Scheme” in a discussion with podcaster Joe Rogan that was released online Friday. And it’s just the latest rhetorical assault by a member of the Trump regime on America’s social safety net as Musk continues to lay off thousands of federal workers and illegally stop payments at several government agencies.

“Social Security is the biggest Ponzi Scheme of all time,” Musk told Rogan, who asked the billionaire to explain.

“Right, so people pay in through Social Security and the money goes out of Social Security immediately but the obligation for Social Security is your entire retirement career,” Musk said, as though he was explaining something scandalous.

“So, you’re paying.. the kind…” Musk said, stammering. “You’re paying. Like, like if you look at the future obligations of Social Security it far exceeds the tax revenue. Far.”

Yes, people who are working now pay for the Social Security that retirees are now enjoying. That’s not a Ponzi Scheme, it’s how most social programs work. The people of the 20th century created a system to ensure that elderly people in the wealthiest country the world has ever known wouldn’t starve to death after they stopped working.

Then Musk pivoted into national debt, asking Rogan, “Have you ever looked at the debt clock,” clearly trying to change the subject into something that sounds more scary than “Social Security is funded by taxpayers like other social programs.”

Musk also claimed that there were 20 million people marked as “alive” in the Social Security database who were actually dead, but didn’t present any evidence that there was widespread fraud occurring. People do try to hide the deaths of loved ones so that they can continue to receive Social Security checks, but those those kinds of investigations are rare and there’s nothing to suggest millions of people are receiving fraudulent payments.

Rogan said it was an “interesting narrative” that Musk shouldn’t be allowed access to the most highly sensitive data at the Social Security office. And Musk insisted that every member of DOGE who had been given access had gone through the proper channels and been vetted properly. Again, like everything that Musk says, there was no evidence presented to prove the people at DOGE had been vetted properly. There has been, however, many reports that staff at DOGE have not received the proper clearances to view the data they’ve viewed. In fact, one story emerged of the DOGE team trying to access a SCIF at the U.S. Treasury.

Source : https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-calls-social-security-a-ponzi-scheme-as-he-destroys-the-u-s-government-2000570350

Donald Trump ‘s recent appearance has yet again evoked speculation about his deteriorating health . The President could be seen limping in the recent video that was taken at an event at the Mar-a-lago. This comes after netizens spotted a peculiar detail during Trump’s meeting with the French President.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited the White House to meet with Donald Trump. People were quick to notice Trump’s “bruised” hand in the photos taken during the official meeting.

The pictures immediately raised alarm amongst the netizens as speculation on the matter started. A user took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to note that the marks on Donald Trump’s hand resemble an IV bruise.

“There are a lot of pics with bandages and bruises. You would think our press would be inquiring about his health,” the same user wrote. A few people also noted that the 78-year-old’s bruised hand looked eerily similar to the Queen of England’s hand.

What raised even more alarm was when someone made a concerning observation about Queen Elizabeth’s bruises. Someone noted that the bruise on the Queen’s hand had started appearing more prominent a week before she passed away.

The recent video that has gained attention has led to rumors about Trump’s health deteriorating. In the clip, Trump walks up on stage to join his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump . The President’s limp was so obvious it was caught on the camera. He can be seen dragging one of his legs behind the other one while he walks up on the stage.

“Trump has DISASTER SUNDAY as he LIMPS AROUND,” read the caption that accompanied the video posted to Reddit. Another clip of the moment was posted to X, where netizens discussed Trump’s evident limp.

“He’s limping?” one user questioned. “Trump is old, pale, weak & limping on his right leg,” another noted while reposting the clip. “There is a definite stagger/limp in Trump’s gait. Is his health failing?” a third questioned.

Another video of the President getting out of a gold cart while he drags his leg has also gained traction on social media. A user in the comments section speculated that the President’s strange stride might be due to a “pulled muscle.” While others were adamant that the limp seemed very permanent.

Several users also noted that Donald Trump’s age was a probably a factor for the strange walk. “Actually, this is what happens when you get old… nothing more,” one user wrote. “Old age. Happens to everyone,” another person defended. “Hes old!! Very old!!” a third added.

Source : https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3837831157866-donald-trump-s-limp-raises-alarms-is-he-hiding-any-serious-health-condition

Two people have died and 11 others have been injured after a car was deliberately rammed into a crowd in the western German city of Mannheim, before the driver shot himself.

Among those hurt, five people are in a serious condition after a black vehicle hit pedestrians on Monday, according to German police and prosecutors.

At a news conference, reporters were told the driver intentionally rammed his car into people and is being investigated for murder and attempted murder.

They said the man shot himself in the mouth when he was arrested and is in a stable condition in hospital. Investigators are examining the possibility he may have psychological issues.

The state’s interior minister Thomas Strobl said a 40-year-old man from the nearby state of Rhineland-Palatinate had been detained.

“As far as the specific motivation of the crime is concerned, we have no indication of an extremist or religious background at the moment,” he said.

Police spokesperson Stefan Wilhelm said the incident unfolded on Monday at around 12.15pm local time in a pedestrianised part of Mannheim’s Paradeplatz area.

Armed police and forensic investigators were seen examining a black vehicle with smashed windows near the city’s Rhine bridge.

Local officials added that the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) would be leading the investigation in cooperation with the Mannheim Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Police initially described the incident as “a life-threatening deployment situation” in Mannheim, in the area of Wasserturm/Plankenkopf.

An alert was issued on the Katwarn smartphone app – used in major emergencies – telling people in Mannheim to avoid the city centre due to a big police deployment.

Earlier Mannheim University Hospital said it was prepared for a possible “mass casualty incident”, implementing its disaster and emergency plan, and increasing intensive care capacity, according to German news agency DPA.

A total of eight trauma teams have been made available – for both adults and children, according to the agency.

“Postponable operations that had not yet begun were immediately removed from the operation plan in order to create additional operating capacity,” the hospital said in a statement.

Crowds have been gathering in cities across Germany, including its Rhineland region, for parades to mark the country’s carnival season.

Police were on high alert after social media accounts connected to Islamic extremist groups called for attacks on events planned in Cologne and Nuremberg.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/two-dead-11-injured-in-germany-as-driver-rams-into-crowds-then-shoots-himself-13320770

While she may not have taken home the Oscar, Demi Moore is still thankful for the “ride of lifetime” following her unexpected Best Actress loss Sunday night to Anora star Mikey Madison.

Moore made her first public statement following the ceremony Monday, congratulating Madison and thanking her colleagues for the opportunity to star in Coralie Fargeat’s gender-charged body-horror The Substance, which provided the longtime A-lister with a career resurgence at the age of 62.

“As this awards season comes to a close, I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for this journey. It’s been the ride of a lifetime and we’re just getting started!” she wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you to the cast, crew, and fans of @trythesubstance — @isimostar and @coralie_fargeat it’s been such an honor to work alongside you, learn from you, and celebrate this film with you,” the actress continued. “And a huge congratulations to #MikeyMadison — can’t wait to see what you do next,” she concluded along with a red-heart emoji.

Moore was on a winning streak this awards season, collecting accolades at the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards. Her near-perfect run led many to believe that she was a shoo-in for the Oscar, but Anora’s stunning (and for some, surprising) sweep Sunday put an end to those chances.

While many screamed snub on social media, others noted the pointed parallels between Moore’s loss and The Substance’s own plot.

A first-time Oscar nominee and first-time winner, Madison starred in Sean Baker’s Anora—a whirlwind slice-of-life portrayal of a sex worker’s harried love affair with a Russian oligarch’s son—that largely reigned Sunday night.

Source : https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/demi-moore-breaks-her-silence-on-surprise-oscars-loss/

Legendary Polish anti-Communist Lech Wałęsa has slammed Donald Trump’s Oval Office attack on Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, comparing it to Soviet secret police tactics.

Wałęsa, 81, signed a letter along with 38 other Poles who had been held captive by the Communist regime, telling Trump that the Friday spectacle filled them “with horror and distaste.”

The former Polish president previously revealed that he met Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2010, and attached a photo of the two of them to the letter, which he posted on Facebook on Monday.

The letter was signed by Wałęsa and 38 former Polish political prisoners, who said “the atmosphere in the Oval Office” reminded them of “Security Service interrogations and from the courtrooms in communist courts.”

“Prosecutors and judges, commissioned by the omnipotent communist political police, also explained to us that they had all the cards in their hands, and we had none,” they write in the letter, referencing President Donald Trump’s comment that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was not in a position to negotiate.

“You don’t have the cards right now,” he told Zelensky during their tense Oval Office meeting.

Wałęsa’s and the other signatories said they were “shocked” by Trump treatment of Zelensky, drawing parallels between the meeting and their own experiences under Poland’s former communist regime. In particular, they condemned Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s demands that Zelensky express more gratitude for the material assistance the U.S. has given Ukraine while it defends itself against Russia’s invasion, calling it “insulting.”

“Gratitude is due to the heroic Ukrainian soldiers who shed blood in defense of the values of the free world. They are the ones who have been dying on the front lines,” they said. “We do not understand how the leader of a country that is the symbol of the free world cannot see it.”

Wałęsa was a founder of Poland’s pro-democracy Solidarity movement when he was a shipyard worker in the port city of Gdansk. When martial law was declared in 1981, he was imprisoned for 11 months. In 1989, he negotiated with the Moscow-backed communist regime for Poland to hold parliamentary elections, which eventually led to the peaceful ouster of communism from Poland.

Source : https://www.thedailybeast.com/cold-war-hero-lech-walesa-writes-angry-letter-to-trump-after-his-attack-on-zelensky/

DOLLY Parton’s husband Carl Dean has died aged 82.

The country icon confirmed the news through a heartbreaking tribute, after nearly 60 years of marriage.

Another mystery disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has emerged, resulting in at least 60 deaths, health officials say.

It follows a similar event in September 2024, referred to as “Disease X” before the World Health Organization (WHO) identified it as a cocktail of several known acute respiratory illnesses complicated by malaria and malnutrition.

These new outbreaks could have similar origins, but it will likely take time to determine exactly what the cause is.

Toxic contamination is also considered a possible cause.

What is the current situation in the DR Congo?

More than 1,000 cases have been reported across the DR Congo’s Equateur province and 141 cases of a disease have been reported in Basankusu’s health zone. A separate outbreak in early February consisted of 158 cases and 58 deaths.

In January, Bolamba village reported 12 cases and eight deaths.

What have initial tests shown?

Health authorities in the DR Congo and WHO experts are carrying out investigations to determine the cause of the illness and deaths.

Early lab tests ruled out Ebola and Marburg disease. Half of those tested have tested positive for malaria.

“We’re not really satisfied with the sampling, so we’ve sent two WHO epidemiologists up there,” Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, told DW News.

“They’re up there now and they’re overseeing the sampling and getting them back to the laboratories in [DR Congo’s capital] Kinshasa.”

Further testing is being undertaken for meningitis and potential toxic contamination.

WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan, along with local health authorities, favor the latter as a cause.

“It would appear that we have some kind of poisoning event,” Ryan told reporters.

Do officials know the source of the outbreak?

The cause of the disease — and whether the illnesses in different regions are connected — remains unknown.

Early reports suggested the first cases were among a group of children who may have eaten a bat, though this incident is not yet confirmed as the cause of the outbreak.

Bats are known reservoirs of viruses and other disease-causing pathogens. Global health advice recommends people steer clear of exposure to dead animals.

Although the main outbreak villages of Basankusu and Bolomba are 116 miles (186 kilometers) apart, it’s unclear if the disease outbreaks share the same cause.

What are the symptoms of the mystery disease?

The WHO’s latest memo says symptoms are broad, and include fever, headaches, chills, sweating, stiffness in the neck, muscular aches, joint and body pain, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea.

The broadness of these symptoms and their potential to apply to many diseases makes it impossible to pinpoint the cause without analysis of biological samples from patients.

Some health experts believe the mystery disease is likely caused by several known pathogens acting together.

That malaria has been found in one in two cases already is important information for health authorities, but the addition of further sampling and analysis by WHO officials in conjunction with local teams will help narrow the search for a cause.

“Tests are never 100% accurate, and it is likely that with increased testing, we will have a confirmed pathogen in some of those samples,” said Michael Head, an epidemiologist at the University of Southampton, UK.

Could the disease spread further?

Health infrastructure in this region of the DR Congo is limited, and there are concerns that the disease could spread. As with the malaria-respiratory infections that caused the 2024 outbreak, malnutrition and other underlying conditions can increase the chances of death.

Local health authorities have been addressing Mpox and Ebola outbreaks in recent years, so Head suggests the challenges of limited infrastructure to manage new diseases can be offset by their “experience at addressing infectious disease epidemics.”

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/another-mystery-disease-outbreak-in-dr-congo-what-we-know/a-71783032

Andrew Cuomo announced on Saturday he is running to become mayor of New York City, more than three years after he resigned in disgrace as governor of New York after being accused of sexually harassing a number of women who worked for him and misleading the public about COVID-19 deaths.
Cuomo, 67, denies the allegations. He is among the most well-known of a number of candidates challenging embattled Mayor Eric Adams to become the Democratic Party’s nominee in the primary election in June.

“I know what needs to be done and I know how to do it,” Cuomo said in a video message, saying the city needs a bold plan to address crime, mental illness and other concerns, and calling for a permanent increase in police numbers and the construction of thousands of affordable homes.
Adams is seeking a second term even as he faces calls to resign by senior Democrats after he was indicted last year on corruption charges and then courted U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, as he seeks to have the indictment dismissed. Adams, 64, has pleaded not guilty.

Cuomo entered politics in the 1980s helping his father, Mario Cuomo, win three terms as New York governor, an office he himself won in 2010. He also served in President Bill Clinton’s cabinet as U.S. housing secretary, and, before becoming governor, served a term as New York’s attorney general.
As governor, Cuomo signed bills legalizing same-sex marriage and recreational marijuana, and in New York City he oversaw an expansion of Pennsylvania Station and an overhaul of LaGuardia Airport.
He was known for making daily public briefings in the early days of the COVID pandemic, which killed thousands of New Yorkers, but his response to the crisis became the beginning of his political downfall.
In an audit, New York state’s comptroller found Cuomo’s administration had pressured the Health Department to deliberately undercount, COVID deaths of state nursing home residents. Cuomo had signed a $5.1 million deal for a book about his leadership during the pandemic, but the state ethics board revoked its approval after saying Cuomo wrongly used state employees and resources to write it. Cuomo has said he did nothing wrong or unethical, and has sued the ethics board, which has sought the $5.1 million from him, in litigation that continues.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/andrew-cuomo-running-new-york-city-mayor-after-resigning-governor-post-2025-03-01/

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his priority in talks with King Charles on Monday will be protecting his country’s sovereignty after U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state.
Trudeau said nothing is more important to his citizens than “standing up for our sovereignty and our independence”, ahead of the meeting with Charles, who is Canada’s head of state.

Last week, Charles invited Trump to what would be a historic second state visit to Britain, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer handing over the invitation during a meeting before the world’s media in the Oval Office.

“I look forward to sitting down with His Majesty tomorrow, as always we will discuss matters of importance to Canada and Canadians, and I can tell you that nothing seems more important to Canadians than standing up for our sovereignty and our independence as a nation,” Trudeau told reporters.

Trudeau, the outgoing prime minister, said last month that Trump’s talk about absorbing Canada “is a real thing” and is linked to the country’s rich natural resources.
Trump has repeatedly suggested Canada would be better off if it agreed to become the 51st U.S. state.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/canada-pm-trudeau-says-protecting-independence-is-his-priority-talks-with-king-2025-03-02/

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Sunday European leaders had agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to present to the United States, a vital step for Washington to be able to offer security guarantees that Kyiv says are essential to deter Russia.
At a summit in London just two days after Volodymyr Zelenskiy clashed with U.S. President Donald Trump and cut short a visit to Washington, European leaders offered a strong show of support to the Ukrainian president and promised to do more to help his nation.

European leaders agreed they must spend more on defence to show Trump the continent can protect itself, and the European Commission chief suggested the bloc could ease rules that limit debt levels.
Starmer, who welcomed a visibly shaken Zelenskiy on Saturday with a warm hug, said Britain, Ukraine, France and some other nations would form a “coalition of the willing” and draw up a peace plan to take to Trump.
“This is not a moment for more talk. It’s time to act. Time to step up and lead and to unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace,” Starmer said.

Leaders did not provide details of their plan. Before the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron told newspaper Le Figaro that the plan would involve a one-month ceasefire that would apply to air and sea attacks but not to ground combat.
European troops would be deployed if a more substantial peace agreement was reached, he said. It was not clear whether other nations had agreed to the terms.
Zelenskiy said after the meeting that he left London with “Europe’s clear support” and readiness to cooperate.
“There will be diplomacy for the sake of peace,” he said in his nightly video address. “And for the sake of us all being together – Ukraine, all of Europe and definitely, definitely America.”
Earlier, Zelenskiy told reporters that Ukraine would not cede any territory to Russia as part of a peace agreement and said he was still willing to sign a minerals deal with the United States.

Zelenskiy said he believed he could salvage his relationship with Trump after Friday’s shouting match, but that talks would have to take place behind closed doors.
“The format of what happened, I don’t think it brought something positive or additional to us as partners,” he said.
Europe is scrambling to ensure that Kyiv is not squeezed out of any talks after the Oval Office clash raised fears that the U.S. could pull support for Ukraine and impose a peace plan negotiated with Russia.
Several European leaders said they must increase defence spending – something that could help bring Trump on side to offer a U.S. security guarantee in the event of peace.
“After a long time of underinvestment, it is now of utmost importance to step up the defence investment for a prolonged period of time,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, told reporters.
Europe needs to turn “Ukraine into a steel porcupine that is indigestible for potential invaders,” she said.

LACKING WEAPONRY, STOCKS

Europe, which lacks the weaponry and depth of ammunition stocks of the U.S., hopes to convince Trump that it can defend itself but that Russia will only adhere to a peace deal if it comes with the backing of the United States.
Talks with the U.S. have centred on Washington providing a so-called backstop for a European peacekeeping role, possibly in the form of air cover, intelligence and surveillance and a greater but unspecified threat if Russian President Vladimir Putin again sought to take more territory.
Crucial to getting any agreement from Trump is for European nations to increase defence spending and signal they would take part in any peacekeeping role – something Starmer acknowledged was difficult to get unanimity on.
Starmer increased the UK’s defence spending before his visit to Washington last week, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said some European leaders had privately set out new plans on defence spending at the meeting but he declined to give details.

‘UNCOMFORTABLE VIEWING’

Oversharing. Trauma-dumping. Floodlighting. It’s all the same—at least to me. But apparently, some of these behaviors might be driven by harmful intentions.

In the media, we constantly hear new buzzwords labeling “toxic” patterns that oftentimes just point to us being, well, humans. However, whether consciously or not, these actions can be manipulative in nature.

“Floodlighting,” in particular, is a recent example of this, which is gaining traction online.

According to Brené Brown, author of The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connections and Courage, floodlight occurs when we share too much information about ourselves and our lives in an attempt to protect ourselves from real vulnerability.

“Oversharing? Not vulnerability,” she said. “I call it floodlighting.”

Is Floodlighting Dangerous?

However, a dating app expert shared the darker side of this behavior.

“Floodlighting in dating is about using vulnerability as a high-intensity spotlight,” Jessica Alderson, co-founder of the dating app So Synced, told Glamour. “It involves sharing a lot of personal details all at once — to test the waters, speed up intimacy, or see if the other person can ‘handle’ these parts of you.”

On one hand, I view this as some sort of reassurance-seeking compulsion rather than an intentionally manipulative tactic. On the other hand, I can see some people using it as a way to force or rush intimacy with another person.

According to Alderson, some signs of floodlighting include quick and early disclosure of detailed personal information, an unbalanced exchange of said information, a fast and intense emotional connection, and a close analysis of reactions to shared information.

For example, say you meet someone from a dating app and grab drinks a few days after connecting. On the date, you begin to talk about your childhood, sharing details about your parents’ divorce and other traumas. You then drain on about how this impacts you today, e.g. makes you doubt love and loyalty, causes insecurities in dating, etc. All the while, you’re closely reading the other person’s reactions to determine whether they can “handle” you, testing their boundaries and how much they’re willing to accept.

Source : https://www.vice.com/en/article/floodlighting-is-the-new-toxic-dating-trend/

YouTuber Asmita Patel’s mission was to “make India trade”.

The wildly popular financial influencer called herself the “She-Wolf of the stock market” – her take on the Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street. At last count, she had clocked upwards of half a million subscribers on YouTube and hundreds of thousands on Instagram. Fees for her stock trading courses ran into thousands of rupees.

Last month, the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) put a spanner in the works. It barred her and six others from trading, alleging she was selling illegal stock tips disguised as investor education and making millions of rupees in the bargain.

The regulator’s crackdown on Patel is its latest attempt to tighten the noose around social media influencers offering quick money schemes and trading advice disguised as education.

India’s post-pandemic market boom attracted a wave of new mom-and-pop investors. Online trading accounts grew from merely 36 million in 2019 to more than 150 million last year, data from the brokerage Zerodha shows.

Many of these first-time market entrants relied on social media for trading tips which, in turn, birthed a new breed of self-styled “investment gurus” or “financial influencers” like Ms Patel, promising quick money.

With only 950 registered investment advisors and 1,400 financial advisors in the country, these influencers quickly filled the void, amassing hundreds of thousands of subscribers and followers.

Most operated without regulatory registration, blurring the line between investment advice and stock market education. This prompted Sebi to crack down, banning at least a dozen influencers, including a Bollywood actor, from offering trading advice.

The regulator has also barred brokerages and market players from partnering with influencers who peddle illegal stock tips or make misleading return claims.

The regulator found Ms Patel and her husband, Jitesh, directing students and investors to trade specific stocks through their advisory firm. She allegedly used private Telegram channels, Zoom calls and courses to sell tips without mandatory registration.

Sebi acted in Ms Patel’s case after 42 participants complained of trading losses and demanded compensation. It is now moving to seize millions of rupees that Patel and her associates earned from course fees between 2021 and 2024.

As markets correct, the economy slows and regulators crack down, other influencers face a credibility test.

Thousands of angry investors have recently accused high-profile influencers of faking their success to sell trading courses and earn millions in brokerage referrals.

Sebi’s order in Ms Patel’s case too revealed she made just over $13,700 (£10,800) as trading profits in the past five years but earned more than $11.4m (£9m) by selling courses.

Ms Patel didn’t respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

While Sebi’s drive to protect small investors is well intentioned, its recent regulatory actions have drawn criticism for being delayed and lacking clarity.

The regulator has been both a “selective” and “reluctant regulator”, Sucheta Dalal, veteran financial journalist and author, told the BBC.

“It should have acted a few years ago when trading sites started paying influencers to promote their products. Now this phenomenon has become too big.”

Sumit Agrawal, a former officer with Sebi, says the regulator singled out a few as an example instead of enforcing a clear, comprehensive policy.

“Curbing unregulated stock tips is necessary, but requiring trading schools to use three-month-old data for educational purposes and not teaching practical experience of trading strategies on live market crosses into over-regulation,” he says.

Manish Singh, a chartered accountant and YouTuber with half a million followers, makes market analysis videos. He says Sebi’s new rules have created confusion over what’s allowed.

“Even genuine content creators who are trying to guide people in the right direction will lose subscribers and the monetary incentive of brand deals as confidence to work with creators is shaken,” Singh told the BBC.

Balancing this will be tough for the regulator, says Mr Agrawal.

Technology is inherently disruptive and the law is always “playing catch-up”. Sebi’s real challenge, he adds, is to monitor online content effectively without over-regulating. Notably, the Indian regulator wields broader powers than its counterparts in advanced markets like the US.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddyye3zplno

Mixue Ice Cream and Tea may be unfamiliar to many of us but the Chinese firm has more outlets than McDonald’s and Starbucks.

On Monday, the bubble tea chain’s shares jumped by 40% as they started trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The company raised $444m (£352m) in the financial hub’s biggest initial public offering (IPO) of the year.

Mixue’s popularity comes as many people in China are grappling with the country’s economic challenges – including a property crisis, and weak consumer and business confidence. It sells ice creams and drinks for an average of six Chinese yuan ($0.82; £0.65).

The company was founded in 1997 by Zhang Hongchao, a student at Henan University of Finance and Economics, as a part time job to help his family’s finances.

Its full name Mìxuě Bīngchéng means “honey snow ice city”, with its stores adorned with its Snow King mascot and playing the firm’s official theme tune on a loop.

According to Mixue, it has more than 45,000 stores across China and 11 other countries, including Singapore and Thailand. The firm has also said it plans to continue expanding.

That compares to “over 43,000 locations” for McDonald’s and Starbucks’ 40,576 outlets.

While it is often seen as China’s biggest bubble tea, iced drinks, and ice cream chain, it operates more like a raw-materials supplier than a traditional brand.

Unlike Starbucks, which operates more than half of its stores directly, almost all of Mixue’s outlets are run by franchisees.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c625n63epyzo

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is “exchangeable” for Ukrainian membership of NATO, indicating he would be prepared to step down as president if his country was allowed to join the military alliance.

He also suggested he was ready to sign a minerals deal with the US that was put on hold after his heated meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Friday.

Mr Zelenskyy was speaking to reporters on Sunday evening after earlier talks with other world leaders at a London summit hosted by Sir Keir Starmer, who suggested a coalition of European allies could step up to defend Ukraine and “guarantee the peace”.

Asked by Sky News’ lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim about his previous comments that he could resign in the event that his country becomes a NATO member, he said: “I am exchangeable for NATO.”

The Ukraine president added: “I have said that I am exchanging for NATO membership, then it means I have fulfilled my mission. NATO means I have fulfilled my mission.”

But, he also said: “To change me, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would need to prevent me from participating. And it will be a bit more difficult.”

As the three-year full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine rages on, Mr Zelenskyy has also rebuffed US officials calling for him to resign.

His comments at Stansted Airport come after Republicans including senator Lindsay Graham and speaker Mike Johnson suggested he should step down from his position following the fiery White House exchange with President Trump.

Mr Zelenskyy spoke to journalists shortly before leaving the UK on Sunday evening.

In response to a question from Yalda Hakim, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I can give [Lindsay Graham] citizenship of Ukraine and he will become a citizen of our country.

“And then his voice will start to gain weight, and I will hear him as a citizen of Ukraine on the topic of who must be the president.”

“The president of Ukraine will have to be chosen not in Lindsay Graham’s home but in Ukraine,” he added.

Mr Zelenskyy confirmed there has been communication between Ukraine and the Trump administration since the clash on Friday, but “not on my level”.

Mr Graham – a Republican senator and close Trump ally – labelled the meeting a “complete, utter disaster” at a press briefing on Friday.

Asked whether Mr Zelenskyy should step aside, he said: “He either needs to resign or send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”

After the London summit on Sunday, the prime minister unveiled a four-step plan discussed by leaders, including a pledge to “develop a coalition of the willing” to defend a deal in Ukraine and guarantee a peace settlement.

Sir Keir said Europe “must do the heavy lifting”, and the UK “is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others”.

He also announced a new deal which will allow Ukraine to use £1.6bn of UK export finance to buy 5,000 more air defence missiles.

Zelenskyy’s meeting with the King

The Ukrainian president’s 90-minute sit down with the media came shortly after he wrapped up a tough week with a visit to see the King at Sandringham.

Mr Zelenskyy flew to Norfolk in a helicopter on Sunday afternoon after attending the security summit in central London.

People – some holding Ukraine flags – gathered outside Sandringham to try to witness his arrival. A military helicopter could be seen flying low before descending over the estate.

Pictures released after the meeting show Charles and Mr Zelenskyy shaking hands by the entrance to the royal home. The pair chatted briefly before heading inside, where they posed for more photographs.

Their meeting lasted just under an hour, Sky News understands.

A difficult week for Ukrainian president

Mr Zelenskyy’s difficult few days began on Friday, when his day at the White House with Mr Trump was cut short after their meeting in the Oval Office descended into a shouting match.

The pair had been due to sign a minerals deal and hold a joint press conference – but both events were called off after their tense exchange, fuelled in part by comments from vice president JD Vance.

As White House officials scrapped the day’s schedule, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/zelenskyy-tells-sky-news-i-am-exchangeable-for-nato-membership-after-pm-announces-missile-plan-for-ukraine-13320559

Hamas has rejected an Israeli request to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, a senior official has said.

The militant group will only release the remaining Israeli hostages under the terms of the already agreed-upon phased deal, Mahmoud Mardawi told Al Jazeera on Sunday.

Under a plan put forward by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel has accepted, the first phase of the ceasefire deal would continue through Ramadan and Passover, or until 20 April.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier Israel would stop all goods and supplies into Gaza after claiming Hamas was refusing to “accept the Witkoff outline for continuing the talks, which Israel agreed to”.

Hamas condemned the decision to block aid to the enclave, calling it “a war crime and a blatant attack” on a truce that took a year of negotiations before taking hold in January.

The foreign minister of Egypt, a key mediator in the conflict, said Israel’s actions were an attempt to use “starvation as a weapon” and “a flagrant and clear violation of humanitarian law”.

Saudi Arabia called Israel’s decision “a tool of extortion”.

The first phase of the ceasefire, which expired on Saturday, saw a surge in humanitarian aid after months of growing hunger.

Negotiations on the second phase were meant to start a month ago but haven’t begun.

Israel warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas refused to agree to its proposal.

Under the US proposal, Hamas would release half the hostages on the first day and the rest when an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire, Mr Netanyahu said.

Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 35 of them believed to be dead, after taking an estimated 250 people captive back to Gaza after its 7 October 2023 raid on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed.

Israel’s military counter-offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population and destroyed the territory’s infrastructure and health system.

Washington made no immediate comment but Mr Netanyahu said Israel is fully coordinated with the Trump administration and the ceasefire will only continue as long as Hamas keeps releasing hostages.

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned that “any unraveling of the forward momentum created over the last six weeks risks plunging people back into despair”.

The ceasefire has saved countless lives, the humanitarian organisation said.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called Israel’s decision “alarming,” noting that aid access is enshrined in international humanitarian law.

Most of Gaza’s two million-plus residents depend on international aid because of the privations caused by the war.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/hamas-rejects-israeli-request-to-extend-first-phase-of-gaza-ceasefire-deal-13320519

TikTok, Reddit and Imgur are to be investigated by the UK’s data protection watchdog over how they use teenage users’ personal information.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said it wants to look into how video-sharing app TikTok uses information from users aged 13 to 17 to deliver content recommendations to them.

The investigations into online forum site Reddit and image-sharing site Imgur will focus on their use of age assurance measures, such as how they estimate and verify children’s ages, and how they use their personal information.

The regulator is taking action amid growing concerns about how social media platforms use data generated by children’s online activity in their recommendation algorithms – and the potential for young people to be served harmful or inappropriate content as a result.

TikTok’s algorithm powers the For You Page, which recommends videos to users based on the content they engage with on the app.

A study previously found the app was suggesting eating disorder and self-harm content to some new teen accounts within minutes.

Information commissioner John Edwards said the regulator wants to ensure the sites’ processes are “robust”.

Mr Edwards said he expects “to find that there will be many benign and positive uses of children’s data in their recommender systems”, as well as “elements that are designed to keep children safe”.

“What I am concerned about is whether they are sufficiently robust to prevent children being exposed to harm, either from addictive practices on the device or the platform, or from content that they see, or from other unhealthy practices,” he continued.

He insisted the regular is not “picking on TikTok” by including it in the investigation and said the choice was motivated by “the direction of growth travel in relation to young users, market dominance and potential for harm”.

“We’ve got to choose one – we can’t spread ourselves too thinly,” he said. “We hope to learn lessons that the whole industry will be able to adopt.”

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/tiktok-and-reddit-investigated-over-use-of-childrens-data-13320288

Anora has dominated the Academy Awards, winning five gongs including best picture.

The film’s star, Mikey Madison, took home the best actress award – something of a suprise win, with many expecting Demi Moore to scoop the prize for her performance in The Substance.

Anora filmmaker Sean Baker was also named best director, and used his acceptance speech to make a plea for audiences to support cinemas, which he said were “a vital part of our culture” and at risk of being lost.

Both also thanked the sex workers in the industry, without the help of whom they said they could never have made the film.

Anora also won the Oscars for best original screenplay and best editing.

Winning all four awards he was up for, Baker tied with Walt Disney’s record for the most Oscar wins by a single person in a single night – although Disney won his awards for multiple films, rather than a single film as Baker has done.

Adrien Brody won the best actor Oscar for playing Hungarian architect Lazlo Toth in architectural epic The Brutalist.

It’s his second Academy Award win in the category some 22 years after his first, for The Pianist back in 2003.

Accepting his award in a lengthy speech, he paid tribute to his partner Georgina Chapman, Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife, who he said had “re-invigorated” his “self-worth” and “sense of value”, as well as calling for an end to antisemitism.

Best cinematography also went to Brady Corbet’s three-and-a-half-hour epic, as well as a win for best original score.

Papal thriller Conclave took just one prize, for best adapted screenplay.

The night was led by comedian and late-night chat host Conan O’Brien.

Kieran Culkin took the first award of the night, best supporting actor, for his role in comedy drama A Real Pain.

Costume Design was awarded to Wicked’s Paul Tazewell – the first black man to ever receive the award. The Wizard Of Oz prequel also won best production design.

Best supporting actress was won by Zoe Saldana, her first Oscar win and nomination.

One of the highest-grossing actresses ever, she cried out: “Mommy, mommy,” explaining her entire family was there with her, becoming tearful at the end of her speech as she spoke of being “a proud child of immigrant parents”.

First American of Dominican origin to win an Oscar, she finished by dedicating it to her grandmother, who came to the US in 1961, fleeing dictatorship in her country.

Announced by Mick Jagger, best song went to Emilia Perez’s El Mal (which translates as “Evil”).

Brazilian director Walter Salles won best international feature for Portuguese-language film I’m Still Here, set in the 1970s in the midst of the Brazil’s brutal military dictatorship.

A word-of-mouth hit, the film’s Brazilian star Fernanda Torres has gone from an unknown to a much-talked-about actress in the US over the last month.

Make-up and hairstyling was awarded to body horror The Substance, a film which showcased extreme prosthetics, make up and gore throughout. It was the film’s only win of the night.

The documentary categories went to The Only Girl In The Orchestra and No Other Land – made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective – for short film and feature film respectively.

Accepting the prize, it’s makers Basel Dra and Yuval Abraham, made a political plea to the US: “The foreign policy in this country is helping to block [the path of peace]. Why? Can’t you see that we are intertwined? There is another way. It’s not too late for life, for the living.”

Best sound and best visual effects went to Dune: Part Two, directed by Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve.

A night where independent and unusual filmmaking was rewarded, best animated feature went to Latvian computer-generated film Flow, while best animated short film was won by Iranian entry The Shadow Of The Cypress. Both international productions are dialogue-free.

Live action short film went to I’m Not A Robot, a study in an AI-fueled identity crisis.

During the ceremony’s in memoriam section, Morgan Freeman paid tribute to two-time Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, who was found dead in his home along with his wife and dog earlier this week.

A video montage honoured Academy members who have passed away over the last year, including British stars Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Joan Plowwright and Donald Sutherland, and US performers James Earl Jones, Kris Kristofferson and David Lynch.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/anora-sweeps-the-oscars-with-five-awards-including-best-picture-13320599

On 7 November 2024, days after Donald Trump was elected president, Andrew Tate posted a prediction on X.

In response to a tweet asking what could come next, he replied: “My case being dismissed. Watch this space 😉”.

Then, on 12 February, he posted again. “The Tates will be free, Trump is the president. The good old days are back,” read the post.

Two weeks later, on 27 February, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan arrived at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from Bucharest, Romania, after a Romanian court ruled they could leave the country. The brothers had been barred from travelling for over two years over criminal investigations.

Mr Trump denies knowing about the lifted travel ban, but an analysis of links on social media shows deepening ties between Andrew Tate and several people close to the US president.

The 38-year-old former kickboxer and his brother, both dual US-UK nationals who face criminal civil proceedings in Britain and the US and deny all allegations against them, haven’t been shy about their support for Mr Trump.

Speaking to the media outside a courthouse in Romania in January, Tate said: “Donald Trump is the future of the western world, everybody knows it, and everybody needs to get in line and obey him. He runs the world. He’s a good friend of mine and I’m going to help him.”

Key members of the Trump administration have been vocal in their support of the alleged human trafficker and sex offender online, an alliance that experts say could benefit both sides.

“In the political climate, Tate should serve as a valuable influencer for political movements. And he’s got a huge ability to mobilise large online followings, and that’s a big potential political asset,” said social media consultant Matt Navarra.

“Social media is the new battleground and influencers are the new generals and Tate is perfectly aligned to Trump’s mission.”

Mr Trump himself hasn’t openly spoken out in support of the Tates, and denies having any knowledge about the brothers’ return to the US. “I know nothing about that,” he said in a press conference during a visit by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

But some of his closest advisors have been vocal in their support of the Tates. This includes Elon Musk, who in January responded to a video of Andrew Tate talking about running for prime minister of the UK, commenting, “he’s not wrong”.

Musk was responsible for reinstating Tate’s X account after he bought the platform in 2022. Tate now has nearly 11 million followers on X.

Another recent endorsement came from Alina Habba, a counselor to the president and previous legal spokesperson for Mr Trump.

On 12 January this year she spoke to Tate on The Benny Show podcast – saying she was a “big fan” and telling him “I got your back over here”.

In response, Mr Tate replied: “If I ever get back state side, and I think I will sooner or later, if I ever need a lawyer I’ll be calling your phone.”

But this support isn’t new. The president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, has long been a fan of Andrew Tate. The two met at Trump Tower in New York in 2017, and in May 2023 he showed his support in a post on X where Tate vented about his house arrest – calling it “absolute insanity”.

Paul Ingrassia, the newly appointed White House liaison for the Department of Justice, was one of the lawyers Andrew Tate hired to fight his human trafficking case. He’s often praised Tate, posting his support publicly on X.

Dan Bongino, the Trump-appointed deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has promoted Tate’s account on Rumble – one of the few social video platforms where Tate isn’t banned.

Now, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are back in Florida, after a Romanian court ruled they could leave the country.

This decision came soon after Richard Grenell, a special envoy for the U.S. and a close ally of Trump, urged Romanian officials to lift travel restrictions on the brothers, according to a report by the Financial Times.

Mr Grenell had spoken to Romania’s foreign minister, Emil Hurezeanu, at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month.

After the Tates left Romania for Florida, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu denied that the country faced any pressure from the US.

The Tate brothers both face a series of criminal charges in Romania, including human trafficking, sexual misconduct and money laundering, which they deny, and are fighting a series of legal battles in the UK and the US.

Mr Grenell seems aligned with some of the Tates’ thinking too. At the start of February, he joined a conversation on X started by Tristan Tate.

Tate mused about whether any USAID money had gone into supporting legal investigations in Romania, a thought which suggests his suspicions that American government funding was being used in the case against him.

Mr Grenell weighed in, saying: “USAID programs were weaponized against people and politicians who weren’t woke.”

But not all members of the Trump administration are pro-Tate.

Some close to Trump have been vocal in their dislike of him. Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s deputy assistant and senior director for counter terrorism, has called Tate “scum” and a “pervert”, and posted multiple mocking posts about him on X.

Vice president JD Vance has kept relatively quiet in speaking directly about Andrew Tate. But the two have voiced similar views about women’s rights in the recent past.

In a 2021 Fox News interview, Vance complained the US was being run by Democrats, corporate oligarchs and “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too”.

This echoes comments by Tate, who was recorded on the Fresh and Fit podcast in 2022 saying “life without children […] is inane and it’s pointless,” going on to say: “If you sit here and genuinely think you’re going to work your ass off through your fertile years and by the age of 54, you’re not going to be suicidal, alone with a cat, then you are dumb.”

“The cultural narrative is a common thread for both sides positioning themselves as defenders of traditional values,” said Matt Navarra, the social media expert.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/the-tates-and-trumps-inner-circle-how-the-deepening-ties-led-to-controversial-influencers-flying-to-freedom-13318676

THE Academy Awards ceremony has paid tribute to Hollywood legend Gene Hackman as his former co-star Morgan Freeman mourns his late dear friend.

Gene, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, along with one of their dogs, were found dead in their New Mexico home on Wednesday.

The unusual circumstances have forced the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office to rule the death as “suspicious,” as they continue to investigate what caused the tragedy.

But on Sunday evening, the Academy Awards focused on remembering the Hollywood icon, as well as actors, filmmakers, and Hollywood-industry individuals who died over the past year during its Memoriam Segment.

Freeman, who starred alongside Gene in the films Unforgiven and Under Suspicion, paid tribute to his “dear friend.”

‘REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND”

“This week, our community lost a giant, and I lost a dear friend, Gene Hackman,” Freeman said fighting back tears as the Dolby Theatre erupted in applause.

“I had the pleasure of working alongside Gene on two films – Unforgiven and Under Suspicion.

“Like everyone who has ever shared a scene with him, I learned he was a generous performer and a man whose gifts elevated everyone’s work.

“He received two Oscars, but more importantly, he won the hearts of film lovers all over the world.”

Freeman continued, “Gene always said, I don’t think about legacy, I just hope people remember me as someone who tried to do good work.

“So, I think I speak for us all when I say, Gene, you’ll be remembered for that and for so much more.

“Rest in peace, my friend.”

REMEMBERING GENE

Gene had a vast film career that spanned decades.

Gene’s breakout role was Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde in 1967.

He is known for starring in Superman movies, and hit films like Mississippi Burning and Unforgiven.

He played the supervillain Lex Luthor in Superman, Superman II and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace.

Gene also starred in the hit movies Runaway Jury, The French Connection, The Royal Tenenbaums, Unforgiven and The Conversation.

In 1972, he won the Best Actor Academy Award for his role as Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in The French Connection years before appearing in the movie’s 1975 sequel.

In 1993, Hackman won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in the western Unforgiven.

Hackman appeared in four westerns during the 1990s.

His final film appearance was in Welcome to Mooseport in 2004, where he played Monroe Cole.

In his decades-long career, he received five Academy Award nominations.

He won two BAFTA nominations and three Golden Globes.

Hackman was nominated for eight Golden Globe awards during his career.

Thousands of South Carolina residents have been told to leave their homes as a wildfire, believed to cover at least 1,200 acres, rages on. Governor Henry McMaster has declared a State of Emergency to bolster the response to the scorching fires.

A ban on outdoor burning is in place until further notice. “This State of Emergency ensures that our first responders, who are working tirelessly and risking their lives to protect our communities from these wildfires, have the resources they need,” Governor Henry McMaster stated.

“Dangerous wildfire conditions require that a statewide burning ban remain in effect until further notice. Those who violate this ban will be subject to criminal prosecution.”

The State Fire Marshal reports that over 175 wildfires are being fought, affecting around 4,200 acres, especially in Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union, and Pickens Counties.

These fires are largely due to arid and windy conditions. On March 1, 2025, the South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties, prohibiting all forms of outdoor burning, from yard waste to campfires.

“While a majority of the current wildfire activity is concentrated in the Pee Dee region, the rest of the state is experiencing a dramatic uptick in wildfires, straining the capacity of Forestry Commission firefighters and local emergency response personnel to respond,” said Darryl Jones, Forest Protection Chief for the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

South Carolinians are urged to stay informed through official emergency sources and dial 911 to report any immediate threats, reports the Mirror US.

Meanwhile, Trump hit the golf course at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.

This comes as President Donald Trump’s administration delays funding for wildfire mitigation projects funded through legislation championed by his Democratic predecessor, threatening efforts to prevent catastrophic fires like those that recently devastated Southern California.

The decision contradicts Trump’s repeated insistence that communities need to clear combustible materials like fallen branches and undergrowth—”It’s called management of the floor,” he stated during a visit to Los Angeles last month—to protect against wildfires.

In response to the LA wildfires, the president ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to release billions of gallons of water from two reservoirs in California’s Central Valley, more than 100 miles from the fire zones.

Trump claimed California withheld water supplies that could have helped fight the flames. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials disputed those claims.

California Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat, said the release of the water also presented a risk of flooding.

“I think even the water managers got only a short bit of notice to say, ‘Please don’t. You can’t do that. That’s way too much water,'” he said. “And frankly, had they not talked the Army Corps off the ledge, there would’ve been serious flooding. It would have been an even bigger problem.”

Source : https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/south-carolina-declares-state-emergency-34781628

King Charles greeted hero Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a historic show of support at Sandringham.

The monarch shook hands with Mr Zelensky less than 48 hours after an ugly spat saw Donald Trump and JD Vance round on him in the White House. Mr Zelensky wore his customary dark trousers and sweatshirt as he met the King.

They talked for nearly an hour after Mr Zelensky travelled to Norfolk following a crunch summit in central London. The warm welcome was a far cry from his reception in Washington, when a pro-Trump reporter accused him of disrespecting the occassion by not wearing a suit.

The Ukrainian President has said his choice of clothing demonstrates solidarity with the brave heroes fighting on the frontline against Vladimir Putin’s army. A royal source said: “The Ukrainian President was warmly received and the meeting lasted just under an hour.

“Prior to his visit to the UK, Mr Zelenskyy asked for the meeting with His Majesty and the government agreed for it to go ahead.”

The meeting came amid growing uncertainty about Ukraine’s fate amid growing questions about the US commitment to standing up to Vladimir Putin. In an astonishing tirade Mr Trump accused the Ukrainian leader of “gambling with World War Three”, telling him to “make a deal or we are out”.

The aggressive attack led to an outpouring of support around the world, but was welcomed in the Kremlin. Mr Trump, whose affection for the royal family is well known, will have been watching on from across the Atlantic. He gleefully received an invite for a state visit from the King last week when Keir Starmer visited Washington.

The monarch will have agreed to host Mr Zelensky in a carefully calculated show of solidarity. He has spoken in the past about the need for nations to stick together following Putin’s 2022 invasion.

And he will be aware that Mr Trump is watching on from the other side of the Atlantic. The US President was presented with a letter from the King in a diplomatic coup for Keir Starmer ahead of what could have been a difficult meeting.

Making his first trip to the White House since Mr Trump’s return, he made a point of handing the invite over in the full glare of the world’s cameras. In his letter the King suggested meeting the President at either Dumfries House in Ayrshire or Balmoral Castle.

It stated that the bond between the UK and US “has a vital role to play” in promoting the “values which matter so much to us all”. A delighted Mr Trump said it would be an “honour” to receive a second state visit.

The King has previously voiced solidarity with Ukraine. In an address last year he said: “The determination and strength of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire, as the unprovoked attack on their land, their lives and livelihoods enters a third tragic year.

“Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely. Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression.”

He said at the time that it was important that the UK and its allies “remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine”.

Mr Starmer was earlier challenged about whether Donald Trump should be given a state visit after tens of thousands demanded his invite is torn up. The PM said it is a “matter for the King” when pressed by the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.

A petition calling for the invite to be rescinded has attracted nearly 70,000 signatures, while former Tory defence minister Tobias Ellwood said such a visit would be “inappropriate”. Ms Kuenssberg asked the PM: “It’s clearly very valuable to you and clearly you’ve made a bond of sorts with Donald Trump in the time that you’ve been in office.

“Lots of people, though, look at how Donald Trump behaves in this country and don’t like it very much. There are people like the SNP, for example, other public figures saying he shouldn’t be given a second state visit.

“That’s an unprecedented thing… Why does Donald Trump deserve a second state visit? Or frankly, was it a diplomatic enticement so that you could get him on board?”

Mr Starmer responded: “Well, that’s a matter for the King.” But the BBC journalist pointed out the invite would not have happened without Government backing.

The PM said: “This is a moment of real fragility in Europe. It’s a very serious moment.” He continued: “What drives me is – is what I’m saying or doing more likely to bring about peace, a lasting peace or not? If the answer is yes, I’ll do it. If the answer is not, I won’t do it.

“So I’ve seen people ramping up their rhetoric and taking to Twitter and saying what they would do – good for them. I’m not that interested in that.

“I’m interested in what are the practical steps, what are the bridge building that I could do? What are the relationships that I can mend and take forward and use to take us to lasting peace in Europe? And in the end, that’s my central concern.

Source : https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/zelensky-wears-solidarity-outfit-meet-34779520

Tech baron Elon Musk backed calls for the US to withdraw from NATO and the United Nations after months of badmouthing the two international organizations.

“I agree,” Musk, 53, wrote on X in reply late Saturday to MAGA influencer Gunther Eagleman’s suggestion that “It’s time to leave NATO and the UN.”

Musk did not elaborate on the specifics of why he wants the US to pull out of NATO and the UN, but the suggestion came after several social media users pointed to Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) call to pull out of both.

Last month, Lee, 53, who has drawn frequent reposts and interactions from Musk on X, introduced legislation alongside other lawmakers to pull out of the UN and decried it as “a platform for tyrants and a venue to attack America and her allies.”

On Saturday, Lee publicly suggested that the US pull out of NATO, pointing to Norwegian fuel supplier Haltbakk Bunkers’ announcement that it would stop helping the US Navy refuel in protest of President Trump’s confrontation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

“Europe doesn’t love us,” Lee chided on X Saturday. “Let’s leave NATO.”

Norway, a NATO ally, publicly announced that it would continue to help refuel US military ships despite Haltbakk Bunkers’ announcement and call for a boycott of helping out US military ships.

The US helped form NATO in the aftermath of World War II as a bulwark against the Soviet Union, and the powerful military alliance — the core of which is that an attack on one member constitutes an attack on all members — now has 32 members.

The UN was also formed after WWII as a successor to the League of Nations to promote dialogue between nations.

Trump, 78, and other conservative figures have publicly groused that NATO allies don’t pull enough of their own weight and that elements of the UN have been overly harsh to the US.

Musk is known to have Trump’s ear, serving as a “special employee” at the White House and informal boss of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), despite the administration arguing in court documents that he is not formally in charge or even an employee of the cost-cutting entity.

While Musk didn’t delve into his rationale on Saturday, in the past, Musk has argued that the US makes up a disproportionate amount of NATO’s power and has questioned why NATO continued to exist after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/03/02/us-news/elon-musk-appears-to-back-us-withdrawing-from-nato-the-un/

If you thought Kanye West couldn’t shock us anymore with his Nazi-loving opinions, think again — he was spotted wearing one of the swastika T-shirts he was selling on his site before it went dark.

Check out the video — the rapper was dressed in the shirt while out in L.A. Thursday, chatting with a group of guys. He then noticed the camera and made sure to stroll farther into the frame, ensuring a full, uninterrupted view of him in the shirt.

It’s a disturbing sight — Kanye standing there alone in the shirt, staring at the camera and scanning his surroundings like he’s completely oblivious to the weight of what he’s doing.

He doubled down on the intention behind his actions, tweeting Friday, “It was always a dream of mine to walk around with a Swastika T on”.

The troubling sighting comes just weeks after he started selling merch with the symbol directly linked to Hitler and Nazis on his Yeezy website, and even took out a Super Bowl TV ad hyping his site … following his claim he was a Nazi and calling Hitler “so fresh.” Days later, he tweeted he wasn’t a Nazi anymore … but then deleted that and a bunch of other posts. But it looks like he’s back courting controversy again.

Source : https://www.tmz.com/2025/02/28/kanye-west-wears-swastika-shirt-on-street-in-public/

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greeted President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with a warm embrace on Saturday after the Ukrainian leader flew to London for talks following his clash at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump.
In an extraordinary Oval Office meeting on Friday, Trump threatened to withdraw support for Ukraine, three years after Russia invaded its smaller neighbour.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Zelenskiy and Trump on Saturday and called for calm in an interview following Friday’s White House clash.

“We stand with you and Ukraine for as long as it may take,” Starmer said.
Zelenskiy said on Saturday he had “important and warm” talks with Starmer, with a discussion on strengthening Ukraine’s position and obtaining reliable security guarantees.
“During our talks we discussed the challenges standing before Ukraine and all of Europe, coordination with our partners, concrete steps to strengthen Ukraine’s position and ending the war in a just fashion, with reliable security guarantees,” Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
Other European leaders also issued messages of support for Zelenskiy and Ukraine after his meeting with Trump, highlighting differences between traditional allies the United States and Europe over the war since Trump returned to office.
Senior Russian politicians have reacted with glee to what they see as Zelenskiy’s White House humiliation, saying the Ukrainian leader got what he deserved and that U.S. military aid to Kyiv must now be cut.

MACRON: “EVERYBODY NEEDS TO CALM DOWN”

The French presidency said Macron had also spoken to British Starmer, European Council President Antonio Costa and NATO chief Mark Rutte, on the eve of the London summit.

“I think that beyond the frayed nerves, everybody needs to calm down, show respect and gratitude, so we can move forward concretely, because what’s at stake is too important,” Macron said in an interview with several Sunday newspapers.

Macron said Zelenskiy had told him he was willing to “restore dialogue” with the United States, including on a deal giving U.S. access to revenues from Ukraine’s natural resources, but did not say what Trump told him in the call.

The White House had no immediate comment.

In an interview with CNN on Friday, Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Zelenskiy to “apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became.”

In an interview with Fox News on Friday Zelenskiy said he believed his relationship with Trump could be salvaged and appeared to express some regret, saying “I’m sorry for this.”

The falling-out meant that Ukraine and the United States failed to sign a much-vaunted minerals deal Kyiv hoped would spur Trump to back Ukraine’s war effort and potentially win support from Republicans in Congress for a new round of aid.

Trump is not interested in revisiting the minerals deal at the moment, a senior White House official told Reuters on Friday evening.

Starmer spoke to both Trump and Zelenskiy on Friday, and French President Emmanuel Macron also visited Trump in Washington this week.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zelenskiy-meet-uk-pm-starmer-saturday-2025-03-01/

Tens of thousands of people flocked to the southern town of Nis on Saturday to commemorate victims of a railway station disaster and take part in a student-led protest that has become the biggest threat yet to the Serbian president’s grip on power.
Mass demonstrations have gathered momentum in the four months since 15 people were killed when a roof collapsed at a newly renovated train station in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-biggest city.

“This is the way to make a revolution,” said Tarek, a 22-year-old graphic designer from the city of Novi Pazar. “It is the right way to achieve the change, to create a better future, a functional state without corruption.”
Hundreds of students marched to Nis for the protest and were joined by about 1,500 people on motor bikes.

Among the protesters were Anja and Ana, 20-year-old students who walked to Nis from the town of Bor about 130 km (80 miles) away.
“Walking to Nis, I think, we managed to wake up Serbia. We feel good because of that and we could walk back another 130 kilometres,” said Anja, who did not give her full name.
“This is not the society we would like to live in. We want a better future.
Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two other ministers have resigned over the protests, which have taken place in the capital Belgrade and in towns across the country.

Prosecutors have charged 13 people in connection with the roof collapse.

But the students have continued daily protests, pressing their demands that authorities publish documents relating to the station roof collapse and justice for those responsible. They also want charges against the protesting students to be dismissed, and an increased budget for higher education.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/serbians-hold-silent-protest-honour-railway-station-victims-2025-03-01/

Nine people were arrested during a raucous demonstration outside a New York City Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab dealership on Saturday, protesting owner Elon Musk’s role in sweeping cuts to the federal workforce at the behest of President Donald Trump.
The protest, which police said involved hundreds of people, was one of a wave of “Tesla Takedown” demonstrations staged across the country targeting billionaire Musk, who is spearheading the Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Throngs of protesters also descended on the electric vehicle maker’s showrooms in Jacksonville, Florida, Tucson, Arizona, and other cities, blocking traffic, chanting and waving signs reading “Burn a Tesla: Save Democracy,” and “No Dictators in the USA.”
Musk, the world’s richest person, is leading an unprecedented push to shrink the federal government that has resulted in the firing of thousands of employees and the termination of hundreds of aid contracts and federal leases.
Tesla and a White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to attempts to seek comment by phone and email on Saturday night.

Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum has joined forces with the Danish toy brick-maker LEGO to create a build-your-own version of Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”.
Standing in front of Van Gogh’s 1889 masterpiece, one of the series of sunflower paintings for which the painter is most renowned, museum curator Nienke Bakker told Reuters she hoped the LEGO version would help more people to become familiar with his life and work.

The Oval Office blow up between Zelenskiy and Trump laid bare for many Europeans that something critical has broken in their relationship with Washington

European leaders are confronting their worst-case scenario: maybe they really are going to be dealing with a bellicose Russia alone.

When the US lined up alongside Russia and North Korea earlier this week to oppose a UN motion condemning Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, some European officials knew that the transatlantic relationship was in deep trouble. Then they watched in horror as Donald Trump gave Volodymyr Zelenskiy a public dressing down in the Oval Office and something broke.

In interviews with Bloomberg, more than half a dozen officials who’ve maintained their composure through wars and financial crises reacted with visceral anger. For them, the scene showed the trust and values that have bound Europe and the US together since the end of World War II are no longer shared.

“President Trump and his administration raised a more fundamental challenge to the transatlantic alliance than it has faced in many decades,” said Graham Allison, a professor of government at Harvard University, who studied with Henry Kissinger and served in both the Clinton and Reagan administrations.

French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have all described this moment as a generational challenge for the continent. They’ll meet with Zelenskiy and other European leaders in London on Sunday to work out what their next move should be.

The European Union is aiming to follow up with an emergency package of €20 billion ($21 billion) in military aid for Ukraine at an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday. But that’s just a down payment on the hundreds of billions they will need to mobilize for defense in the coming months if they are to take over responsibility for their own security from the US for the first time in 80 years.

After years of hand-wringing and debates over the EU’s problems and weaknesses, doing that will require forging a political will that has little precedent in the history of the bloc.

“While I would like to imagine that Europe will step up to fill the gap, and do so in time, I’d bet 3-1 against it,” Allison said, adding that he expects Ukraine will accept a bitter peace settlement by the end of the summer.

Read More About the Breakdown in the Transatlantic Relationship:Zelenskiy’s Blowup With Trump Leaves Allies Facing DisasterTrump Is Rushing Toward a Deal With Putin as Europe Left in DustUS Asks Europe What Kyiv Peacekeepers Should Do If Attacked Trump’s Ukraine Plans Mean $3 Trillion Bill for European Allies

The transatlantic relationship, and the US’s broader network of alliances, was arguably unique in the post-war world because common values and trust allowed nations to share secrets and rely on each other at critical moments. The foundations of that relationship were laid down during World War II and deepened when eastern European nations were welcomed into NATO and the EU after the fall of the iron curtain.

It’s that history that makes the current crisis so painful.

Many European diplomats grew up during the Cold War – some spent their childhoods in the Soviet bloc or under occupation. When they read of the atrocities perpetrated on Ukraine – the massacres in places like Bucha, thousands of children deported to Russia, the aerial attacks on civilians – they see echoes of their own families’ stories.

For all the cynicism in parts of the West and the Global South, the US really was a symbol of freedom for eastern Europeans and they aspired to the principles running through American politics.

To be sure, the US has at times persuaded allies to do things they didn’t want to do. But Trump’s Republicans are the party of Ronald Reagan, the president who told the Soviet Union to “tear down” the Berlin Wall in the name of freedom. Now they are lining up with the Russian aggressors’ attempts to deprive the Ukrainians of their lives and liberty.

After Friday’s quarrel in the Oval Office, EU leaders lined up to voice their support for Zelenskiy and make clear whose side they were on. Trump is putting the Europeans into a position where they have to choose between the US and Ukraine, several officials said, and most, if not all, will pick Ukraine. For Europe, it is existential.

“A new era of barbarity has begun,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Saturday in a statement to reporters in Berlin. “An era of barbarity in which the rules-based international order and the rule of law must defend themselves more than ever before against the power of the mighty.”

@ZelenskyyUa, dear Ukrainian friends, you are not alone.

— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) February 28, 2025

Going it alone would pose an unprecedented challenge to European nations, but it will also likely be damaging to US prosperity and security too.

The trading relationship between the US and the EU is the most important in the world, reaching €1.6 trillion in 2023, according to the European Commission, while EU and US firms have €5.3 trillion worth of investment in each other’s markets. The European Commission is already preparing lists of goods to target if Trump follows through with his threat to impose tariffs on EU exports.

Beyond that, the alliance between Europe and the US – and by extension much of America’s global power – lasted so long because it was based on trust and the fact allies chose to buy into it. Allies were in a pact that was essentially voluntary and Trump has broken the trust that underpinned it.

Source: https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/europes-nightmare-is-here-they-have-to-fight-putin-without-the-us

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a UK loan of over 2 billion pounds would be used for weapons production in Ukraine. The deal in London came after the Ukrainian leader’s tumultuous meeting with Donald Trump.

Free world must stand up to evil, Czech president says
Czech President Petr Pavel said in a post on X that it was time “to start considering a broad coalition of willing for just peace in Ukraine.”

While Charli XCX dominated this year’s Brit Awards, it was also a huge night for artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Fender, Ezra Collective, Myles Smith and Jade – and host Jack Whitehall also introduced a poignant tribute to Liam Payne.

This was Charli XCX’s big night. Best artist, best album, best song, and more.

The Brat singer took home five awards in total, including the songwriter of the year prize announced ahead of the ceremony.

Elsewhere, last year’s record-breaking Brits winner Raye took home the best RnB act prize, and there were also awards for Sam Fender, Fontaines DC and former Little Mix star Jade, who gave a shout-out to her bandmates in her acceptance speech.

As usual, there were several memorable moments throughout the ceremony. Starting with the opener…

Espresso/ Rule Britannia

Sabrina Carpenter understood the assignment. Think Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack tea towel dress in 1996, Dua Lipa’s tube arrival in 2021. The British stars know we love to see the United Kingdom celebrated, but US star Sabrina Carpenter could have been forgiven for going without the pomp and ceremony.

But no. She really did her homework.

Wearing a red sparkly military-style blazer dress and walking down an aisle lit up with the Union flag, the star was followed by dancing Beefeaters as she launched into Espresso. A mash-up into Rule Britannia followed, before she moved on to perform a cheeky rendition of Bed Chem.

We can only applaud.

The star later went on to collect the global success award – announced by none other than music icon Diana Ross, who livestreamed into the ceremony from a show in New York.

Collecting the prize on stage, Carpenter recalled coming to the UK for the first time 10 years ago when she said only about 10 people knew who she was. Next week, she’s back at the O2 Arena to headline.

The Espresso singer added: “The Brits have given me this award, and this feels like such an insane honour in a very primarily tea-drinking country… you really understood my dry sense of humour because your sense of humour is so, so dry. So I love y’all more than you even understand.”

Calls to save the grassroots

Rising star winner Myles Smith may be a newcomer to the Brit Awards, but he wasn’t afraid to use the stage to let his thoughts on the state of the music industry be known.

The 26-year-old, who performed his songs Nice To Meet You and Stargazing, told the audience that while he had the “attention of the nation” he wanted to ask three questions, with his first to the government.

“If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have you treated it like an afterthought for so many years?” he said. “How many more venues need to close? How many more music programmes need to be cut before we realise that we can’t just celebrate success, you have to protect the foundations that make it?”

Smith went on to question major venues: “If artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive?”

Finally, “to the execs in the room, and to the people behind the scenes”, he asked: “Are we building careers or are we just chasing moments?”

In November last year, plans were announced for a voluntary levy on tickets for concerts at stadiums and arenas to help fund grassroots venues after the closures of high numbers in recent years.

Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective also spoke about the importance of nurturing young artists as the jazz group collected the group of the year award, saying they are where they are now “because of the great youth clubs, and the great teachers and the great schools that support young people playing music”.

Bass player Georgia Davies, of indie group The Last Dinner Party, also spoke about the importance of saving independent music venues.

“We wouldn’t be a band, and a lot of the artists here would not be bands either, without the UK’s incredible independent venues, and they are the lifeblood of the music industry and they are dying,” she said, as the band collected the best new artist award.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/sabrina-carpenter-rules-britannia-as-brits-pays-tribute-to-liam-payne-13319899

The conflict, which began in 1984, has led to tens of thousands of deaths. The ceasefire is the first sign of an end to the conflict since peace talks between the PKK and Ankara broke down in the summer of 2015.

Kurdish militants have declared a ceasefire in their 40-year conflict with Turkey, two days after their imprisoned leader called for the group to disarm.

The statement from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was published on Saturday by the Firat News Agency, a media outlet which is close to the group.

Referring to its leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been in prison for almost three decades, the group said: “We declare a ceasefire effective today to pave the way for the implementation of Leader Apo’s call for peace and democratic society.

“None of our forces will take armed action unless attacked.”

While some have welcomed the move, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of dire consequences if militants fail to keep their promises.

Mr Erdogan was speaking on Saturday at a fast-breaking event with martyr families in Istanbul on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

He vowed that “if needed”, Turkish anti-terrorist forces will “keep up our operations – which are still continuing – leaving no stone standing and leaving no heads on shoulders, until every last terrorist is eliminated”.

Ocalan had previously called for the PKK to lay down its arms. The 75-year-old continues to have significant influence over the PKK, despite having been imprisoned in 1999 after he was convicted of treason.

The conflict, which began in 1984, has seen the PKK wage an insurgency in the hope of carving out a homeland for the Kurds in an area straddling the borders of southeastern Turkey, northern Syria and Iraq, and part of Iran.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the conflict. In October last year, five people died in a terror attack on a defence company headquarters, which the Turkish government blamed on the PKK.

The group is proscribed as a terror organisation by Western nations, including the US and UK, as well as the European Union.

The ceasefire is the first sign of an end to the conflict since peace talks between the PKK and Ankara broke down in the summer of 2015.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/kurdish-militants-declare-ceasefire-in-40-year-conflict-13319108

The New York Dolls are one of the first rock bands to come out of New York City

DAVID Johansen, the iconic frontman of the New York Dolls, has passed away at the age of 75.

Johansen died on Friday at his home in New York City, according to Rolling Stone, citing a family spokesperson.

It’s understood he died surrounded by his family.

Earlier this year, it was disclosed that the star had been battling stage four cancer and a brain tumor.

At the time of his death, Johansen was the last surviving member of the original New York Dolls lineup.

His bandmates—Kane, Sylvain, Thunders, and drummers Jerry Nolan and Billy Mercia—had all passed away in previous years.

Until his passing, Johansen remained active, hosting his Sirius XM show David Johansen’s Mansion Of Fun.

He is survived by his wife, artist Mara Hennessey, and his stepdaughter, Leah Hennessey.

Despite his lengthy battle with illness, his stepdaughter shared that Johansen remained “hilarious and wise” in his final days.

Johansen was a key figure in redefining rock and roll.

With tracks like Looking For A Kiss, Trash, and Personality Crisis, he helped lay the groundwork for British punk bands like The Clash and The Sex Pistols.

His gravelly yet camped-up vocals were the perfect complement to the band’s cross-dressing aesthetic and raw blues-punk sound.

Pals with fellow stars like David Bowie, Johansen was born in New York City to an Irish American mother and Norwegian American father.

He began his career in the late 1960s with Staten Island’s Vagabond Missionaries before joining the New York Dolls in 1971, following guitarist Johnny Thunders’ decision to step down as lead singer.

The band’s 1973 self-titled debut, produced by Todd Rundgren, achieved limited success at first, but it marked the start of their legacy.

Known for their androgynous style and hard-edged music, the Dolls quickly gained attention.

They made waves in Europe, particularly after a notorious appearance on the BBC’s The Old Grey Whistle Test, where host Bob Harris called them “mock rock” following a performance of Jet Boy.

This moment helped catapult the band to fame in the UK.

Despite critical acclaim, their 1974 follow-up, Too Much Too Soon, saw limited sales.

The band’s line-up shifted after 1975 when Malcolm McLaren briefly managed the group, dressing them in red leather outfits.

But internal strife and substance abuse led to the band’s breakup in 1976.

The New York Dolls’ influence on the punk scene cannot be overstated.

Bands like The Clash, The Damned, and The Sex Pistols all cited them as a major inspiration.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/13661659/david-johansen-dead-cancer-new-york-dolls/

Harrison Ford reportedly stepped down as a presenter at the 2025 Oscars after he was diagnosed with shingles.

The “Indiana Jones” star received his diagnosis on Friday and dropped out of the awards show on Saturday morning, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Per the outlet, he has been resting and is doing OK.

The Mayo Clinic defines shingles as “a viral infection that causes a painful rash” and is not life-threatening.

Reps for Ford, 83, weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

On Wednesday, the actor was announced as a presenter at the Oscars alongside Rachel Zegler, Zoe Saldaña, Samuel L. Jackson and Gal Gadot.

One of his last public outings was at the 2025 SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 23.

The “Shrinking” star was all smiles at the event while posing with co-star Wendie Malick, who played his on-screen love interest.

Despite his recent diagnosis, he revealed that he was in good physical health during an interview with People published on Feb. 27.

Ford sat down with the outlet to discuss filming Season 2 of “1923,” which requires him to be on horseback.

“I think the demands are not really as daunting as they look,” he said.

“I spent half an hour on a horse, and from a contemporary point of view, you look at that, and say, ‘Whoa, people used to do that,’ but it really is not that difficult.”

Source: https://pagesix.com/2025/03/01/celebrity-news/harrison-ford-diagnosed-with-shingles-steps-down-as-presenter-at-2025-oscars/

The Oscars have long been called a “horse race,” and in any such contest the horses are bound to shift position. One horse can pull ahead, and then fall behind. That said, I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a switchback Oscar moment quite like the one that took place on Feb. 8, the day that the Directors and Producers Guilds both bestowed their top honors on “Anora,” Sean Baker’s acclaimed tale of a sex worker who makes fast work of marrying a Russian oligarch’s wastrel son, only to see the fireworks fly when his parents find out.

As soon as “Anora” nabbed those two awards, the film’s fate looked sealed. It was declared the instant and overwhelming front-runner for best picture. (A week later, when the Writers Guild gave its best original screenplay award to “Anora,” that was the cherry on top.) Yet what was strange about this reconfiguring of stakes is that it simply brought “Anora” to the very front-runner status you’d assumed it would have occupied all along.

From the moment last May when “Anora” set critics’ hearts aflutter and took the Palme d’Or at Cannes, the film has been the darling of darlings. Yet after originally being tagged as a heavyweight best-picture contender, it dropped out of that conversation; after all the acclaim, it was deemed too indie, not “major” enough. For the last four months, the chatter about best picture has been focused almost entirely on “The Brutalist” and “Emilia Pérez,” with “A Complete Unknown” coming up the side.

But after “Emilia Pérez” appeared to be KO’d by the Karla Sofía Gascón tweetstorm imbroglio, the moment was ripe for another horse. And thus spoke “Anora,” the little front-runner that could. All of which makes this the perfect up-and-down-and-then-up-again roller-coaster saga for an Oscar season in which narratives haven’t just been part of the story. They’ve become the story. In fact, 2024/25 may go down as the year when Oscar narratives ate the Oscars.

In the past, there were two basic species of Oscar narrative. The original one, stretching back decades, was the “It’s time!” factor: actors and, on occasion, directors winning Oscars because they’ve been nominated so often and have never won, or are simply well-liked industry warhorses who Academy voters want to honor. Think John Wayne in “True Grit,” Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman,” or Martin Scorsese winning best director for “The Departed.”

The second kind of Oscar narrative stretches back to the Harvey Weinstein era, since he basically invented it, and that’s the backstabbing negative Oscar campaign: the poisoning of the well with a story about a movie that may, in fact, be true but is pumped up by the media (usually via energized publicists) to ruin that movie’s chances. Prime examples include the campaign against “A Beautiful Mind” based on allegations that its subject, John Nash, was an anti-Semite (it didn’t work), or the pushing of the narrative that “Saving Private Ryan” was a masterpiece manqué that went downhill after the cataclysmic opening sequence (specious as it was, that one did work).

But Oscar season is now rooted in such a complex interface with the media coverage of it that the narratives are coming at us in a postmodern profusion. If Demi Moore is indeed the front-runner for best actress, it’s not just linked to the “It’s time!” factor but to the very substance of “The Substance” — the shoving aside of female actors in sexist Hollywood once they reach a certain age — and how that theme powerfully projects Moore’s own narrative. Or consider how this year, just about every single best picture contender has been tainted with a negative campaign — not necessarily because there’s some Weinstein figure pulling strings behind the curtain, but because the scolding chatter on social media is now, in effect, the negative trigger.

Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/the-year-that-oscar-narratives-ate-the-oscars-anora-the-brutalist-emilia-perez-1236311314/

Whether or not President Volodymyr Zelensky was ambushed or should have been more diplomatic in the Oval Office, it was a disastrous visit for Ukraine.

For those watching in Kyiv, the future of their country hung in the balance.

“It was an emotional conversation, but I understand our president,” Yulia tells me next to Kyiv’s golden-domed St Sofia’s cathedral.

“Maybe it wasn’t diplomatic, but it was sincere. It’s about life, we want to live.”

Yulia reflects a political pattern in Ukraine: the more the country is attacked, the more unity there is.

Before the full-scale invasion in 2022, President Zelensky’s trust rating was 37%. Afterwards, it rocketed to 90%.

Before Donald Trump returned to office at the start of 2025, it was 52%. After he blamed Ukraine for starting the war, it hit 65%.

“They [Donald Trump and JD Vance] were so rude,” says 30-year-old Andriy. “They don’t respect the people of Ukraine.”

“It looks like Washington supports Russia!” observes Dmytro, 26.

You wonder what the last 24 hours has done to President Zelensky’s popularity.

“When the situation becomes worse, we have another rallying around the flag,” explains Volodymyr Paniotto, director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology which conducted some of the polling.

World leaders’ popularity often wanes over time, and Mr Paniotto says President Zelensky has not been immune.

His ratings especially took a hit with Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive of 2023, and his sacking a year later of the popular commander in chief of his armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

But Donald Trump’s new, transactional, often-hostile approach to Ukraine has forced the country to unite and brace for further uncertainty.

Not least with his warming to Russia.

‘We are being punished for being attacked’
The initial reaction was that of shock,” says opposition MP Inna Sovsun.

“It was difficult to watch a president who’s been a victim of Russian aggression being attacked by the leader of the free world,” she adds. “It’s painful.”

Ukrainian TV channels reported yesterday’s scenes in a more measured way: that a minerals deal between Ukraine and the US was simply not signed.

Perhaps, given it didn’t include the American security guarantees that Kyiv and Europe desperately want, it wasn’t as tantalising for Zelensky as had been suggested.

“We need to find stronger allies in Europe and Canada, Australia and Japan, who’ve all been supporting us,” argues Sovsun.

There are clearly deep feelings of resentment between Washington and Kyiv. However, Sovsun doesn’t think Ukraine should give up on negotiations, but should instead reframe the debate.

“It’s important to find the right mediator,” she says. “Someone Trump can recognise, but someone we trust too. Someone like Georgia Meloni of Italy.

“Under no circumstances should we agree to calls for the president to resign, and I’m saying that as an opposition MP. That defies the very idea of democracy.”

President Zelensky hoped his Washington visit would lead to a deeper co-operation with the US which could, in turn, bring a lasting peace. Something Sovsun thinks nobody wants more than Ukrainians.

“We are the ones who are suffering, it’s extremely difficult to live under this stress,” she adds. “Just this morning, I read that my friend’s son was killed, his second son in this war.”

What the MP and countless Ukrainians don’t want is a rushed settlement. Attempted ceasefires with Russia in 2014 and 2015 only allowed Moscow to prepare for its full scale-invasion years later.

These were already turbulent times in Romania.

But as people here navigate the late winter ice and slush on Bucharest’s elegant streets, the abrupt departure of the Tate brothers by private jet has left a fresh trail of confusion and unanswered questions in its wake.

A country grappling with a cancelled presidential election, its future in Europe, its support for neighbouring Ukraine, widespread corruption, and collapsing faith in public institutions, is now left pondering why two controversial foreigners, facing a raft of complex but serious criminal charges, have been treated with such apparent lenience; their confiscated assets and their passports suddenly returned to them.

Was a secret deal done between Romania’s government and the Trump administration? If so, in these increasingly transactional times, what does Romania get in return? Or was this more like a pre-emptive gesture of good will towards the American president, a gift to lay at Donald Trump’s imperious feet?

Or are we searching for conspiracies when the truth is probably far more chaotic?

As foreign leaders – from Volodymyr Zelensky to Sir Keir Starmer – travel to Washington DC bearing deals and other apparent peace offerings, one might ask who could blame Romania, a staunch NATO ally navigating a host of internal and external challenges, for trying to keep an increasingly unpredictable US administration on side?

“It’s a matter of life (or death) for Romania,” said security analyst George Scutaru, describing his country’s need to shore up Western support in the face of growing pressure from the Kremlin.

Declining to comment on the Tate issue specifically, Scutaru said it was clear Moscow was seeking to undermine Romania’s democracy and that the government had good reason to seek ways to remind the Trump administration of the many advantages – commercial, diplomatic, and military – of continuing to back it.

But if the Tate brothers are part of that equation, it is already clear that many Romanians are not impressed.

This is a country already facing a strong populist backlash against an elite ruling class that is widely seen as corrupt and out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people who feel treated as second-class citizens – a mere source of cheap labour – within the European Union.

So, the sight of the Tates appearing to receive special treatment plays into the notion that Romania’s institutions are hollow and cater only to those with money.

“For me, what has happened is unacceptable. We cannot allow Romania’s image to be tarnished by impunity and defiance,” fumed Elena Lasconi, a prominent presidential candidate here, expressing deep concern that Romanian prosecutors’ sudden decision to relax the Tates’ travel restrictions was the result of “external influence.”

“It’s my personal perception that probably there is… pressure on the Romanian political system, as logically the prosecutor would have applied very strict rules to control (the Tates) and probably the United States would have been a place where they would be allowed to travel (due to concerns they would not be extradited if they failed to return),” said international human rights lawyer, Silvia Tabusca.

It is beyond doubt that Andrew Tate’s lucrative brand of assertive masculinity has earned him allies in President Trump’s administration. One of his former lawyers, Paul Ingrassia, now works in the White House.

Many in the so-called “manosphere” see Tate as a persecuted hero who has just been rescued from Romania’s corrupt clutches.

There is also a more nebulous far-right alignment between some pro-Trump and pro-Tate figures in the US, far-right and allegedly pro-Russian forces in Romania, and the Kremlin itself, which stands accused of plotting to weaken Bucharest’s pro-western stance.

But the picture is not clear cut.

President Trump distanced himself from the brothers’ case on Thursday and there are signs of a broader push-back in the US, with the governor of Florida Ron DeSantis making it clear the Tates are “not welcome” in his state, amid plans to open a “preliminary inquiry” into allegations against them of human trafficking and violence against women.

Meanwhile in Bucharest, the theory that Romania’s government cut a deal with the US to release the brothers is treated with caution by some analysts.

“I think the chances (of such a deal) are fifty-fifty,” said Sorin Ionita, a political commentator, questioning the ability of Romania’s various institutions and ministries to arrange a “coherent” policy concerning the Tates.

“I’m not sure they coordinate. Did they manage to demand something in exchange (from the US)? I’m not sure,” said Ionita, bemoaning a situation almost designed to persuade Romania’s public to lose faith in state institutions, and speculating that lower level “satellite” figures in an equally chaotic Trump administration were probably behind any deal in order “to extract money from the Tate brothers.” The BBC has seen no evidence of this.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99np092vk1o

Recently in Tokyo an AI-driven robot leaned over a man lying on his back and gently put a hand on his knee and another on a shoulder and rolled him onto his side — a manoeuvre used to change diapers or prevent bedsores in the elderly.
The 150-kg (330 lb) artificial intelligence-driven humanoid robot called AIREC is a prototype future “caregiver” for Japan’s rapidly ageing population and chronic shortage of aged-care workers.

“Given our highly advanced ageing society and declining births, we will be needing robots’ support for medical and elderly care, and in our daily lives,” said Shigeki Sugano, the Waseda University professor leading AIREC’s research with government funding.
Japan is the world’s most advanced ageing society with a falling birth rate, dwindling working-age population and restrictive immigration policies.

Protesters hurled petrol bombs and set fire to trash cans in Athens on Friday as hundreds of thousands of Greeks went on strike and took to the streets in nationwide demonstrations on the second anniversary of the country’s deadliest train crash.
Fifty-seven people were killed when a passenger train filled with students collided with a freight train on February 28, 2023 in central Greece. The accident has become a painful emblem of the perceived neglect of the country’s infrastructure in the decades before the crash and the two years since.

“The government hasn’t done anything to get justice,” said Christos Main, 57, a musician at the Athens rally. “This wasn’t an accident, it was murder,” he said.
In one of the biggest protests in Greece in years, public services and many private businesses were brought to a halt and people poured into the streets of cities and towns chanting “murderers” against what they say is the state’s role in the disaster. The government denies wrongdoing.
A sea of people descended onto Athens’ Syntagma Square in front of parliament, where protesters spray-painted the names of the dead in red on the ground. The slogan “I have no oxygen” – a woman’s last words in a call to emergency services – echoed in chants across the country.

POLITICAL THREAT

Don’t insult the leaders. Don’t insult the ideology. And don’t judge.

These are the rules tour guides read out to Western tourists as they prepare to drive across the border into North Korea, arguably the most secretive and repressive country in the world.

Then there is the practical information. No phone signal, no internet, no cash machines.

“The North Koreans aren’t robots. They have opinions, goals, and a sense of humour. And in our briefing we encourage people to listen to and understand them,” says Rowan Beard, who runs Young Pioneer Tours, one of two Western companies which resumed trips to the country last week, after a five-year hiatus.

North Korea sealed its borders at the outset of the pandemic, shutting out diplomats, aid workers and travellers, and making it nearly impossible to know what was happening there.

Since then, it has further isolated itself from most of the world, relying on support from Russia and China. Many doubted whether Westerners would ever be allowed back.

But after years of cajoling and several false starts, Rowan and some other tour leaders were given the green light to restart operations. He pulled together a group of eager travellers in just five hours, desperate to not miss the opportunity. Most were vloggers and travel addicts, some wanting to tick the final country off their list, along with the odd North Korea enthusiast.

Last Thursday the tourists, from the UK, France, Germany and Australia, drove over the border from China into the remote area of Rason for a four-night trip.

Among them was 28-year-old British YouTuber Mike O’Kennedy. Even with its reputation, he was startled by the extreme level of control. As with all trips to North Korea, the tourists were escorted by local guides, who followed a strict, pre-approved schedule. It included carefully choreographed trips to a beer factory, a school, and a new, fully stocked pharmacy.

Ben Weston, one of the tour leaders from Suffolk, likened visiting North Korea to “being on a school trip”. “You can’t leave the hotel without the guides,” he said.

“A couple of times I even had to let them know when I wanted to use the bathroom,” said Mike. “I’ve never had to do that anywhere in the world.”

Despite the chaperoning, Mike was able to spot snippets of real life. “Everyone was working, it didn’t feel like anyone was just hanging out. That was kind of bleak to see.”

On his trip to the school, a group of eight-year-olds performed a dance to animations of ballistic missiles hitting targets. A video of the spectacle shows girls and boys with red neckties, singing, while explosions flare on a screen behind them.

For now, tourists are being kept well away from the capital Pyongyang. Greg Vaczi from Koryo Tours, the other tour company allowed back in, admits the current itinerary lacks the “big-hitting monuments” of Pyongyang. He suspects authorities have chosen Rason as their guinea pig because the area is relatively contained and easy to control.

Set up as a special economic zone, to trial new financial policies, it operates as a mini capitalist enclave inside an otherwise socialist state. Chinese businesspeople run joint enterprises with North Koreans, and can travel in and out fairly freely.

Joe Smith, a seasoned North Korea traveller and former writer for the specialist North Korea platform NK News, was there on his third trip. “I feel like the more times you visit the less you know. Each time you get a little peek behind the curtain, which just leaves you with more questions,” he said.

Joe’s highlight was a surprise off-agenda visit to a luxury goods market, where people were selling jeans and perfumes, along with fake Louis Vuitton handbags and Japanese washing machines, probably imported from China. Here, the tourists were not allowed to take photos – an attempt to hide this consumer bubble from the rest of the country, they suspected.

“This was the only place people weren’t expecting us,” Joe said. “It felt messy and real; a place North Koreans actually go. I loved it.”

But according to the experienced tour leaders, the group’s movements were more restricted than on previous trips, with fewer opportunities to wander the streets, pop into a barbershop or supermarket, and talk to locals.

Covid was often cited as the reason, said Greg from Koryo Tours. “On the surface they are still concerned. Our luggage was disinfected at the border, our temperatures were taken, and about 50% of people are still wearing masks.” Greg cannot work out whether the fear is genuine, or an excuse to control people.

It is thought Covid hit North Korea hard, though it is difficult to know the extent of the suffering.

Local guides repeated the government line that the virus entered the country in a balloon sent over from South Korea, and was swiftly eradicated in 90 days. But Rowan, who has been to North Korea more than 100 times, sensed that Rason had been impacted by the tough Covid regulations. A lot of Chinese businesses had closed, he said, and their workers had left.

Even Joe, the experienced North Korea traveller, commented on how dilapidated the buildings were. “Places were dimly lit and there was no heating, apart from in our hotel rooms,” he said, noting a trip to a cold, dark and deserted art gallery. “It felt like they opened the doors just for us.”

The regime’s photographs might make North Korea look clean and shiny, Joe said, but in person you realise “the roads are awful, the pavements are wobbly, and the buildings are weirdly constructed”. His hotel room was old-fashioned and filthy, he said, resembling “his grandma’s living room”. The whole window was cracked.

“They’ve had five years to fix things. North Koreans are so sensitive about what they show tourists. If this is the best they can show, I dread to think what else is out there”, he said. Most of the country is kept well hidden, with more than four in 10 people believed to be undernourished and needing help.

One of the few chances tourists in North Korea get to interact with local people is through their guides, who sometimes speak English. On these recent trips they were surprisingly well-informed, despite the regime’s intense propaganda machine and information blockade. This is probably because they speak to the Chinese businesspeople who come and go, said Greg.

They knew about Trump’s tariffs and the war in Ukraine – even that North Korean troops were involved. But when Joe showed a photo from Syria, his guide was unaware President Assad had been toppled. “I carefully explained that sometimes when people don’t like their leader, they rise up and force them out, and at first he didn’t believe me.”

Such conversations need to be delicately handled. Strict laws prevent North Koreans from speaking freely. Ask or reveal too much and the tourists might put their guide or themselves at risk.

Mike admits there were times this made him nervous. On a trip to a North Korea-Russia Friendship House, he was invited to write in the visitors’ book. “I went blank and wrote something like ‘I wish the world peace.’ Afterwards my guide told me that was an inappropriate thing to write. That made me paranoid,” he said.

“Generally, the guides did a great job of making us feel safe. There were just a couple of moments when I thought, this is bizarre.”

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0jggdnej0do

The day began with the same cordial routine the White House reserves for visiting foreign dignitaries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by US President Donald Trump at the door of the West Wing with an honour guard, and the leaders shook hands politely.

We were in the Oval Office as part of Ukrainian media pool, witnessing the well-rehearsed formalities and about half an hour of polite talk.

Zelensky presented Trump with the championship belt of Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.

Trump complimented Zelensky’s clothing.

So far, so diplomatic.

But minutes later, what erupted was unprecedented to say the least. The genial tone devolved into acrimony and chaos. Voices were raised, eyes rolled, aspersions cast – and all in front of the world’s TV cameras.

The US president and vice-president berated the visiting leader, accusing Zelensky of not being grateful enough for US support that has sustained Ukraine’s war effort.

Tensions flared when Vice-President JD Vance told Zelensky that the war had to be ended through diplomacy.

What kind of diplomacy, Zelensky replied.

Talking over the Ukrainian president, Vance told the visiting leader it was “disrespectful” for him to come to the Oval Office and make his case in front of the American media and demanded that he thank Trump for his leadership.

Journalists in the room watched with gaping mouths as an extraordinary exchange followed.

“You’ve done enough talking. You’re not winning this,” Trump told him at one point. “You gotta be thankful. You don’t have the cards.”

“I’m not playing cards,” Zelensky replied. “I’m very serious, Mr President. I’m the president in a war.”

“You’re gambling with World War Three,” Trump responded. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”

Vance retorted: “Have you said ‘thank you’ once this entire meeting? No.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to the US watched with her head in her hands.

The atmosphere had shifted entirely – and all out in the open.

Our American colleagues remarked that they had never seen anything like it. “A scene like this was simply unimaginable in the White House,” one told me.

As reporters exited the Oval Office, many stood still in a state of shock. In the White House briefing room, where the exchange was replayed shortly afterwards, the rest of the media who hadn’t been in the room watched in disbelief.

Confusion ensued. There were immediate questions about whether the planned news conference would go ahead – or if the much-anticipated deal between the US and Ukraine over mineral resources would even be signed.

Minutes later, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Zelensky could “come back when he is ready for peace”.

The news conference and deal-signing ceremony – set to take place in the East Room of the White House – was officially cancelled.

Soon after Zelensky strode out and into a waiting SUV, as his ambassador trailed behind him.

They pulled away as the world was only beginning to digest an extraordinary moment.

Despite the full-blown argument, there may still be a minerals deal sooner or later.

But one thing is certain: this visit by Zelensky will be remembered for entirely different reasons.

The world saw first-hand how negotiations between the US and Ukraine are unfolding: they are difficult, emotional, and tense.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2019j0w9glo

A Long Island beachside community in New York’s Suffolk County is worried about dozens of dead birds that have washed up on the shore and been found in backyards, especially because officials believe the birds died from avian flu.

Patchogue Shores in East Patchogue has a private community beach. Earlier this week, Tim Jones, the vice president of their association, was walking along the beach with his family when he noticed many dead birds.

“I saw three seagulls, a cormorant, and I got a count of 11 ducks,” explained Jones.

NBC New York walked with him and saw a dead gull, a dead goose bobbing in the water and various other smaller birds strewn along the small stretch of sand.

Jones contacted the Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC said it appeared to be avian flu because there have been cases in Suffolk County and Nassau County before. Officials from the department urged the community to close the beach to avoid any contact with the dead birds.

While bird-to-human transmission has been extremely low, the avian flu can be spread by direct contact through saliva, secretions and feces. It can also be spread through viral particles in the air and consumption of raw food and milk.

Earlier this month, bird flu was detected at Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue. The farms owner forced to euthanize nearly a 100,000 ducks.

Residents of Patchogue Shores are staying away from the beach for now, hoping the issue will be resolved as the weather gets warmer.

“It’s very frightening, obviously, and I’m not quite sure what we can do about it at this point, other than to stay away,” said resident Janet Bondy, “But that becomes very difficult if you live down here.”

“It’s upsetting because people enjoy this. This is the one place where everybody who lives here enjoys, it’s something to have special, private, and it’s sad,” added Jones.

Source : https://www.nbcnewyork.com/long-island/dead-birds-found-east-patchogue-beach-died-avian-flu/6167412/

Hollywood released more than 500 movies in 2024, but the average American only watched three of them. A new survey shows this huge gap between what studios make and what people actually watch. The survey also found a clear age divide in movie-watching habits, with 43% of Baby Boomers saying they didn’t see a single new movie last year.

With the Oscars just around the corner, it turns out most Americans haven’t seen the films being celebrated. Even though 569 new movies came out in 2024, the Talker Research survey of 2,000 U.S. adults found that nearly half (48%) haven’t watched any of the ten Best Picture nominees.

Younger People Watch Twice as Many Movies as Older Americans

The survey shows clear differences in how many movies each generation watches. Gen Z and millennials are the most active moviegoers, each watching about four different movies throughout the year. The numbers drop as age increases – Baby Boomers only saw about two new movies in 2024, and 43% didn’t watch any new movies at all, whether in theaters or streaming.

These different viewing habits help explain why certain movies are more popular with specific age groups. “Wicked” is a hit with both millennials and Baby Boomers, while Gen X viewers are more evenly split between “Wicked” and “Dune: Part Two.”

Most People Haven’t Seen Oscar Nominees But Have Strong Opinions

Of the 10 movies up for Best Picture, “Wicked” is the clear public favorite – 31% of people surveyed have seen it, and 41% of viewers think it should win the top award. “Dune: Part Two” comes in second place, with 21% of Americans having watched it and the same percentage rooting for it to win.

The other nominees have much lower viewership. Only 6% of people favor “The Substance,” 5% support “I’m Still Here,” and just 3% back “Emilia Pérez.” Interestingly, 12% of people in the survey don’t think any of the nominated films deserve to win Best Picture – though many of these critics probably haven’t even seen the movies they’re judging.

“Wicked” is popular across different age groups, with strong support from millennials (43% compared to Dune’s 29%) and Baby Boomers (36% compared to Dune’s 15%). Gen X viewers are more divided, with “Wicked” ahead of “Dune: Part Two” by just under 10% (33% vs. 24%).

Oscar Nominations Still Make People Want to Watch Movies

Even though most people haven’t seen the nominated films, getting an Oscar nomination still makes a big difference in what Americans choose to watch. More than half of the people surveyed (54%) said they’re more likely to watch a movie after it’s nominated for or wins an Oscar.

This might explain why many Americans have strong opinions about movies they haven’t actually watched – just knowing a film is nominated gives it a certain status that makes people form judgments without seeing it firsthand.

Who’s Watching the Oscars This Year?

The Oscars broadcast seems to be following similar patterns as movie viewership. About 22% of Americans plan to watch the ceremony as they always do, while 19% who usually watch are skipping it this year.

The awards show is picking up some new viewers, though. About 12% plan to tune in for the first time in recent years, and another 10% will be watching for the very first time. Nearly a quarter of Americans (23%) say they’ve never watched the Oscars and don’t plan to start now.

Younger viewers show the most interest in the awards show. About 25% of both Gen Z and millennials plan to watch as they usually do. Millennials seem especially hooked on the Oscars – only 18% say they won’t watch and never have before, which is the lowest percentage among all age groups.

The Full Picture of Best Picture Preferences

When asked which film should win Best Picture in 2025, the full breakdown of American preferences reveals:

• “Wicked” – 41%
• “Dune: Part Two” – 21%
• None of the nominated films – 12%
• “The Substance” – 6%
• “A Complete Unknown” – 6%
• “Conclave” – 6%
• “I’m Still Here” – 5%
• “Nickel Boys” – 4%
• “Emilia Pérez” – 3%
• “The Brutalist” – 3%
• “Anora” – 3%

Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun’s legal troubles seem to be fading away. In March 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged him with manipulating the market. After Trump was elected, he dumped $30 million into the President’s World Liberty Financial crypto scheme. Now a federal judge has granted him a stay in the SEC’s investigation.

Sun is a Chinese crypto mogul who is most famous for being the guy who paid $6.2 million for a banana duct-taped to a wall. He ate the banana in front of cameras in Hong Kong after the check cleared. That was in November, when the specter of an SEC-led fraud investigation was still hanging over his head.

Sun owns several companies, including Tron Foundation Limited, BitTorrent Foundation Ltd., and Rainberry Inc. (formerly BitTorrent). According to an SEC press release from 2023, Sun was allegedly using his companies to wash trade securities, buying them with one company and immediately buying them with another. He also allegedly paid for celebrity endorsements without disclosing the agreement.

When it charged Sun, the SEC also charged eight celebrities they said were involved in the scheme, including Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul, Soula Boy, and Lil Yachty. Several of the celebrities, including Lohan, agreed to pay $400,000 to settle the SEC investigation.

Sun’s SEC legal troubles also seem to be over.

Trump’s family has been cooking the WLF crypto scheme for a long time, but it finally bore fruit after his election and thanks, in no small part, to a big push from Sun. The way WLF worked, its founders would retain 70 percent of the project’s “governance” tokens and would only get a big payout if the token hit a certain threshold of investment.

Around the same time he bought the banana for $6.2 million, Sun “invested” $30 million into WLF. It pushed the coin into the threshold it needed to release cash into Trump’s pocket and netted the President around $18 million. Sun came on to WLF as an advisor. Then he dumped another $45 million into the company. According to Bloomberg, that means Trump has received around $56 million in total “fees” from Sun related to WLF.

Days after the inauguration, Sun praised President Trump in a post on X. “In my view, if I have made any money in cryptocurrency, all credit goes to President Trump,” he said. “Both Trump Coin and World Liberty Financial are bound to perform exceptionally well.”

On February 26, the SEC and Sun’s lawyers sent a letter to the Judge for the case. “In this case, the Parties submit that it is in each of their interests to stay this matter while they consider a potential resolution and agree that no party or non-party would be prejudiced by a stay,” the letter said. The Judge signed it and granted the stay a day later.

Source : https://gizmodo.com/sec-drops-charges-against-chinese-billionaire-after-he-pumps-30-million-into-trumps-crypto-scheme-2000569966

One of the men on trial over the theft of a £4.75m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace has admitted he used it the day before it was stolen, a court has been told.

The fully functioning 18-carat toilet, created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, had been on display at the Oxfordshire country house where Sir Winston Churchill was born.

It was taken in an “audacious” five-minute raid in the early hours of 14 September 2019 by thieves who drove through locked gates and used sledgehammers to smash their way into the property.

Michael Jones, 39, who denies burglary, told Oxford Crown Court that the artwork was “splendid”.

Two visits to palace prior to raid

Jones visited the palace twice before the theft but denied that these were reconnaissance trips.

He first went with his then-partner during a classic car show and the pair bought annual passes.

Photographs taken included a poster advertising the upcoming gold toilet exhibition and the window that would later be smashed in the theft, the court heard.

But Jones said it was a shot of Union flags in the distance, and denied he was trying to help any burglars.

Jones ‘spent 90 minutes at palace’

The day before the toilet was stolen, Jones and the same woman spent around 90 minutes at the palace on what was a Friday, the trial heard.

Asked by prosecutors why he had taken a half-day off work rather than waiting until the weekend, he admitted it was unusual for him, but “was interested to go and see it”.

Questioned if he “took advantage of” the gold toilet’s “facilities”, the defendant said yes, and described it as “splendid”.

Who else is on trial?

Frederick Sines, 36, also known as Frederick Doe, of Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire, and Bora Guccuk, 41, from west London, each deny one count of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

Jurors have been told that James Sheen, 40, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, previously pleaded guilty to burglary.

Jones, from Oxford, said he did not know Guccuk or Doe before the case began but had worked as a roofer and builder for Sheen from around 2018 and was, in effect, his ‘right-hand man’.

The toilet artwork, entitled America, weighed approximately 98kg, was insured for $6m (£4.75m) and was made from gold worth about £2.8m.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/4-75m-toilet-used-by-defendant-at-blenheim-palace-day-before-it-was-stolen-13318809

POPE Francis has suffered an “isolated” breathing crisis while receiving treatment in hospital, The Vatican has said.

The 88-year-old pontiff experienced a sudden deterioration in his condition following a bout of bronchospasm on Friday.

The illness triggered vomiting and further complications, a statement today said.

A statement said: “This afternoon, after a morning spent alternating respiratory physiotherapy with prayer in the chapel, the Holy Father presented an isolated attack of bronchospasm which, however, led to an episode of vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition.”

Medical staff acted swiftly, clearing his airways and initiating non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

“The Holy Father was promptly aspirated and started on non-invasive mechanical ventilation, with a good response on gas exchange,” the sources confirmed.

Despite the scare, Pope Francis remained alert throughout the ordeal, according to the Vatican.

“The Holy Father always remained vigilant and oriented, collaborating in the therapeutic maneuvers.”

Friday’s health crisis followed three days of more positive updates, with previous Vatican reports indicating a “slight improvement” as the Pope battles a “complex” infection caused by two or more micro-organisms.

A Vatican official, speaking anonymously, stated that the breathing issue “did not last a long time” and that doctors would need 24-48 hours to assess its impact on his clinical condition.

He has not been listed in critical condition for the past two days.

But while his condition appears to have stabilised, the prognosis remains uncertain.

“The prognosis therefore remains reserved. In the morning he received the Eucharist.”

In light of his fragile health, the Vatican also announced that Pope Francis will not lead the annual Ash Wednesday service on March 5, marking the beginning of Lent.

A senior Vatican official will take his place for the significant Church event.

Despite his hospitalization, the Pope has continued to oversee Vatican affairs.

Daily staff appointments requiring his approval are still being announced, and on Friday, the Vatican released a papal letter to participants in a Church training course in Rome, signed by Francis with a note stating it was sent “from Gemelli hospital.”

Cardinal Michael Czerny, head of the Vatican’s development office, told Italy’s La Stampa newspaper that while Francis is improving, it is happening “slower than what we would like.”

The Pope was admitted on February 14 after struggling with breathing difficulties, later being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.

Despite growing speculation about a possible resignation, the Vatican has firmly denied that Francis is considering stepping down.

Parolin himself dismissed the rumours, telling Corriere della Sera that “such speculation is useless” and that what matters now is the Pope’s health.

Francis, who has led the Catholic Church since 2013, has a history of lung problems, having had part of one lung removed due to pleurisy as a young man.

His pre-existing condition makes pneumonia particularly dangerous for him, and doctors say his condition remains “touch-and-go.”

The Pope’s illness has prompted an outpouring of support from the faithful.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/13655561/pope-francis-health-worsens-hospital/

European leaders showed their support of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he was confronted by United States President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House.

Zelenskyy had traveled to Washington to sign a critical minerals deal with Trump and to seek continued US support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine just over three years ago.

However, the meeting ended abruptly, without further talk of signing a deal, after Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of disrespecting the United States as Zelenskyy sought security assurances to protect against any future invasion attempts by Russia.

Meeting changes allies’ view of United States

Rachel Rizzo, a nonresident senior fellow at think tank the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, told DW that the meeting would lead European leaders to question what kind of ally the United States could continue to be.

“I do think that American allies and partners, especially after high level visits from Trump’s administration to Europe over the last couple of weeks, they’re really calling into question what kind of partner the United States is,” she told DW.

“This will create a scenario where long-standing allies and partners are now going to look at countries outside of the United States and I think that weakens the US on the global stage,” Rizzo added.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, echoed this belief, “Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.

“We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the aggressor.”

Europe’s leaders praise Zelenskyy

Shortly after the clash at the White House, leaders from across Europe took to social media to express their support for Zelenskyy.

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, “Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians do.” While Germany’s conservative leader Friedrich Merz, Scholz’s likely successor after his party won last Sunday’s general election, posted: “We stand with Ukraine in good and in testing times. We must never confuse aggressor and victim in this terrible war.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Trump this week too, posted on X: “There is an aggressor: Russia. There is a people who are under attack: Ukraine.”

“Respect to those who, since the beginning, have been fighting. Because they are fighting for their dignity, their independence, for their children and for the security of Europe,” Macron added.

Among those who added their voices to the parade of European support for Ukraine were European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Starmer to host international leaders on Sunday

Meanwhile, Starmer spoke with the Ukrainian and US presidents immediately after their heated conversation in the Oval Office.

A spokesperson for the British prime minister said he is looking forward to “hosting international leaders on Sunday, including President Zelenskyy.”

Starmer was said to have wooed Trump during the week, after meeting with the US president on Thursday, when he presented Trump an invitation to a state visit with King Charles.

Although Rizzo was understanding of Zelenskyy pushing back, she believes the Ukrainian president’s best option would have been to swallow his pride — like Starmer and Macron had done earlier in the week.

“Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer were able to put their egos aside,” she said. “Show up to the White House and flatter Trump, which is kind of what you have to do, even though it’s sort of like dealing with a toddler.

“I think Zelensky should be able to do that as well but there’s also a sense of Ukrainian pride here that I really understand,” she added.

Meloni calls for summit

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has supported Ukraine but also has strong ties to Trump as a fellow right-wing politician, offered a more careful response.

Suggesting a summit involving the United States, European nations and allies, Meloni said it was important to discuss how “to deal with the great challenges of today, starting with Ukraine.”

“Every division of the West makes us all weaker and favors those who would like to see the decline of our civilization,” Meloni added.

However, Rizzo said she believes the disagreement between Trump and Zelenskyy could make any future deal to end the war much harder to achieve.

“I worry that Europe is going to get cut out of these negotiations,” Rizzo said. “Trump sees Zelenskyy as sort of insolent and not ready for peace, so he’s going to get cut out. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that what happened today can get smoothed over, but I think it’s going to be an uphill battle.”

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/europe-loudly-states-support-for-ukraine-quietly-eyes-trump/a-71790839

The Danish Salling Group said it will be adding a black star to electronic price tags for European-made goods to allow consumers to choose them over products made in the United States.

The move comes as many in Denmark want to make a protest against the policies of US President Donald Trump, notably his declared aim of bringing the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland under US control— whether by purchase or, potentially, by force.

Growing consumer anger at Trump

The Salling Group, Denmark’s largest grocery group and the operator of major supermarkets Bilka, Fotex and Netto, said it had received inquiries from customers who want to buy European brands rather than their US equivalents.

“We are making it easier to shop for European brands,” CEO Anders Hagh wrote on networking platform LinkedIn with a photo showing what the stars would look like on supermarket price signs.

Hagh said that to enable customers the choice, “We will introduce a new marking on our electronic price tags in Bilka, Fotex and Netto during March, where a small star will show if the brand is owned by a European company.”

Hagh denied that the move entailed a boycott of US products.

“We will continue to have brands on the shelves from all over the world, and it will always be up to the customers to choose,” he wrote. “The new label is only an extra service for customers who want to buy goods with European brands.”

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/danish-chain-distinguishes-european-from-us-goods-greenland-trump/a-71773488

Designating English as the national language “promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement,” according to a White House document.

While acknowledging that over 350 languages are spoken in the United States, the White House document says that English has always been “the language of our nation, with historic documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution written in English.”

“It is long past time English is recognized as the official language of the United States,” the document said.

What does the order stipulate?

Trump’s executive order will allow government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue offering documents and services in languages other than English, according to a fact sheet on the upcoming order.

It will also rescind a mandate issued by former President Bill Clinton that required the government and organizations that receive federal funding to provide language assistance to people who do not speak English.

However, according to the document, agencies will still have “flexibility” to decide how much help to offer in languages other than English.

Does the US need an official language?

The United States has never had an official language at the federal level, but there are 32 US states that have adopted English as their official language, according to ProEnglish, a group advocating English as an official language.

Nearly 68 million people speak a language other than English at home, according to 2019 government figures. While English is by far the majority language, more than 40 million people in the US are estimated to speak Spanish at home.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/trump-to-make-english-official-language-in-us/a-71787379

Elon Musk is a dad once again — to his alleged 14th child.

The tech tycoon has welcomed a fourth kid with Shivon Zilis, the top Neuralink executive announced via X — which Musk also owns — on Friday.

“Discussed with Elon and, in light of beautiful Arcadia’s birthday, we felt it was better to also just share directly about our wonderful and incredible son Seldon Lycurgus,” the 38-year-old gushed.

“Built like a juggernaut, with a solid heart of gold. Love him so much ❤️ .”

Musk, 53, commented, “❤️.”

The post also revealed the name of his and Zilis’ third child, which was previously unknown.

Bloomberg reported in June 2024 that the pair had secretly welcomed a third kid together at the start of the year.

The next day, Musk exclusively confirmed the birth of his 12th child to Page Six, telling us, “As for ‘secretly fathered,’ that is … false. All our friends and family know. Failure to issue a press release, which would be bizarre, does not mean ‘secret.’”

The Bloomberg article was titled, “Elon Wants You to Have More Babies,” and focused on his obsession with birth rates.

“Many countries are already well below replacement rate, and the trend is that almost all will be. This is simply a fact, not a ‘debunked theory,’” he told Page Six in response, adding that “2.1 kids is replacement rate, and obviously the world as a whole will soon drop below that point.”

The billionaire also sent us a link to statistics on fertility rates from the World Bank Group.

Musk welcomed twins Strider and Azure with Zilis in November 2021.

“Bravo to big families,” he told us the following July.

As for how many kids he would like to have, he replied at the time, “As many as I am able to spend time with and be a good father [to].”

The twins were born just one month before he and alt-pop singer Grimes had daughter Exa Dark Sideræl via surrogate. He also shares two other children with Grimes and six with ex-wife Justine Wilson.

Seldon is believed to be the Tesla mogul’s 14th child, as he has yet to respond to Ashley St. Clair’s claims.

The conservative activist, 26, recently filed a paternity lawsuit against the SpaceX CEO in which she asked for sole custody of her 5-month-old son.

Source : https://pagesix.com/2025/02/28/celebrity-news/elon-musk-welcomes-4th-child-with-shivon-zilis-son-named-seldon-lycurgus/

Elon Musk’s brood just keeps growing.

The Tesla mogul has at least 14 children with four women.

Musk welcomed six kids with his first wife, Justine Wilson, three with his ex-girlfriend Grimes, four with his Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis and reportedly another one with author Ashley St. Clair.

Musk addressed his big brood in July 2022 by tweeting, “Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far.”

The following month, he called low birth rates a “much bigger risk to civilization than global warming.”

Meet the billionaire businessman’s kids and their mothers below.

Nevada Alexander Musk

SNARLING Donald Trump sparked global chaos last night after booting Volodymyr Zelensky out of the White House amid a blistering row over US backing of the Ukraine war.

The raging US President gave the hero leader a humiliating Oval Office dressing down and told him to come back when he wanted peace.

The pair were meant to sign a deal for Ukraine to hand over a large chunk of its mineral wealth as payback for billions of dollars of wartime aid from the US.

But the deal went unsigned as a humiliated Mr Zelensky “was told to leave” the White House early.

In a confrontation played out in front of the world’s media, Mr Trump accused Mr Zelensky of being insufficiently grateful for US support and ordered him to compromise with the invading Russians as he “does not hold the cards”.

After a week of careful diplomacy led by the UK and France designed to support a peace plan, a summit in London tomorrow will now become crisis talks after a fuming Mr Trump pulled the rug from under his Western allies.

He accused the champion of Kyiv of “risking World War Three” by continuing the war and demanded he publicly thank America.

The President warned Mr Zelensky “you either make a deal or we are out” after US funding for Ukraine’s three-year stand against Russia’s bloody invasion.

Following the angry meeting, Mr Trump said he had “determined that President Zelensky is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations”.

He went on: “I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office.

“He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Earlier Mr Trump had said to Mr Zelensky’s face: “Your country is in big trouble.

“You’re not winning. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.”

Mr Trump raged: “We have empowered you to be a tough guy. You either make a deal or we are out. You don’t have the cards.”

Sitting beside Mr Zelensky in front of TV cameras, Mr Trump snapped: “It’s going to be very hard to do business like this. You’ve got to be more thankful.”

The meeting had begun with warm words about the bravery of Ukraine, with the US President saying: “Your soldiers have been unbelievably brave.

“We’ve given them great equipment, but somebody has to use the equipment.”

“You don’t have the cards. With us, you start having cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people! You’re gambling with World War Three!”

He put his previous branding of Mr Zelensky as a dictator down to a “little negotiation spat”, and said he looked forward to getting “dig digging digging” in the mineral deal.

Mr Zelensky appeared to have brought with him the WBC heavyweight title belt won by Oleksandr Usyk when he defeated Tyson Fury.

He had earlier told Mr Trump he would give the trophy to him.

But bickering soon erupted after Mr Zelensky pointed out Putin had previously broken numerous ceasefire deals, so the US might be required to underwrite any peace terms.

Mr Trump said: “We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel — you’re in no position to dictate that.”

He added: “You’re right now not in a very good position. You don’t have the cards. I’m not worried about ­security, I’m worried about getting the deal done.

“I think once we make the agreement, that’s going to be 95 per cent of it — it’s not going to go back to fighting.”

A White House meeting that was intended to kick off negotiations on a deal over Ukraine’s rare earth minerals devolved Friday into a remarkable confrontation, with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance chastising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and telling him he wasn’t grateful enough to the United States.

The Oval Office shouting match has for now shattered hopes for the minerals deal, which Trump and his allies had presented as an important step forward for Ukraine on the road to peace with Russia more than three years after the war began.

“He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social website after the meeting ended. “He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”

Trump dug in further hours later, telling reporters that Zelenskyy “overplayed his hand” and accusing the Ukrainian president of “looking to go on and fight, fight, fight.”

“We’re not looking for somebody that’s going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened,” Trump said. “We’re not looking to go into a 10-year war and play games. We want peace.”

After departing the White House, Zelenskyy posted on X, “Thank you America, thank you for your support, thank you for this visit. Thank you @POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

During a Fox News interview Friday evening, Zelenskyy reiterated his appreciation of U.S. support but rebuffed calls to apologize for his comments at the White House.

“I think that we have to be very open and very honest. And I’m not sure that we did something bad,” Zelenskyy said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is among the Trump allies who have called on Zelenskyy to issue an apology, telling CNN in an interview Friday night that Zelensky should “apologize for turning this thing into the fiasco for him that it became.”

“There was no need for him to go in there and become antagonistic,” Rubio said. “We were hoping that that meeting would begin by: ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. We wouldn’t even have a chance to negotiate a piece without the help you gave us.'”

Despite Trump’s assertion that Zelenskyy “doesn’t have the cards” to negotiate, the Ukrainian leader remained adamant Friday night that security guarantees be included in any agreement to end the war, as well as the rare earth minerals deal drafted by the Trump administration.

The security guarantees, he added in the Fox News interview, are critical given what he described as a long history of Russian President Vladimir Putin disregarding ceasefire agreements.

Zelenskyy made many of those same points during his meeting with Trump and Vance when the cameras were rolling. A White House official told NBC News that Trump and other U.S. officials later asked Zelenskyy to leave the White House, saying that he was not welcome back on Friday. Zelenskyy abruptly departed the White House, and a planned joint news conference with the two leaders was called off.

The Oval Office exchange underscored the tension that has emerged between the United States and Ukraine — along with many of its European allies — over the tougher line that Trump has taken toward the country since coming into office. He has called Zelenskyy a “dictator“ and falsely said that Ukraine, not Russia, started the war.

Rubio said Friday that frustrations over Zelenskyy’s behavior are not new, pointing to reporting by NBC News that President Biden lost his temper and raised his voice while on the phone with the Ukrainian leader, according to four people familiar with the June 2022 call.

“These frustrations are not unique to President Trump,” Rubio said.

Zelenskyy told Fox News that he believes his relationship with Trump could still be salvaged. But he said in the interview that he wants to see signs of Trump favoring Ukraine over Russia.

“I want really, him to be more at our side,” Zelenskyy said. “The war began when Russia brought this war to our country. And they are not right.”

The verbal skirmish in the Oval Office began after Vance said that the path to peace between Russia and Ukraine is diplomacy. Zelenskyy disagreed, noting that Russia had broken agreements with his government in the past.

“He killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners,” Zelenskyy said about Putin. “What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance shot back. “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media right now.”

Vance has long opposed U.S. aid to Ukraine. As a senator, he voted against a $95 billion foreign aid package that included substantial funding for Ukraine. As a Senate candidate, Vance said in a 2022 podcast, “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.”

When Vance told Zelenskyy on Friday that Ukraine has “manpower problems” in recruiting troops, Zelenskyy challenged Vance, noting he had never even been to his country.

“I’ve actually watched and seen the stories,” Vance responded. “And I know, what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President.”

“Do you think that it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?” he added.

Zelenskyy said that everyone has “problems” during the war and suggested that the U.S. doesn’t feel the effects of the war because of the “nice ocean” between the two countries. He said the U.S. may not feel the effects now, but added, “You will feel it in the future.”

“Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel because you’re in no position to dictate that,” Trump said, raising his voice and pointing his finger at Zelenskyy. “You’re not in a good position.”

“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump said. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country.”

“I’ve empowered you to be a tough guy,” Trump said. “And I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave, but you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out, and if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”

Trump and Vance repeatedly suggested that Zelenskyy was not thankful enough to the United States for its assistance.

“You’re not acting at all thankful, and that’s not a nice thing,” Trump said at one point.

“Have you said thank you once, this entire meeting?” Vance also asked.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly thanked the United States for its help. In December 2022, he spoke before both chambers of Congress and his first words were: “Thank you so much. Thank you so much for that. Thank you. It’s too much for me. All this for our great people. Thank you so much. Dear Americans, in all states, cities and communities, all those who value freedom and justice, who cherish it as strongly as we Ukrainians in our cities, in each and every family, I hope my words of respect and gratitude resonate in each American heart.”

Republican allies of the president largely applauded Trump after the meeting. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., an outspoken critic of Putin who has supported U.S. aid to Ukraine, called the meeting a “complete, utter disaster,” and said, “I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelenskyy again.”

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Graham — who attended a bipartisan group of senators’ meeting with Zelenskyy earlier Friday — said the Ukrainian leader “either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”

Zelenskyy rebuffed Graham’s suggestion during his Fox News interview, stating that only the Ukrainian people can demand his resignation.

Meanwhile, Trump and Vance’s handling of the meeting stunned Democrats, who said that they were kowtowing to Putin.

“What we saw in the Oval Office today was beyond disgraceful. Trump and Vance berating Zelenskyy — putting on a show of lies and misinformation that would make Putin blush — is an embarrassment for America and a betrayal of our allies. They’re popping champagne in the Kremlin,” wrote Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who was also part of the meeting with Zelenskyy on Friday morning.

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., said during an interview on MSNBC that “this is the beginning of the end. Putin starts not only walking all over Ukraine, but walking all over Europe.” Trump has “completely thrown out American tradition, Republican tradition, everything they’ve run on for decades just to be beholden to Putin.”

Zelenskyy’s visit had been expected to focus in large part on a potential deal for the U.S. to access Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals, which are used to make a variety of tech products.

During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump said that the two countries had made progress on an agreement that would grant the U.S. a significant ownership stake in Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals as a form of repayment for Washington’s support of Kyiv since Russia’s invasion.

U.S. officials initiated peace talks with Russian negotiators this month in Saudi Arabia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the U.S. delegation. It was the first time Russian and American officials had met in person during the Trump administration with the express intent of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.

Trump has long accused Zelenskyy of taking undue advantage of the U.S. and goading then-President Joe Biden into spending billions of U.S. dollars on a war that “couldn’t be won.”

The minerals agreement, Trump has argued, would serve as reimbursement for the nearly $66 billion in military assistance the U.S. has provided Ukraine over the past three years, and it could create an “economic partnership” between the two countries.

Ukraine has some of the world’s largest reserves of titanium and iron ore. Many of the minerals, however, are in areas controlled by Russian troops, according to U.S. officials.

Source : https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/zelenskyy-trump-white-house-russia-peace-talks-rare-earth-minerals-rcna194118

New Delhi is hoping such efforts will help India close a trade deal with the US by the fall, a goal set by both countries at the Modi-Trump summit earlier this month in Washington.

Indian officials are exploring ways to lower tariffs on a wide range of imports, including cars and chemicals, in a bid to evade US President Donald Trump’s threatened reciprocal levies, according to people familiar with the matter.

Officials in New Delhi are discussing reducing duties for automobiles, some agricultural products, chemicals, critical pharmaceuticals, as well as certain medical devices and electronics, the people said, asking not to be identified as the plans aren’t finalized.

The proposals would go much further than previous tariff reductions already unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration in recent weeks, like on high-end motorcycles and bourbon whiskey — goods exported by the US to India, but while politically important for Trump, aren’t sold in large volumes in the South Asian nation.

India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry didn’t immediately respond to a request for further information.

New Delhi is hoping such efforts will help India close a trade deal with the US by the fall, a goal set by both countries at the Modi-Trump summit earlier this month in Washington. While officials don’t expect that deal to be finalized by April — when Trump’s planned reciprocal levies may begin — they’re hopeful progress toward an agreement may shield India from those duties.

Indian officials are examining the country’s existing tariff regime from multiple angles. Among the options under consideration is whether to reduce overall average tariffs or take a more sector-by-sector approach, the people said. Separately, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry set up a team that’s taking feedback from other ministries and stakeholders on the potential impact any reciprocal tariffs might have, some of the people said. Some sectors aren’t expected to see any tariff reductions, including dairy products, they said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-weighs-tariff-cuts-on-cars-chemicals-as-trump-duties-loom-3425728

A travel ban was lifted on influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are both charged with human trafficking in Romania, and they are headed to the United States, officials said Thursday.

The brothers are avid supporters of President Donald Trump and have millions of online followers. It wasn’t clear under what conditions the Tates were allowed to leave Romania, or where in the United States they were headed.

Here are some things to know about the Tate Brothers:

Who are the Tate Brothers?
Andrew Tate, 38, and Tristan Tate, 36 are dual U.S.-British citizens.

Andrew Tate is a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers on X. He also runs an online academy where he says he teaches young men how to get rich and attract women. Tristan Tate is also a former kickboxer.

What are they charged with in Romania?
The Tate brothers and two Romanian women were arrested in Bucharest in late 2022.

The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism alleged the four defendants formed a criminal group in 2021 “in order to commit the crime of human trafficking” in Romania as well as the United States and Britain.

They were initially formally indicted last year. In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that a trial could start but didn’t set a date.

In December, a court in Bucharest ruled that the case against the Tates and the two Romanian women couldn’t go to trial because of multiple legal and procedural irregularities on the part of the prosecutors.

The case hasn’t been closed, and there is also a separate legal case against the brothers in Romania.

Andrew Tate has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors in Romania have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy to silence him. But they were charged with forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, among other charges.

What led to the travel ban being lifted?
DIICOT, Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, said in a statement Thursday that prosecutors approved a “request to modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania,” but that judicial control measures remained in place. The agency didn’t say who had made the request.

The control measures include the requirement to “appear before judicial authorities whenever summoned,” the statement read.

The agency said the Tates were “warned that deliberately violating these obligations may result in judicial control being replaced with a stricter deprivation of liberty measure.”

Their departure came after Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said this month that a U.S. official in the current Trump administration had expressed interest in the brothers’ legal case in Romania at the Munich Security Conference. The minister insisted it didn’t amount to pressure.

Why were the Tates allowed to leave Romania?
Criminal cases in Romania can often drag on for 5 to 10 years and the accused can, in some cases, leave the country during that time unless judicial restrictions stipulate otherwise, said former Romanian Judge Cristi Danilet.

But it’s unclear whether it is rare that someone accused of serious allegations such as human trafficking or rape is allowed to leave the country while a case is still ongoing.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/romania-andrew-tristan-tate-travel-ban-lifted-3c8b56be5d99f9ed04045f4680e5f8c0

When Japanese journalist Shiori Ito decided to speak up about her rape allegations, she knew she was standing in the face of a society that preferred silence.

“I’m scared…but all I want to do is to talk about the truth”, Shiori says in the opening scene of her Oscar-nominated documentary Black Box Diaries.

Shiori became the face of Japan’s MeToo movement after she accused a prominent journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi of rape.

Her acclaimed directorial debut, based on her memoir of the same name, is a retelling of her quest for justice after authorities found the evidence insufficient to pursue criminal charges.

But there is one country where it is yet to play: Japan, where it has run into huge controversy. Her former lawyers have accused her of including audio and video footage she did not have permission to use, which, they say, has violated trust and put her sources at risk. Shiori defends what she did as necessary for “public good”.

It’s a startling turn in a story that gripped Japan when it first broke -the then 28-year-old Shiori ignored her family’s request to remain silent. And after her public accusation did not result in a criminal case, she filed a civil lawsuit against Yamaguchi and won $30,000 (£22,917) in damages.

Shiori told the BBC making the film involved “reliving her trauma”: “It took me four years [to make the film] because emotionally I was struggling.”

She was an intern at Reuters news agency in 2015, when she says Yamaguchi invited her to discuss a job opportunity. He was the Washington bureau chief for a major Japanese media firm, Tokyo Broadcasting System.

Shiori claims she was raped following a dinner in Tokyo with Yamaguchi, who has always denied the allegations.

CCTV footage of an intoxicated Shiori being dragged from a taxi and into a hotel is part of the more than 400 hours of footage she edited for the documentary.

The editing process, she says, was “really challenging. It was like hardcore exposure therapy.”

When the film was released, the CCTV footage became a source of friction as Shiori’s team of ex-lawyers, who helped her win her lawsuit, slammed the documentary.

They claimed it was unauthorised use of CCTV footage – and that she had violated a pledge not to use it outside of court proceedings. .

Last week, her former lawyers – led by Yoko Nishihiro – held another press conference, saying her use of the footage posed challenges for other sexual assault cases.

“If the fact that the evidence from the trial has been made public is known, we will be unable to obtain cooperation in future cases,” Ms Nishihiro said.

Ms Nishihiro claimed that Shiori had also used unauthorised recordings, saying she only found this out at a screening of the film last July.

This included audio of a police detective who eventually acted as a whistleblower about the investigation process – as well as a video of a taxi driver who provided testimony about the night of the alleged rape. Both of them, the lawyers argued, were identifiable and neither had given their consent to be featured in the film.

“I’ve been trying so hard to protect her for eight-and-half years, and I feel like I’ve been completely torn apart,” Ms Nishihiro said.

“I want her to explain and be held accountable.”

Shiori had earlier acknowledged that she did not have the hotel’s permission to use the CCTV but argued that this was “the only visual evidence” she had of the night she was sexually assaulted.

She added that including audio of the police detective was necessary because of “the cover up of the investigation”, adding that she was releasing the video “for the public good”.

“We are standing in different points of view,” she said of the fallout with her former lawyers.

“For me, [it’s for the] public good. For them, it’s ‘do not break any rules’.”

There has been no official explanation as to why the film has not yet been distributed. Shiori has said that “Japan is still not ready to talk about [it]”, but its unclear how much of it is also due to legal hurdles.

In her latest statement last week, Shiori apologised and said she would re-edit parts of the documentary to make sure individuals would not be identified, adding that a redacted version would be screened moving forward.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2j1r1qn3zo

Released files from the Justice Department revealed several prominent celebrities were on Jeffery Epstein’s contact list.

Michael Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Naomi Campbell, Mick Jagger, Prince Andrew, the late Ethel Kennedy — Robert F. Kennedy’s mother — and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo were named in the docs released on Thursday, per The Post.

According to Fox News, none of the celebs were accused of any crimes related to Epstein.

Additionally, documents showed there were an additional 254 names on a filing named “MASSEUSES.” However, they were redacted.

Despite the filings naming a handful of celebrities, an insider told The Post the findings were “disappointing” to those eager to learn more about Epstein and his connection with political leaders.

Reps for Baldwin, 66, Campbell, 54, Jagger, 81, Prince Andrew, 65, Cuomo, 67, Kennedy and Jackson’s estate weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.

A federal court order last year issued the release of sealed records concerning Epstein and his “sexual exploitation of over 250 underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida,” per the Office of Public Affairs.

The convicted sex offender’s criminal case has been of public interest due to his connection with world leaders, who would benefit from trips on his “Lolita Express” private jet and private island in the Caribbean.

Epstein was known to keep influential businessmen and leaders in his close circle to talk about philanthropy and business endeavors.

Amongst those Epstein associated with were President Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Bill Gates.

Trump, however, reportedly barred Epstein from stepping foot in his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., after the latter had an alleged incident with a member’s teenage daughter in 2007.

As for Gates, he’s previously discussed his former relationship with financer, admitting that it was a “huge mistake” to “spend any time with him” during an interview with the Wall Street Journal in January.

Source: https://pagesix.com/2025/02/27/celebrity-news/jeffrey-epsteins-contact-list-included-michael-jackson-alec-baldwin-naomi-campbell-and-more-celebrities/

What do the ancient Romans have to do with Carnival? What role does the number 11 play? We dig deep into the roots of the rituals of the Cologne Carnival.

It all kicks off on 11:11 am on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Weiberfastnacht (Women’s Carnival Day). In Germany’s Rhineland region — among other places — thousands of people wearing colorful costumes join several days of street celebrations.

In Cologne, the motto this year is “FasteLOVEnd – wenn Dräum widder blöhe” (Carnival — when dreams bloom again). The slogan has a bit the feel of the flower power era of the 60s and 70s, a time when people turned to a carefree “peace and love” attitude in reaction to global crises.

“In difficult times, carnival provides comfort, joy, community and also a little hope,” explains Christoph Kuckelkorn, president of Cologne’s Carnival festival committee. “We want to invite people to immerse themselves in carnival’s dream world with us and let themselves drift a little — and perhaps will they want to make the real world a little better when they ‘wake up.'”

Roman roots
People in Cologne have been taking that break from everyday life since as far back as 2,000 years ago — that’s where one of the roots of today’s carnival celebration lies.

At that time, Cologne was still called Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. In the city founded by the Romans, people celebrated the Saturnalia festival in honor of the god Saturn, as they did everywhere in the Roman Empire.

The celebrations featured a lot of drinking and dancing, and for the amusement of all, the rich exchanged their noble garments with the simple tunics of their slaves and even served them. The slaves were also allowed to express harsh criticism of their masters, which would have earned them severe punishment the rest of the year. But during the festival, the world was turned on its head.

There was even a parade with a ship on a cart; the Latin name was “Carrus navalis” — that sounds a lot like the word carnival. The people of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensiums dressed up and accompanied the magnificently decorated cart with timpani, flutes and rattles.

While the Saturnalia in the Roman Empire usually fell in December, the Germanic people celebrated a wild festival in the spring. They wore frightening masks and made a pandemonium of noise with drums and bells to drive away the evil spirits of winter. That’s the second root of German carnival festivities — even today, this custom is alive in the southern German Fastnacht (the time before fasting).

How carnival became a religious festival
After Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity to be the state religion in 380, that was the end of the Saturnalia. The church also took a dim view of the pagan rites practiced by the German people.

But to avoid banning celebrations altogether, the church simply reframed the festival: the rituals were no longer aimed at driving out the evil spirits of winter, but the devil, the greatest enemy of Christianity.

The date it was observed became subject to the liturgical year. During the time between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday, the faithful were expected to eat less and pray more. But before the 40-day period of fasting before Easter began, people were allowed exuberant celebrations in which meat — “carne” in Latin — was bid farewell — “vale” in Latin.

That helped carnival to become established as a Christian festival, especially in regions that were later largely Catholic, and not only in Europe.

The conquistadores from Spain and Portugal took their carnival traditions to the Caribbean and Central and South America, where they successfully took root.

Today, thousands of people flock to Rio de Janeiro each year to celebrate carnival with a huge samba-powered street festival. But that’s a story for another time!

Back in the Old World, carnival may have been under church supervision, but priests and bishops still looked on the revels with suspicion. Yet they tolerated the carnival period being used to poke fun at church rituals, including the election of a “fool’s pope” who rode into the church on a donkey.

Satirical songs, masked balls and mischief galore
Along with the church, the tone-setting citizens of the city determined how carnival could be celebrated. That included journeymen reciting satirical songs in public squares and in front of inns, or jugglers and comedians parading through the streets. The upper classes, on the other hand, celebrated in their own way: Cologne’s Elector Clemens August, for example, organized a lavish annual masked ball for church officials and the high society of the city.

When Napoleon’s troops occupied the Rhineland, along with the party metropolis of Cologne, they were skeptical of the carnival celebrants (known as “fools”) and banned the festival for a time. That was only partially successful, as the “fools” simply moved their celebrations from the streets to the inns.

In 1815, Prussians troops arrived in Cologne, and the city again came under German rule. The new occupying forces allowed carnival celebrations, which according to observers of the time, got increasingly out of hand: “Unrestrained debauchery and loutishness spread. Thus, under the mask of foolishness, much mischief was done, and many masks were immoral and tactless.”

Carnival gets organized
Eventually, influential Cologne citizens no longer wanted to put up with this. They founded the “Festordnende Comité” (festival organizing committee) in 1823, and created the figure of the “Carnival Hero.”

He was supposed to “guide the wretchedness of ordinary goings-on back into the desired channels on account of his noble character” and defeat all grievances — and start his triumphal procession through Cologne on Shrove Monday.

The hero later became the “Carnival Prince.”

Since 1883, he’s been joined by the Maiden of Cologne, symbolizing the free city of Cologne, which is not subject to any foreign power. She is played by a man, because the carnival societies were — and often still are — traditionally all-male.

The peasant, with his threshing flail, is regarded as a sign of Cologne’s boldness. Together, this “triumvirate” rules over the city’s fools for a whole season.

Elsewhere, prince-and-princess couples reign. But the celebratory ruling figures all have one thing in common: They open the carnival season on November 11 at 11:11, and the street celebrations also start at 11:11 on Weiberfastnacht.

The magic number: 11
The number 11 is the first repdigit, a number made up of repeating digits. Like many numbers, it has a lot of legends and traditions associated with it.

November 11 is also the Feast of Saint Martin, which in the Middle Ages was the beginning of a period of fasting until Christmas, before which, of course, people wanted to indulge. In the carnival tradition, 11 represents the equality of “fools”: two ones next to each other, no number has a higher value.

And of course, the number has a Christian interpretation: 11 is one more than 10 fingers and one less than the 12 Apostles, neither human nor holy, and so carries a hint of sinfulness.

Fool’s privilege
Can you commit a sin during “the fifth season,” as the carnival season is also called? As with the ancient Romans, the “fools” agree on at least one thing: It’s okay to go overboard and criticize the authorities. Whether in the carnival speeches, when someone gets on stage and gives politicians a piece of their mind; the floats in the Shrove Monday procession, which also take aim at grievances and world politics; or in the costume choice of each individual. Here, too, protest can be the order of the day if, for example, one dresses up as a warming globe or an exploitative financial shark.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/carnival-a-2000-year-old-tradition/a-63707828

THE STARS of Coyote Ugly have barely aged a day as the cast of the cult movie reunited.

Twenty five years after the film first had its premiere, the stars – including Tyra Banks – posed together.

Tyra, 51, starred in the hit film alongside Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Melanie Lynskey, Bridget Moynahan, and LeAnn Rimes.

It focussed on 21-year-old Violet (Perabo) who has dreams of becoming a huge sensation in the music industry.

She moves to New York City after getting an opportunity to chase her dreams before she gets a job at the hottest nightclub in town.

Despite negative reviews from critics, it was a huge success at the box office as it grossed over $110 million.

But 25 years after the film made its debut in theatres, the cast looked better than ever at a starry gala evening.

Tyra sizzled as she posed with fellow cast members, Izabella Miko, Maria Bello and Melanie Lynskey.

The ANTM personality wore a slinky bodycon black and blue dress as she gave her signature “smize” to the cameras.

Her enviable curves were on show as she dazzled onlookers in the gloved floor-length gown.

Flashy rings were placed on her covered fingers as her hair was styled into loose waves to cover one shoulder.

She was later seen sharing a warm embrace with Izabella Miko, who was dressed in a revealing leopard print catsuit.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/13645933/coyote-ugly-stars-havent-aged-cast-tyra-banks-reunite/

Donald Trump took a softer tone on Ukraine truce talks on Thursday (Feb 27) as he hosted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer – but refused to give any firm commitments on the US security guarantees Europe desperately wants.

In an upbeat meeting, the US president handed Starmer a win on a possible trade deal, while the British leader pandered to Trump’s love of the royal family with an invitation for a state visit from King Charles III.

Trump, who has alarmed European capitals with his sudden pivot towards Russia, said there had been “a lot of progress” towards a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine and that negotiations were at a crucial stage.

“It’ll either be fairly soon or it won’t be at all,” Trump told a press conference with Starmer.

The mercurial US president played down an earlier rift with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which had compounded fears that Trump would cut out Ukraine from negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said of Zelenskyy.

Earlier in the Oval Office he also walked back an earlier jibe that the Ukrainian was a dictator, saying: “Did I say that? I can’t believe I said that.”

“REWARDS THE AGGRESSOR”
But on the US security “backstop” that Britain and France want in exchange for deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine in the event of a deal with Russia to end the war, Trump remained non-committal.

The US president said he was “open to many things” in terms of security guarantees but that he wanted to get a Russia-Ukraine deal in place first.

Trump added that he thought Putin would “keep his word” – rejecting Starmer’s warnings that a ceasefire without a US backstop would let Russia invade Ukraine again.

It made Starmer the second leader in the space of a week to leave Washington empty-handed on Ukraine, after French President Emmanuel Macron also tried to persuade Trump on Monday.

“We have to win the peace,” Starmer said at the joint news conference. “It can’t be peace that rewards the aggressor.”

But the British premier tried to show that he was willing to step up in Ukraine, as Trump repeatedly urges European nations to do contribute more to their continent’s defence.

“I’m clear that the UK is ready to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support a deal,” Starmer said.

British officials had earlier called for US support including aerial and satellite intelligence, and air power if necessary.

“TRULY HISTORIC”
Starmer will otherwise be heading home happy from a meeting with Trump, who praised him as a “tough negotiator”.

Trump held out the prospect of a “great” post-Brexit trade deal that could help Britain avoid the tariffs he has threatened against other countries at the start of his second term.

“He tried. He was working hard, I’ll tell you that,” Trump said with a chuckle when asked if the British premier had persuaded him not to impose the levies.

In a carefully choreographed moment in the Oval Office, Starmer also handed Trump a letter from the king inviting him for an unprecedented second state visit by a US president.

“This has never happened before,” said Starmer. “This is truly historic.”

The US president said he was “honored” and would attend with First Lady Melania Trump.

But on Ukraine, the world will now be carefully watching Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday.

The two leaders will sign a huge deal giving Washington exclusive access to Ukraine’s rare minerals, which Trump has demanded as payback for US military aid to Kyiv.

“We’ll be dig, dig, digging,” Trump told reporters.

Zelenskyy had hoped the deal would contain US security guarantees but it appears to omit them.

Ed Owen, a non-resident fellow at Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council, noted that Trump’s language on Ukraine has softened since talks with the European leaders, which could set the stage for Zelenskyy.

“The combined efforts of Macron and Starmer have helped shift some of that position of US and Trump. So, that prepares the ground for Zelenskyy’s visit to the US to sign the minerals deal. That’s good news,” he told CNA’s Asia First programme.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/trump-softens-tone-starmer-leaves-without-ukraine-security-pledges-4965626

A man, thought to be the custodian of a religious group, was believed to be in his bed asleep, when a super-hot ash cloud hit Herculaneum.

A man’s brain was partly turned into glass after Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Researchers discovered dark fragments resembling obsidian in the skull of a man in the ancient settlement of Herculaneum.

Along with Pompeii, the ancient settlement was obliterated in 79AD when the volcano erupted, killing thousands and burying both under a thick layer of volcanic material and mud – preserving them in excellent condition for future archaeologists.

The man was first discovered in the 1960s inside a building called the College of the Augustales, which was dedicated to the cult of Emperor Augustus.

He is thought to have been the college’s custodian and was killed in his bed, around midnight when he was assumed to be asleep, in the first effects of the eruption as the burning hot ash cloud hit.

The city was buried in the latter stages of the geological event.

But after his remains were re-examined more recently, the glass fragments were discovered.

In a paper published on Thursday, researchers said this was the “only such occurrence” of this happening on Earth.

It was caused by a super-hot ash cloud that is thought to have suddenly descended on his city, likely instantly killing the inhabitants.

The glass was formed by vitrification, the process of transforming a substance into glass, when the brain’s organic material was exposed to the incredibly high temperatures – at least 510C (950F) – before rapidly cooling.

“The glass formed as a result of this process allowed for an integral preservation of the biological brain material and its microstructures,” said forensic anthropologist Pier Paolo Petrone of Universita di Napoli Federico II, one of the study’s lead researchers.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/mount-vesuvius-eruption-turned-part-of-mans-brain-into-glass-13318406

THE first batch of the Jeffrey Epstein files have been released by the US Attorney general after she said the contents “will make you sick”.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi released the docs but accused the FBI of “hiding thousands more pages.”

THE first batch of the Jeffrey Epstein files have been released by the US Attorney general after she said the contents “will make you sick”.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi released the docs but accused the FBI of “hiding thousands more pages.”

The much-anticipated docs have been released but did not include any new detail – their contents had been circulating for years.

They didn’t include any new bombshells about the sex trafficking case.

A scathing letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi to FBI Director Kash Patel had given a new deadline of 8 am on February 28.

The documents were expected to drop after a group of people were seen at the White House holding four white binders titled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1.”

But in a letter posted on X by a conservative influencer on Thursday afternoon revealed the delay.

Bondi “repeatedly questioned” the full set of documents and whether there may be others in existence, she wrote in the letter.

“Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein.

“Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files. When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information,” Bondi wrote to Patel.

Along with requesting all Epstein files, Bondi also ordered an investigation into the FBI’s handling of the documents.

Epstein, 66, was a wealthy financier who socialized with celebrities, royalty, and other high-profile individuals before his arrest in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges in New York City.

Details about Epstein’s associates who visited his private island in the US Virgin Islands and flew on his private jet have been a pressing topic since his arrest and death.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have urged the Department of Justice to unseal any remaining documents related to Epstein’s federal sex trafficking case.

Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News the documents would be released on Thursday after work to protect the names of “more than 250 victims” was complete.

Bondi teased that “a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, and a lot of information” will be revealed in the trove of documents.

“It’s pretty sick what that man did… along with his co-defendants,” Bondi said.

Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/13640910/jeffrey-epstein-unsealed-documents-flight-log-client-list/

Self-described misogynist Andrew Tate – a champion of Donald Trump – and his brother are facing a series of charges in Romania.

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan outside a Bucharest court last month. File pic: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via ReutersAndrew Tate and his brother Tristan have landed in Florida in the US after a travel ban in Romania was lifted – as Donald Trump insisted he knows “nothing about that”.

The Tates landed in Fort Lauderdale in a private plane at around 11:30am local time, their representative Mateea Petrescu added.

Speaking around an hour later, Andrew Tate told reporters: “We’ve yet to be convicted of any crimes in our lives ever. We have no criminal record anywhere on the planet ever.

“Our case was dismissed on 19 December in Romania under the Biden administration, and our prosecutor recently decided, because we have no active indictment in court, to let us go and return.

“This is a Democratic society, we’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, as my brother and I are.”

The brothers, who champion US President Trump, are facing charges in Romania of human trafficking, sexual misconduct and money laundering, as well as starting an organised crime group.

The self-styled misogynists are dual UK and US nationals whose controversial views are shared widely on social media platforms such as TikTok and X.

Their arrival in Fort Lauderdale comes after the Financial Times reported last week that the Trump administration had lobbied their Romanian counterparts to ease restrictions on the brothers while they face charges.

Romanian foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu said the Tates were mentioned during his brief hallway meeting with Mr Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month.

Mr Trump was asked about the arrival of the Tates in the US while meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the White House this evening.

Asked by a reporter if his administration pressured the Romanian government to let the Tates travel, the US president told reporters: “I know nothing about that. You’re saying (Andrew Tate) is on a plane right now?

“I just know nothing about it, we’ll check it out, we’ll let you know.”

Romanian prosecutors later said they had approved a request from Andrew Tate, 38, to travel outside of the country, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation.

The pair had been released from house arrest, but were not allowed to leave the country and were required to check in with the police regularly.

“The request to change the obligation of not leaving Romania was approved,” prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday.

“All the other obligations have been maintained, including the requirement to check in with judicial authorities every time they are called.”

A spokeswoman for the Tates told Sky News the Romanian courts had decided they will return to the brothers all of their assets.

This includes restoring their ownership of all previously frozen bank accounts, five properties, six cars including two Audis and a Ferrari, and company shares. Some assets will remain under precautionary seizure, according to the court ruling.

The brothers are fighting a series of legal battles not just in Romania, but also in the UK and the US.

They have consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with all the legal action taking place.

The Tates grew up in Luton and have millions of social media followers. Andrew Tate also appeared in the UK version of Big Brother in 2016.

The pair are often criticised for their misogynistic views online – particularly as they have a predominately young, male audience.

A number of banned Twitter accounts have been reinstated by Elon Musk. Tate was among those brought back on 18 November 2022 after Musk took over and rebranded it X.

A British court ruled in March that the brothers are also under a European arrest warrant and will be extradited to the UK – where allegations of rape and human trafficking are being investigated by Bedfordshire Police – after Romanian trial proceedings finish for a separate investigation.

A recent lawsuit filed in Florida accuses both Tate brothers of conspiring to coerce a woman into sex work, luring her to Romania and defaming her after her testimony to Romanian authorities. The Tate brothers had previously sued her for defamation in 2023.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/andrew-tate-arrives-in-us-after-travel-ban-was-lifted-as-trump-says-he-knows-nothing-about-that-13317873

Demi Moore thought her four-decade Hollywood career might be over a few years ago. The actress, 62, battled negative thoughts about herself after a producer dismissed her as a “popcorn actress.”
She took that to mean that even if her movies were a success, she was not worthy of awards recognition. Then came “The Substance” and her role as a fading TV fitness instructor whose injection of a serum for youth has gory side effects.

The movie tackles topics such as aging and self-doubt and, as Moore said at January’s Golden Globes, moments when women feel “we’re not smart enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or successful enough. Or basically just not enough.”
“I had a woman say to me, just know, you will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick,” Moore said.
During a May press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, actor Dennis Quaid described his role in the film as her TV producer as that of a cold-hearted male and Moore interrupted. “I don’t want to say that we’re anti-men. We’re just anti-jerks,” she said.

Now, the star who rose to fame as part of the “Brat Pack” of actors in 1980s coming-of-age movies, is the frontrunner to take the Academy Award for best actress on Sunday. It would be her first Oscar after dozens of film and TV roles.
“Hollywood loves a comeback,” said Ian Sandwell, movies editor at Digital Spy. “They love to give an award for actors that have been known well, but have not maybe had the success that they deserved.”
Her early career featured two years on television soap opera “General Hospital” before she made it to the big screen in “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “About Last Night.” She was considered part of the “Brat Pack,” a group of young Hollywood stars seen at the time as entitled and unprofessional.

LANDMARK SALARY
In the 1990s, Moore starred in hit romances “Ghost” – the top-grossing movie in the United States in 1990 – and “Indecent Proposal” as well as military thriller “A Few Good Men.”
In 1995, she became the first actress to earn more than $10 million for a role, for the story of a stripper trying to raise money to get custody of her daughter in “Striptease.” That movie, and 1997 film “G.I. Jane,” were commercial flops.
After that, Moore took periodic breaks from acting, saying she had difficulty finding good roles.
She embraced the opportunity in “The Substance,” which required her to appear fully naked at times and to be transformed into a grotesque older woman through prosthetics.
When the performance won her a Golden Globe, Moore said it was the first time she had ever been honored as an actor. She also won a Screen Actors Guild Award for the part, and has talked about feeling humbled and grateful.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/demi-moore-eyes-oscar-with-hollywood-comeback-the-substance-2025-02-27/

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will take effect on March 4 along with an extra 10% duty on Chinese imports because deadly drugs are still pouring into the U.S. from those countries.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the fresh tariffs on Chinese imports would stack on top of the 10% tariff that he levied on Feb. 4 over the fentanyl opioid crisis, resulting in a cumulative 20% tariff.

Trump first announced the new duties on Chinese imports in a post, opens new tab on his Truth Social site that he would impose the additional 10% tariff, effective March 4.
In the post, Trump said drugs, namely fentanyl, were still coming into the U.S. at “very high and unacceptable levels,” with a large percentage of them the deadly opioid fentanyl.
Trump told reporters he decided to add the extra tariffs on China and stick to the Tuesday deadline for Canada and Mexico given what his administration sees as insufficient progress on curbing fentanyl flows into the country.

Asked if Mexico and Canada had made enough progress on curbing fentanyl shipments into the U.S., Trump said: “I don’t see that at all. No, not on drugs.”
“There are ongoing discussions with the Chinese, Mexico and Canada,” a White House official told Reuters. “We’ve gotten a good handle on the migration issue, but there are still concerns on the other issue of fentanyl deaths.
Sources told Reuters that Mexico will extradite to the United States drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was convicted in 1985 of murdering a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent but released in 2013 and returned to trafficking.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 72,776 people died from synthetic opioids in 2023 in the U.S., chiefly from fentanyl.
FOREIGN AID FREEZE
Customs and Border Patrol agents seized 991 pounds of fentanyl at the southwest border in January 2025, down 50.5% from a year earlier, but still enough to kill many millions of Americans, the White House official said.

Trump’s move to blame Mexico and Canada for the continuing flow of fentanyl into the U.S. comes as his freeze on American foreign aid is disrupting efforts to fight the illicit trade.
Reuters reported on Monday that his aid freeze has stalled the planned expansion of a United Nations program to help the Mexican Navy better screen cargo and interdict fentanyl ingredients and other contraband, and other activities.
Also hampering U.S. drug interdiction efforts is a decision by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to delay implementation of a ban on duty-free low-value package shipments from Canada, China and Mexico until better screening can be implemented.
TARIFF TACTICS
Trump’s decision to ratchet up tariffs on Chinese goods mirrors his moves to escalate tariffs during his first-term trade wars with Beijing until serious trade negotiations took place between the world’s two largest economies.
Dean Cheng, senior adviser at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said the rising tariffs were part of a broad push by Trump to respond to Chinese challenges that also included the State Department’s removal of wording about not supporting Taiwan independence to tougher scrutiny of U.S.-listed Chinese companies.

“It’s all the pieces on the chessboard,” he said.
The Chinese embassy had no immediate comment.
Thus far, Chinese President Xi Jinping has not engaged in negotiations over fentanyl, instead applying limited 10% retaliatory duties on U.S. energy and farm equipment.
But Beijing could push back harder as Trump’s new tariffs reach 20% on U.S. imports from China, on top of existing duties of up to 25% imposed during Trump’s first term. U.S. imports from China totaled $439 billion last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Piling on more tariffs could pose risks to both the Chinese and U.S. economies. China has been struggling with a property crisis and weak domestic demand, while U.S. inflation remains sticky and interest rates are elevated.
China, in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, called for equal dialogue and consultation.
Trump has targeted early April for implementing broader “reciprocal tariffs” to match the import duty rates of other countries and offset their other restrictions.
During a news conference on Thursday, Trump downplayed the potential inflationary impact of tariffs for Americans, arguing that his first-term tariffs on China raised hundreds of billions of dollars without negatively affecting the U.S. economy.
“I find that it’s not about inflation. It’s about fairness. And the inflation for us has not existed, and I don’t think it’s going to exist,” he said.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-mexico-canada-tariffs-take-effect-march-4-2025-02-27/

Controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have landed in Florida, after Romanian officials announced that court restrictions prohibiting them from leaving Romania while awaiting trial were lifted.

The pair were traveling aboard a private jet after being allowed to leave Romania, according to a source close to the brothers.

Their spokesperson shared a live feed of the plane arriving in Fort Lauderdale late Thursday morning.

The Tates are accused of human trafficking and forming an organized criminal group with the goal of sexually exploiting women in two cases in Romania. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. Separate allegations of money laundering are also under investigation. The Tates have denied the allegations.

Upon leaving the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, Andrew Tate said he believed he and his brother are “largely misunderstood.”

“We’ve yet to be convicted of any crime in our lives ever. We have no criminal record anywhere on the planet, ever,” Andrew Tate said.

He said their case in Romania was “dismissed” in December 2024 and, because they have no active indictment in court, the prosecutor “recently decided” to let them return to the U.S.

However, the charges against the Tates remain in force, and they will be expected to return to Romania for court appearances, according to a statement from Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, or DIICOT. The agency warned that failure to observe the remaining judicial restrictions could result in harsher restrictions being instated.

The brothers had been confined to Romania since late 2022 when they were arrested on allegations of human trafficking, sexual abuse, money laundering and forming an organized criminal group. They were charged in 2023. A second case began last year on similar charges involving more women.

In December 2024, a Bucharest court ruled that the first case against the Tates and their two female associates couldn’t proceed to trial because of multiple legal and procedural irregularities and sent it back to prosecutors. The charges were not dropped. The second human trafficking case against the brothers in Romania is also still ongoing.

The Tates’ departure follows reports that Trump administration officials had lobbied Romania to lift a travel ban on them while they are awaiting trial.

President Donald Trump told reporters he wasn’t aware the brothers had left Romania for the U.S. when asked Thursday if his administration pressured the Romanian government to release them.

“I didn’t know anything about it,” he told reporters while in the Oval Office with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“We’ll check it out, we’ll let you know,” Trump added.

A lawyer for an American woman who is one of the key alleged victims in the Romanian criminal case against Andrew Tate condemned the Trump administration after he was allowed to leave Romania.

“It seems clear the U.S. intervened in Romania to assist the Tate brothers who are being prosecuted for sex trafficking over 35 women including minors,” Dani Pinter, senior vice president at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said in a statement. “This is a slap in the face to all the victims of the Tate brothers especially the U.S. victim who is not being protected by her country.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said his office had no involvement in the case and found out through the media that the brothers were traveling to Florida.

“But the reality is, no, Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct in the air,” he said when asked by a reporter at an unrelated press conference on Thursday if Andrew Tate is welcome in Florida.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he directed his office earlier Thursday to work with state law enforcement to conduct a “preliminary inquiry” into the Tate brothers.

“Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women,” he said in a statement on X. “If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable.”

There is currently an arrest warrant against the Tates on allegations of sexual assault and human trafficking out of the United Kingdom. Last year, a Romanian court approved their extradition to the U.K. once their Romanian cases concluded.

A lawyer for four British women who have accused Andrew Tate of rape and coercing them have urged the U.K. government to intervene to ensure he is still prosecuted in Britain.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/andrew-tristan-tate-travel-restrictions-lifted-romanian-officials/story?id=119243973

Gene Hackman‘s death has raised enough suspicion among the Santa Fe police that they have obtained a search warrant for the Oscar winner’s home after the nonagenarian, his wife Betsy Arakawa and one of their dogs were found dead last night.

“At this time; the manner and cause of death pertaining to Eugene ‘Gene’ Allen Hackman and Betsy Arakawa passing is unknown,” said Santa Fe Sheriff’s department Det. Roy Arndt late Wednesday night in an affidavit submitted to a state judge just hours after the bodies were discovered in the couple’s longtime New Mexico home.

“Affiant believes that the circumstances surrounding the death of the two deceased individuals to be suspicious enough in nature to require a thorough search and investigation because the reporting party found the front door of the residence unsecured and opened, deputies observed a healthy dog running loose on the property, another healthy dog near the deceased female, a deceased dog laying 10-15 feet from the deceased female in a closet of the bathroom, the heater being moved, the pill bottle being opened and pills scattered next to the female, the male decedent being located in a separate room of the residence, and no obvious signs of a gas leak,” the document adds.

Two men who worked on Hackman’s property reported the decomposed bodies in the home on Wednesday. The 30-year long married couple had not been seen for a few weeks, sources say.

There are no indications of a home invasion or anything like that, sources tell me, but the cops do believe more is going on than first assumed. At point strongly implied in the affidavit when Det. Arndt says: “There are no immediate signs or indications of blunt force trauma. However, Affiant is seeking to seize any blunt force objects in the event there is any indication of blunt force trauma once the Office of Medical Investigations arrives on scene; and conducts their initial field investigation and possible cause of death.”

The affidavit was approved almost immediately by Magistrate Court Judge John Rysanek at 9:30 pm local time.

In the authorization, the judge wrote:

“YOUR ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to search forthwith the person of place described in the Affidavit between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., unless I have specifically authorized a night-time search. For the person or property described in the Affidavit. Serving this warrant with a copy of the Affidavit, and making the search and if the person or property to be found there, to seize the person or the property and hold for safekeeping until further order of this court.

You are further directed to prepare a written inventory of any person of property seized. You are further directed to file the return and written inventory with the Court promptly after its execution”.

While not revealing any details, the Santa Fe Coroner’s office has said that cause of death would be determined in the next month or so. The Sheriff’s department will be providing more information of the death of the 95-year old Hackman and the 63-year-old Arakawa later Thursday, Deadline has been told.

These latest developments are a dramatic shift from initial statements from the Sheriff’s department last night.

“On February 26, 2025 at approximately 1:45 p.m., Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an address on Old Sunset Trail in Hyde Park where Gene Hackman, 95 and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 64, and a dog were found deceased,” they said. “Foul play is not suspected as a factor in those deaths at this time however exact cause of death has not been determined. This is an active and ongoing investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.”

Out of the public eye for the last two decades, Hackman won Oscars for The French Connection (1971) and Clint Eastwood‘s Unforgiven (1992), and was Oscar-nominated for roles in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), I Never Sang for My Father (1970), and Mississippi Burning (1988).

Admired and respected among his peers, as well as a loved by audiences, Hackman had a wide range. He played arch-villian Lex Luthor in Superman (1978) and its sequel Superman II a far departure from Popeye Doyle. Along with the iconic Hoosiers (1986), Hackman also starred in the likes of Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed The Conversation (1974, the sequel by any other name Enemy of the State (1998) with Will Smith. Additionally, giving a masterclass in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) and going head-to-head with Denzel Washington in Crimson Tide (1995), Hackman starred in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Scarecrow (1972), ), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Under Fire (1983), Power (1986), Loose Cannons (1990), The Firm (1993), The Quick and the Dead (1995), The Birdcage (1996), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), and Runaway Jury (2003). His last on-screen appearance was in 2004’s Welcome to Mooseport.

Source: https://deadline.com/2025/02/gene-hackman-death-suspicious-police-1236303855/

Newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared to dismiss a rare measles outbreak that has killed a child in Texas and sickened more than 120 people.

“It is not unusual, we have measles outbreaks every year,” the controversial politician said during Trump’s first cabinet meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Kennedy then went on to incorrectly state that two people have died from the outbreak, when multiple officials had only confirmed one death as of Wednesday. He also said the majority of hospitalizations have been “mainly for quarantine,” which health officials have also denied.

“We don’t hospitalize patients for quarantine purposes,” Dr. Lara Johnson, the chief medical officer at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, said at a Wednesday press conference. She added that most of the patients hospitalized for measles have suffered from trouble breathing, some have required intensive care and none of them were vaccinated against the disease.

The child who died in Texas was also unvaccinated, officials said Wednesday. The school-aged child, who was not identified further, was the first person in the U.S. to die from the measles since 2015. Prior to that, the last death was in 2003, according to NBC News.

The CDC has thanked the widespread use of the measles vaccine for essentially eliminating the disease since 2000. However, cases of the measles have been growing in recent years as vaccine hesitancy has increased over time.

Source: https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/02/26/rfk-jr-downplays-measles-outbreak-unvaccinated-child-dies-texas/

The name alone carries a sinister weight – Eurussian Empire – an alliance of two once historically opposing forces, Europe and Russia.

This new world order sounds like inconceivable fiction, but it is predicted to materialise on the continent by 2030.

Possible History, a new project by United24, a Ukrainian initiative launched by Volodymyr Zelensky, is offering a glimpse into a future where Vladimir Putin gets what he wants.

Released as a warning on the third anniversary of his full-scale invasion, it reflects Donald Trump’s bromance with the authoritarian leader and the US rehabilitation of Russia.

It also comes on the exact date as the US sided with Russia, North Korea and Belarus to vote against a UN resolution to condemn the war.

What has already started as whispered negotiations between Russia and the US for a ceasefire ends in Ukraine being forced into making territorial concessions, without future security guarantees or Nato membership.

This is all expected to happen in the next three months, United24 projects, setting off a chain of irreparable reactions.

May 2025: sanctions on Russia’s RT dropped

By May, sanctions on Russian media channel RT would be lifted, allowing the Kremlin’s propaganda to flow into Europe unchecked.

During the Biden presidency, the US accused RT of ‘covert’ intelligence activities and introduced a plethora of sanctions against Russian media.

‘Three things are certain in life: death, taxes and RT’s interference in the US elections,’ the then US secretary of state Antony Blinken said in September.

July 2025: Russian war drills near Nato borders

In July, Russia is set to hold military drills on the territory of its biggest ally, Belarus, on the border with Nato members Poland and Lithuania.

A joint exercise between the two nations was announced last week, set to begin in September.

It is part of efforts by the two neighbours to expand their military ties amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Zelensky said earlier this month that a Russian military buildup in Belarus, which borders Nato members Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, could set the stage for a potential attack.

But Russia has repeatedly denied allegations that it could invade any Nato members.

Valery Revenko, a Belarusian defence official, said that Belarus is open for mutual military inspections with Poland 50 miles deep into each other’s territory – something he said would signal Poland’s intention to pursue ‘good neighbourly ties.’

‘If Poland rejects or ignores such action, we will have a different opinion,’ he warned.

October 2026: Russian invasion of Moldova

Jumping forward to October 2026, Russia is projected to invade Moldova – through the puppet government of Transnistria – deploying North Korean soldiers.

Fears have long been stoked that Putin was preparing for another landgrab in Europe, turning his eyes on the sliver of breakaway land in the south of Moldova.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russian elites have repeatedly called on Moldova to avoid Western influence, referring to the autonomous region as ‘the next Ukraine.’

Almost a year after the capture of Moldova, in July 2027, Europe is set to go dark without Internet connection after vital undersea cables are cut.

Similar ruptures have been rattling European security officials in recent months, but investigations are yet to determine if they were due to Russian sabotage or were maritime accidents.

May 2029: Putin opens military bases in Nato

By May 2029, the pro-Russian governments of Slovakia and Hungary are projected to sign agreements to host multiple Russian military bases on their territory as part of secret security deals.

Hungary’s gradual turn to Russia can be traced back to November 2010, when the newly elected prime minister Viktor Orbán made his first visit to Moscow.

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, with Hungary refusing to join the EU sanctions against Russia, making Europeans more and more fearful of the Kremlin’s sprawling influence.

December 2029: Conscription reinstated

That same year, in December, both governments of the Netherlands and Germany are expected to abolish voluntary army recruitment and reinstate conscription.

Military service – with varying aspects – is already in force in nine countries: Cyprus, Greece, Austria, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark.

But Russia’s imperialistic thirst has forced most European nations – Britain included – to rethink its stance.

May 2030: Defence spend exceeds healthcare

This will also result in defence spending exceeding healthcare costs in the EU, United24 projects.

By May 2030, at least 76% of EU social benefits are set to be cut in favour of financing the defence sector.

While Europe is far away from such measures, Sir Keir Starmer has already promised to boost defence amid the threat from Russia.

September 2030: Invasion of Finland and Poland

The projection for the ‘Eurussian Empire’ ends three months later, in September 2030, when Putin is supposed to announce a ‘special military operation’ on Nato.

Russian forces are witnessed crossing the borders of Finland and Poland less than a decade after invading Ukraine.

United24 conducted the project with the help of studies from Estonia and Denmark ahead of the three-year anniversary. of the war.

James Cameron is sickened by Donald Trump‘s re-election and is happy his New Zealand citizenship is “imminent.” The Oscar-winning director appeared on “The F—ing News” podcast (via The Daily Beast) and was asked about his response to Trump becoming U.S. president again, to which Cameron responded: “I think it’s horrific, I think it’s horrifying.”

“I see a turn away from everything decent,” Cameron said. “America doesn’t stand for anything if it doesn’t stand for what it has historically stood for. It becomes a hollow idea, and I think they’re hollowing it out as fast as they can for their own benefit.”

While Cameron visits the U.S. frequently, he spends the majority of his time in New Zealand. It’s there where Cameron has been filming and working on the “Avatar” franchise for more than a decade and counting. Given that “we are all in this together globally,” Cameron said he’s unsure “if I feel any safer here.”

“But I certainly feel like I don’t have to read about it on the front page every single day. And it’s just sickening,” Cameron added. “There’s something nice about the New Zealand outlets — at least they’ll put it on page three. I just don’t want to see that guy’s face any more on the front page of the paper. It’s inescapable there, it’s like watching a car crash over and over and over.”

As for his impending New Zealand citizenship, Cameron said it “means a lot” and “it’s something I’ve worked toward, something I’ve had to sacrifice for.”

“If you’re going to uproot your family and move somewhere, you have to invest, you have to be part of it, you have to earn standing,” the director said. “I just think you’ve got to earn your right to be in a place… There’s an innate respect and a demand for respect [here]. Everybody has this kind of equal status in terms of person-hood. And I love that – that’s what I wanted my kids to experience.”

Source: https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-cameron-slams-trump-america-new-zealand-citizenship-imminent-1236322922/

As economic pressures mount and social tensions rise, many Americans are setting their sights beyond U.S. borders for a better quality of life

In the shadow of rising housing costs, healthcare concerns, and growing social divisions, a striking number of Americans are considering a future outside the United States. According to a recent survey, 17% of American adults want to move internationally within the next five years, potentially signaling a significant shift in the country’s population.

The survey, conducted by Talker Research, found that 5% of Americans plan to take actual steps toward living abroad in the next few years, while 2% have already started the process of moving to another country.

Millennials Lead the Way
Millennials emerged as the group most eager to move internationally, with a quarter (25%) wanting to relocate abroad – higher than any other generation surveyed.

This trend likely reflects the unique challenges faced by millennials, who have experienced multiple economic downturns, rising student debt, and increasingly unaffordable housing throughout their adult lives.

Regionally, Midwesterners (18%) showed slightly more interest in moving abroad than Americans in the Southwest, West, Southeast, and Northeast (all at 16%).

For many Americans, the desire to live abroad isn’t just a reaction to current problems. The survey found that more than four in ten respondents (44%) have always wanted to experience life in another country, suggesting that for many, this represents a long-held dream rather than just an escape plan.

Top Destinations: Canada Leads the Way
When asked about preferred destinations, Canada emerged as the clear frontrunner, with 19% of potential expatriates naming it as their top choice. The appeal of America’s northern neighbor appears to be multifaceted, with respondents citing Canada’s high-quality healthcare (41%), its diverse landscape offering ample opportunities for exploration and recreation (28%), and the nation’s practical approach to work-life balance (21%) as primary attractions.

Italy secured the second position on the list of desired destinations, capturing the interest of 11% of respondents. The Mediterranean nation’s renowned cuisine ranked as its most compelling feature (68%), followed closely by its rich culture and warm people (66%). Italy’s breathtaking scenery and varied terrain also factored significantly in its appeal (40%).

England rounded out the top three destinations (10%), with potential American expatriates drawn to its culture and distinctive way of life (66%), rich historical heritage (49%), diverse landscapes (25%), and quality healthcare system (21%).

Other countries that registered significant interest among survey participants included Australia (10%), Ireland (8%), France (6%), Switzerland (5%), Costa Rica (5%), Scotland (4%), and Germany (4%). This diverse list spans multiple continents and cultural spheres, indicating that Americans’ international aspirations are global in scope rather than limited to specific regions.

Why Americans Want to Leave
The survey examined the key reasons driving Americans to consider moving abroad. The findings show significant concerns about both American society and the challenges of building financial security.

Almost seven in ten respondents (69%) worried about the direction the United States is heading, while a majority (65%) described American society as having become “toxic.”

Money worries were a major factor. More than half of respondents (54%) said living in the U.S. is no longer affordable, while 55% believed the gap between rich and poor limits their opportunities. Nearly four in ten (39%) thought improving their finances and quality of life would be easier in another country.

Work-life balance was another concern, with 57% of respondents calling America’s approach inadequate. Even more troubling were views on essential systems, with strong majorities agreeing that American healthcare (65%) and education (66%) systems are broken.

These negative views have changed how many see life in America compared to other countries, with 40% saying living in the U.S. is no longer enjoyable or preferable to other nations.

Expert Perspectives
Experts commenting on the survey emphasized the importance of younger generations’ openness to living abroad. “Younger generations, in particular, are driving this trend,” says Clint Kreider, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Still Water Wellness Group. “Raised in the shadow of the 2008 recession and pandemic-era instability, they’ve inherited skepticism toward traditional pathways to stability. Social media amplifies this by showcasing alternatives — countries with robust safety nets, affordable education or mandated vacation time.”

Kreider described a pattern he sees in his therapy practice: “In my therapy practice, I’ve witnessed clients grappling with what I call ‘invisible attrition’: a sense that no matter how hard they work, systemic barriers (skyrocketing healthcare costs, stagnant wages and unrelenting hustle culture) erode their ability to thrive.”

Max Shak, founder and chief executive officer of Zapiy, linked these trends to changing ideas about success. “Many professionals, especially younger generations, are questioning whether the traditional ‘American Dream‘ is still attainable. Skyrocketing housing costs, student debt and healthcare expenses have made it harder for people to feel financially secure in the U.S.”

Shak added: “In contrast, many countries offer more affordable living, universal healthcare and better work-life balance, making the idea of relocating incredibly appealing. Ultimately, this openness to moving abroad reflects a larger shift — people are prioritizing quality of life over traditional career paths and seeking environments that better align with their personal and financial well-being.”

For the 17% of Americans contemplating international relocation, the decision involves complex calculations balancing career opportunities, healthcare access, education systems, cultural amenities, and social environments. The specificity of their destination preferences – from Canada’s healthcare system to Italy’s culinary traditions – indicates thoughtful consideration rather than mere escapism.

How America Would Be Impacted
If the survey’s findings translate into actual migration patterns, the implications could be significant. The potential movement of even a small percentage of the U.S. population to international destinations would represent millions of Americans establishing new lives abroad.

Such movement could affect domestic labor markets, particularly if those departing represent disproportionate numbers of specific professions or skill sets. It could also influence political dynamics, both by changing the composition of the domestic electorate and by creating more internationally distributed American communities with ties to multiple nations.

From a global perspective, increased American migration to countries like Canada, Italy, and England could strengthen cultural and economic ties between these nations and the United States, potentially fostering new transnational communities and networks.

The survey also highlights the practical challenges involved in international migration, from visa requirements and employment considerations to the emotional complexity of leaving behind family, friends, and familiar surroundings. For many Americans, the idea of living abroad may simply remain an appealing but unrealized dream rather than an imminent reality.

Source: https://studyfinds.org/living-in-america-not-enjoyable/

A child in West Texas has died of measles, state health officials said on Wednesday, the first reported U.S. death from the highly contagious disease in a decade, as a Texas outbreak has grown from a handful of cases to more than 130 across two states.
The child, who was not vaccinated against the disease, died overnight in a children’s hospital, the Texas health department said in a statement.
“We have had so many kids coming in and then obviously we were not prepared, probably, so early in what we are seeing to have a death,” said Amy Thompson, CEO of Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, where the child died in what officials said was the fourth week of the measles outbreak.

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a vaccine critic who was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services earlier this month, said two people had died in the Texas outbreak. His Department of Health and Human Services later corrected Kennedy, confirming one death.
At least 124 people were known to be infected in West Texas since early February, all but five of them unvaccinated and most of them children, Texas health officials said.
An additional nine cases were announced on Tuesday in eastern New Mexico, near the Texas state line where the outbreak has spread to about 10 counties, Texas health officials said.

Patients have displayed symptoms such as high fever, red watery eyes, nasal congestion, cough and a rash that begins on the face, said Lara Johnson, chief medical officer at the Lubbock hospital. Children have been treated with supplemental oxygen and high-flow oxygen, medication for high fever and IV fluids, she said.
New Mexico’s health department has warned that “because measles is so contagious, additional cases are likely to occur.”
The U.S. death rate from measles, which spreads through the air by respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, is 1 to 3 deaths out of every 1,000 reported cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The last U.S. measles death was in 2015, according to the CDC.
A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Health Services was not available to Reuters for comment, but the agency said in a press release that 18 people were hospitalized with the disease.

The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment.

Kennedy was appointed to lead HHS after overcoming resistance from the medical establishment and some members of Congress, and has pledged to protect existing vaccination programs. Last week, he told agency workers he planned to investigate the childhood vaccination schedule, among other things.

‘A BAD ILLNESS’

Lara Anton, a Texas health department spokesperson, told a local ABC affiliate that the ongoing outbreak has hit mostly small children and teenagers, and that the cases were originally concentrated in a “close-knit, under-vaccinated” rural Mennonite community in Gaines County, where children are largely home-schooled.
“It’s all a personal choice, and you can do whatever you want. It’s just that the community doesn’t go and get regular healthcare,” Anton told ABC.
At this time, it is unclear how the first person was exposed, and there is no indication that any early patients traveled outside the United States, Anton told multiple media.
“This will accelerate for a while,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, and a frequent target of the anti-vaccine campaign.
“It’s a bad illness,” he said, noting that about 20 percent of cases are hospitalized. “Unfortunately, Texas is the epicenter of it because of our very aggressive anti-vaccine movement,” he said.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning there was no continuous transmission of the disease for a year.
In recent years, federal health officials have attributed some outbreaks to parents refusing to vaccinate their children, Reuters previously reported.
In 2024, there were 285 cases of the disease in the U.S. from 16 outbreaks, up from 59 cases from four outbreaks in 2023.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/first-us-measles-death-reported-west-texas-outbreak-affects-more-than-130-people-2025-02-26/

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised hopes for another month-long pause on steep new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, saying they could take effect on April 2, and floated a 25% “reciprocal” tariff on European cars and other goods.
A White House official, however, said Trump’s previous March 4 deadline for the 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods remained in effect “as of this moment,” pending his review of Mexican and Canadian actions to secure their borders and halt the flow of migrants and the opioid fentanyl into the U.S.

Trump sowed confusion during his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, when he was asked about the timing for the start of the duties for Canada and Mexico and replied that it would be April 2.
“I have to tell you that, you know, on April 2, I was going to do it on April 1,” Trump said. “But I’m a little bit superstitious, I made it April 2, the tariffs go on. Not all of them but a lot of them.”
Trump’s comments prompted jumps in the value of the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso versus the greenback.

Canadian Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters that Canada would wait for signed executive orders from Trump before reacting.
“Our mission is still to avoid the tariffs, extend the suspension if we need to,” Champagne said. “We are prepared – there will be a targeted, strategic but a firm response” if Trump imposes tariffs.
Mexico’s Economy Ministry declined to comment on Trump’s remarks, but said Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard will meet on Thursday with newly confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday.
Lutnick told the cabinet meeting that the fentanyl-related actions were paused for 30 days but referred to “overall” tariffs on April 2. He did not specify whether the March 4 deadline remained in effect.
“So the big transaction is April 2, but the fentanyl-related things, we’re working hard on the border,” Lutnick said. “At the end of that 30 days, they have to prove to the president that they’ve satisfied him in that regard. If they have, he’ll give them a pause, or he won’t.”

EU TARIFF RATE

Trump has targeted early April for imposing reciprocal tariffs matching import duty rates of other countries and offseting their other restrictions. His trade advisers consider European countries’ value added taxes to be akin to a tariff.
Trump, asked whether he has decided on a tariff rate for goods from the European Union, replied: “We have made a decision, and we’ll be announcing it very soon, and it’ll be 25%, generally speaking, and that’ll be on cars, and all of the things.”

He said the EU is a “different case” from Canada and takes advantage of the U.S. in different ways.
“They don’t accept our cars. They don’t accept, essentially our farm products,” Trump said, adding that the EU was formed “in order to screw the United States.”
A European Commission spokesperson said the EU “will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade,” including for tariffs that challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.
“The European Union is the world’s largest free market. And it has been a boon for the United States,” the spokesperson said.
Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, was planning to meet with U.S. lawmakers in Washington on Wednesday, but not with any Trump administration officials.

NEW USTR CONFIRMED

Also on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted 56-43 to confirm Greer as U.S. Trade Representative, putting a veteran of the Republican president’s first-term trade wars fully on the job.
Greer, who served as chief of staff to former USTR Robert Lighthizer, won the support of five Democrats, including both senators from Michigan, the center of the U.S. auto industry.
Trade groups welcomed Greer’s confirmation, lauding his commitment to consulting with industry and standing up for U.S. businesses, farmers and workers. “We share Ambassador Greer’s desire for an active and pragmatic trade policy that creates U.S. jobs and more resilient supply chains,” said Jake Colvin, president of the National Foreign Trade Council.
Greer told senators during his Senate confirmation hearing that he wanted to quickly renegotiate the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade to ensure China does not use it as a back door to the U.S. market to avoid other tariffs.
“Right out of the gate, I expect that we’ll be taking a second look at the USMCA,” Greer said.
Asked what changes he would like to see in the pact, Greer zeroed in on further tightening automotive content rules.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-confirms-trump-trade-chief-greer-ahead-canada-mexico-tariffs-2025-02-26/

Hamas handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages while it waited for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in return, in an overnight exchange marking the final swap as part of a fragile truce in Gaza.
The ceasefire came into effect on January 19 and has largely held, despite numerous setbacks. But its first phase is due to end this week and the fate of its next phase, which aims to end the war, remains unclear.

Hamas said on Thursday that it was ready to start talks on the second phase, and that the only way remaining hostages would be freed is through commitment to the ceasefire.
After days of impasse, Egyptian mediators on Wednesday secured the handover of the bodies of the final four hostages in the deal’s first phase, for 620 Palestinians either detained by Israeli forces in Gaza or jailed in Israel.
Israel had refused to release prisoners on Saturday after Hamas handed over six hostages in a staged ceremony.

Hamas had been displaying living hostages and coffins carrying hostage remains on stage in front of a crowd in Gaza before handing them over, to sharp criticism including from the United Nations.
The final handover did not include such a ceremony.
Israel received coffins carrying the remains of the four hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in the early hours of Thursday.
Hamas had previously identified the bodies as those of Tsachi Idan, Itzhak Elgarat, Ohad Yahalomi and Shlomo Mantzur, all of whom were abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack from their kibbutz homes near Gaza.
The bodies were undergoing initial identification in Israeli territory and official notice would be given to the hostages’ families once the process is complete, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

The handover agreement had also been held up previously after Hamas handed over the remains of an unidentified Palestinian woman instead of Shiri Bibas, before delivering the correct body the next day. The unidentified woman’s body was sent back to a Gaza hospital on Thursday, medics said.
A full forensic examination to determine cause of death for the final four bodies returned to Israel will come later, according to the Israeli health ministry.

Around 30 hostages have been killed in Gaza, according to Israeli authorities. Some were slain by their captors and some were killed in Israel’s offences.

FREED PALESTINIAN DETAINEES

The Palestinian detainees due to be released include 445 men and 24 women and minors arrested in Gaza, as well as 151 prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis, according to a Hamas source.
A bus carrying a handful of the released Palestinian prisoners left Israel’s Ofer prison in the occupied West Bank and arrived in the Palestinian city of Ramallah shortly after, live footage showed.
The group got off the bus to cheers from hundreds congregated outside, with some of the released men – clad in green jackets and keffiyehs – hoisted aloft by the crowd.
Released prisoner Bilal Yassin, 42, told Reuters he had been in Israeli detention for 20 years. The West Bank native said he had faced oppression and poor conditions the entire time.
“Our sacrifices and imprisonment were not in vain,” Yassin said. “We had confidence in the (Palestinian) resistance.”
Nearly 100 more Palestinian prisoners were handed over to Egypt, where they will stay until another country accepts them, according to a Hamas source and Egyptian media.
Ambulances later arrived at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, early on Thursday transporting freed Palestinians, who are set to undergo medical examination.
In total, 580 prisoners and detainees will be freed in Gaza, according to Hamas. Buses escorted by the Red Cross are expected to arrive in coming hours.
The first phase of the ceasefire included the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages in total for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from some positions in Gaza as well as an influx of aid.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/mediators-agree-swap-palestinian-prisoners-israeli-hostages-bodies-source-says-2025-02-26/

Nvidia’s (NVDA.O) strong growth forecast for the first quarter on Wednesday signaled that booming demand for its artificial intelligence chips was intact, and the company said orders for its new Blackwell semiconductors were “amazing.”
The company’s forecast helps allay doubts around a slowdown in spending on its hardware that emerged last month, following Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s claims that it had developed AI models rivaling Western counterparts at a fraction of their cost.

Its shares rose, before declining slightly in choppy extended trading, after closing up 3.7% in regular trading. Nvidia is the biggest beneficiary of a rally in AI-linked stocks, with its shares up more than 400% over the last two years.
CEO Jensen Huang struck an optimistic note saying “AI is advancing at light speed,” and that “demand for Blackwell is amazing,” in commentary that should bode well for AI-related stocks that have taken a hit in the past week.
“We’ve successfully ramped up the massive-scale production of Blackwell AI supercomputers, achieving billions of dollars in sales in its first quarter,” he said.

Nvidia is undergoing a critical product transition as it moves to a new chip architecture called Blackwell, shifting from selling individual chips to full AI computing systems that integrate graphic chips, processors and networking equipment.
The Santa Clara, California-based company generated $11 billion of revenue from Blackwell-related products in the fourth quarter, roughly 50% of the company’s overall data center revenue.
The company expects total revenue of $43 billion, plus or minus 2% for the first quarter, compared with analysts’ average estimate of $41.78 billion, according to LSEG.
“Unlike previous quarters, there was heightened skepticism going into this report due to concerns about DeepSeek’s efficient model and questions surrounding the Blackwell rollout,” said eMarketer analyst Jacob Bourne. “But the results have removed the doubts.”

The Blackwell ramp-up has been complicated and costly, weighing on the company’s margins, however.
Nvidia on Wednesday forecast first-quarter gross margin slightly below expectations – it will sink to 71%, below the 72.2% forecast by Wall Street, according to data compiled by LSEG. Still, Nvidia’s Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress said on a conference call that Nvidia would return to the mid-70% gross margin range later in the fiscal year as it further increased production of its Blackwell chips, lowering costs.

The AI rally lost some of its steam last month after DeepSeek’s sudden rise, resulting in Nvidia losing $593 billion in market value, the largest one-day loss for any U.S. company. Investors questioned whether demand for AI chips was sustainable and the enormous capital expenses promised by large U.S. tech companies including Microsoft (MSFT.O).

Microsoft has earmarked $80 billion for AI in its current fiscal year, while Meta Platforms (META.O) has pledged as much as $65 billion.

A recent brokerage report suggested that Microsoft has scrapped leases for sizable U.S. data center capacity, suggesting potential oversupply. But Reuters reported on Monday that Chinese companies are ramping up orders for Nvidia’s H20 AI chip due to booming demand for DeepSeek’s low-cost AI model.
“Despite the breakthroughs from DeepSeek, Nvidia’s momentum with Hyperscalers seems to continue,” Third Bridge analyst Lucas Keh said, referring to large cloud-computing companies.
In more positive news for Nvidia, CFO Kress said the Stargate data center project announced last month by U.S. President Donald Trump will use Nvidia’s Spectrum X ethernet for networking. The ethernet products are included in the company’s data center segment.
Nvidia reported adjusted per-share profit of 89 cents, compared with estimates of 84 cents a share. Revenue for the fourth quarter grew 78% to $39.3 billion, beating estimates of $38.04 billion.

Source :https://www.reuters.com/technology/nvidia-forecasts-first-quarter-revenue-above-estimates-2025-02-26/

“I swear to God I need help,” said the man quietly on the other end of the line.

The Ethiopian, who calls himself Mike, said he is being held with 450 others in a building inside Myanmar, along the country’s border with Thailand.

They are among the thousands of people who have been freed from the notorious scam compounds that have thrived on the border for years, in what appears to be the toughest action so far against the industry along the Thai-Myanmar border.

But many of them are now stranded in Myanmar in makeshift camps because the process of assessing them and arranging flights back to their own countries is so slow.

The armed militia groups who are holding them have a very limited capacity to support so many people – more than 7,000. One of them has said they have stopped freeing people from the compounds because they are not being moved to Thailand fast enough.

The BBC understands that conditions in the camps are unsanitary, food barely sufficient, and many of the freed workers, like Mike, are in poor health. He is suffering from panic attacks, after working for a year in a scam centre where he was routinely beaten.

He told us they got two very basic meals a day, there were only two toilets for 450 people, who he said were now relieving themselves wherever they could.

Mike described being invited a year ago to take up what he was promised would be a good job, in Thailand, requiring only good English language and typing skills.

Instead he found himself subjected to a brutal regime, forced to work long hours every day to meet the target for defrauding people online set by his Chinese bosses.

“It was the worst experience of my life. Of course I was beaten. But believe me I have seen a lot worse done to other people.”

Mike is one of an estimated 100,000 people who are believed to have been lured to work in the scam operations along the Thai-Myanmar border, most of them run by Chinese fraud and gambling operatives who have taken advantage of the lawlessness in this part of Myanmar.

Despite horrifying accounts of abuse from those who escaped in the past, thousands still come from parts of the world where good jobs are scarce, enticed by promises of good money.

China, where many of the scam victims come from, has acted to shut down scam operations along its own border with Myanmar, but until this year neither China nor Thailand had done much about the Thai-Myanmar border.

Ariyan, a young man from Bangladesh, has come back to Thailand to try to help 17 friends who are still there. He said he made a promise to himself to do this after his own gruelling escape from one of the most notorious scam centres last October.

He showed us a brief, shaky video of the compound, still under construction in a remote, forested valley, where he was held, and remembers the terrible treatment he and his friends suffered at the hands of their Chinese boss.

“They gave us a target every week, $5,000. If not, they gave us two electric shocks. Or they put us in a dark room, with no windows. But if we earned a lot of money, they were very happy with us.”

Ariyan had to approach men in the Middle East and lure them into transferring funds to fictitious investments. Using AI, the scammers made him appear on the screen to be an attractive young woman, altering his voice as well.

He says he hated doing it. He remembers one man who was willing to sell his wife’s jewellery to fund the fraudulent investment, and wishing he could warn him. But he said the bosses monitored all their calls.

The release of the scam workers started more than two weeks ago after Thailand, under pressure from China and some of its own politicians, cut power and telecommunications links to the compounds on the border.

It limited banking access to the scam bosses and issued arrest warrants for some of the militia leaders who had been protecting the business.

That hit the business, but it also hit the ordinary Karen people who live nearby even harder, putting pressure on the militia commanders to show willingness in ending the abuses in the scam centres. They began helping those trying to escape, and completely evacuating some compounds.

The camp Mike is housed in is now being guarded by the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, DKBA, a breakaway insurgent faction of the ethnic Karen community.

Until recently, it was protecting the many scam compounds which have sprung up in its territory. You can see them easily as you drive along the Moei River which divides the two countries – unlikely expanses of new buildings over in war-torn Karen State contrasting with the rural landscape on the Thai side of the border.

Thailand insists it is moving as fast as it can to process the former scam workers and get them home.

A group of 260 freed workers were brought over the Moei River on a raft earlier this month. And around 621 Chinese nationals were flown straight back to China with a police escort on chartered planes. Otherwise, the movement of freed workers to Thailand seems to have stalled.

The problem is that they are from many different countries, some of which are doing little to help get their people home. Around 130 of the first 260 who came over are from Ethiopia, which does not have an embassy in Bangkok.

The BBC has been told that some other African countries will only fly their people home if someone else pays. Most of the freed workers have nothing; even their passports were withheld by the compound bosses.

Thailand fears bringing over thousands of people it will then have to look after indefinitely. It also wants to screen them to find out which are genuine victims of human trafficking and which may have committed criminal acts, but does not have the capacity to do this with such a large group of people.

Different ministries and agencies, including the army, are involved in managing this problem, and have to agree who does what. It does not help that several senior police and immigration officers have been transferred over their alleged involvement in the scam business.

“If this issue is not resolved, then we will not stop working on it – we must work seriously,” said Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday in Bangkok. But she was referring to the wider problem of the scam business, not the growing humanitarian crisis among the freed workers.

“Unfortunately, it seems we’re in a bit of a standstill,” says Judah Tana, an Australian who runs an NGO which has for years been helping the victims of trafficking in the scam centres.

“We are hearing distressing information about the lack of sanitation and toilets. Many of the 260 who already came were screened for TB and tested positive. We are hearing from those who are still inside that people are coughing up blood. They are very happy that they have been liberated from the scam compounds, but our worry is that we’re not engaging fast enough.”

Thailand now seems ready to bring over one group of 94 Indonesians, as their embassy has been pushing for their release for several days and has booked flights to Indonesia for them.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yr7j18edjo

For over 20 years, archaeologists in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu have been unearthing clues to the region’s ancient past.

Their digs have uncovered early scripts that rewrite literacy timelines, mapped maritime trade routes connecting India to the world and revealed advanced urban settlements – reinforcing the state’s role as a cradle of early civilisation and global commerce.

Now they’ve also uncovered something even older – evidence of what could be the earliest making and use of iron. Present-day Turkey is one of the earliest known regions where iron was mined, extracted and forged on a significant scale around the 13th Century BC.

Archaeologists have discovered iron objects at six sites in Tamil Nadu, dating back to 2,953–3,345 BCE, or between 5,000 to 5,400 years old. This suggests that the process of extracting, smelting, forging and shaping iron to create tools, weapons and other objects may have developed independently in the Indian subcontinent.

“The discovery is of such a great importance that it will take some more time before its implications sink in,” says Dilip Kumar Chakrabarti, a professor of South Asian archaeology at Cambridge University.

The latest findings from Adichchanallur, Sivagalai, Mayiladumparai, Kilnamandi, Mangadu and Thelunganur sites have made local headlines such as “Did the Iron Age Begin in Tamil Nadu?” The age marks a period when societies began using and producing iron widely, making tools, weapons and infrastructure.

Parth R Chauhan, a professor of archaeology at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (ISSER), urges caution before drawing broad conclusions. He believes that iron technology likely emerged “independently in multiple regions”.

Also, the “earliest evidence remains uncertain because many regions of the world have not been properly researched or archaeological evidence is known but has not been dated properly”.

If the Tamil Nadu discovery is further validated through rigorous academic study, “it would certainly rank amongst the world’s earliest records”, Mr Chauhan says. Oishi Roy, an archaeologist at ISSER, adds that the find “suggests parallel developments [in iron production] across different parts of the world”.

Early iron came in two forms – meteoritic and smelted. Smelted iron, extracted from ore, marked the true beginning of iron technology with mass production. The earliest known iron artefacts – nine tubular beads – were made from meteoritic iron, which comes from fallen meteorites.

Identifying iron-bearing rocks is the first challenge. Once located, these ores must be smelted in a furnace at extremely high temperatures to extract the metal. Without this process, raw iron remains locked within the rock. After extraction, skilled ironsmiths shape the metal into tools and implements, marking a crucial step in early ironworking.

Most sites in Tamil Nadu where iron has been found are ancient habitation areas near present-day villages. Archaeologists K Rajan and R Sivanantham say that excavators have so far explored a fraction of over 3,000 identified Iron Age graves containing sarcophagi (stone coffins) and a wealth of iron artefacts. In the process, they uncovered hoe-spades, spears, knives, arrowheads, chisels, axes and swords made of iron.

At burials excavated at one site, over 85 iron objects – knives, arrowhead, rings, chisels, axes and swords – were found inside and outside burial urns. More than 20 key samples were robustly dated in five labs worldwide, confirming their antiquity.

Some finds are particularly striking.

Historian Osmund Bopearachchi of the Paris-based French National Centre for Scientific Research highlights a key discovery – an iron sword from a burial site, made of ultra-high-carbon steel and dating to 13th–15th Century BC.

This advanced steel, a direct evolution of Iron Age metallurgy, required sophisticated knowledge and precise high-temperature processes.

“We know that the first signs of real steel production date back to the 13th Century BC in present-day Turkey. The radiometric dates seem to prove that the Tamil Nadu samples are earlier,” he said. Ms Roy adds that the early steel in Tamil Nadu indicates the people there “were iron makers, not just users – a technologically advanced community evolving over time”.

Also, in a site called Kodumanal, excavators found a furnace, pointing to an advanced iron-making community.

The furnace area stood out with its white discolouration, likely from extreme heat. Nearby, excavators found iron slag – some of it fused to the furnace wall – hinting at advanced metalworking techniques. Clearly the people at the site were not just using iron, but actively producing and processing it.

To be sure, the Tamil Nadu excavations are not the first in India to uncover iron. At least 27 sites across eight states have revealed evidence of early iron use, some dating back 4,200 years. The latest Tamil Nadu digs pushes back the antiquity of Indian iron by another 400 years,” archaeologist Rajan, who has co-authored a paper on the subject, told me.

“The Iron Age is a technological shift, not a single-origin event – it develops in multiple places independently,” says Ms Roy, noting earlier discoveries in eastern, western and northern India.

“What’s clear now,” she adds, “is that indigenous iron technology developed early in the Indian subcontinent.”

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62e36jm4jro

Pamela Anderson has had her fair share of ups and down over her career.

So that might explain why she’s so stoic about missing out on an Oscar nomination for her role in The Last Showgirl.

“The win is the work,” the Canadian actress told BBC News.

“You couldn’t have told me I’d be here a decade ago, so this is very exciting for me, to even be in the conversation.”

Anderson, 57, did manage to score nominations at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her part in Gia Coppola’s film about a fading Las Vegas dancer.

But she is not in the running for the Academy Awards, which take place this Sunday in Los Angeles.

“I just wish everybody well,” she said.

“I think anybody, any actor, realises that all of this is about having another chance to be able to perform and share your talent with the world.”

Anderson rose to prominence on the 1990s TV series Baywatch.

The lifeguard drama became the most-watched television show in the world at the time, and it’s still the role she’s best known for.

But in the three decades since she first ran along the California beaches, fans and critics have become acquainted with different parts of Anderson’s life story including Playboy covers, a leaked sex tape and many marriages.

In 2022, Hulu series Pam & Tommy told the story of how Anderson and now ex-husband Tommy Lee’s sex tape was stolen and illegally distributed in the mid-90s.

Anderson later criticised the series in an interview with Variety, describing it as “shocking” and calling for the people behind it to apologise to her.

Pam & Tommy: Lily James ‘a triumph’ as Pamela Anderson
Now, she’s starring in a new film which is also about second chances.

In The Last Showgirl, the lead character Shelly, played by Anderson, must plan for her future after her show abruptly closes.

Plenty of critics have drawn parallels with Anderson’s own life in the spotlight, and she doesn’t dispute this.

“I think that’s what drew me to the project, that it was so relatable on so many levels,” Anderson said of the film.

She added that its central theme, of struggling to make your career work as a woman in later middle age, was something “many generations of women” had faced.

In the film, Shelly is portrayed as having a strained relationship with her daughter Hannah.

Shelly’s career as a showgirl means she often works late, causing her to miss important moments like bedtime with Hannah.

That, too, is something that Anderson says she can relate to.

Pamela Anderson memoir bares soul on fame and heartbreak
She shares two sons, Brandon Thomas, 28, and Dylan Jagger, 27, with her ex-husband, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.

She said that for all working mums, there’s “no proper way” to be a parent while also following your dreams and pursuing your career.

“So this movie is, I think, in a very vulnerable space.

“And it was an interesting role to play with all her imperfections and selfishness and selflessness. And it was a lot of layers and nuances to the character that I could really relate to.”

The Last Showgirl has received a mixed reception from critics, though most have praised Anderson’s performance.

The New York Times called it “sensitive and beguiling” and described Anderson as “dazzling”. But the Guardian awarded it just one star, calling it “a big disappointment”.

Many have also described the role as Anderson’s “comeback”. She doesn’t reject the term, but says she prefers to see it as “a new chapter”.

“I’ve always been fascinated with the craft of acting,” she said. “[But] my personal life kind of took me off course, and I raised two beautiful boys.”

She’s not the only actress to be back in the spotlight this season.

Demi Moore is nominated for best actress at the Oscars for her role in The Substance, a body horror which has revitalised her career.

“I’m really happy for Demi,” Anderson said. “I think she’s earned her place. And you have to earn it. You have to fight for it.”

With so many strong female protagonists in this year’s films, I’m curious what Anderson now thinks of Baywatch.

The show has long been criticised for its portrayal of its female characters, who, many argued, were sexualised and denied meaningful plot lines.

“I didn’t see it like that at all. I thought it was quite innocent and wholesome and, and fun to watch,” she said.

“I always felt like I was surrounded by such incredible people, lifeguards that were also firemen or firewomen. It was really, really, empowering.”

President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for selling a “gold card” visa for $5m (£3.9) that will offer wealthy buyers permanent residency in the US and a path to citizenship.

At the first cabinet meeting of his current term, Trump told reporters that the visas would function similarly to green cards, which allow immigrants of varying incomes to live and work permanently in the US, but would go to “high-level people”.

“The people that can pay $5m, they’re going to create jobs,” Trump said. “It’s going to sell like crazy. It’s a bargain.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, also at the meeting, said the gold visas would replace the current visa programme for foreign investors, but offered few details.

Dozens of countries around the world offer some sort of citizenship by investment programme, including several in Europe, like Portugal, which gives “golden visas”, or permanent residency for foreigners who invest €500,000 ($524,000) into a qualifying fund.

Trump said companies would use the golden visa programme to hire non-citizens to work for them in the US.

“We have to be able to get people in the country, and we want people that are productive people,” Trump said.

Typically, green card holders in the US can apply for citizenship after five years.

Trump suggested revenue from the high-priced visas could be used to pay off US debt.

Lutnick said that the initiative will replace the EB-5 visa, which gives permanent residency to some foreigners who invest around $1m and create at least 10 full-time jobs in the US.

Saying the EB-5 programme was “poorly overseen and poorly executed”, Lutnick said the golden visas would be an improvement.

“We’re going to make sure they’re wonderful world-class global citizens,” Lutnick said of future gold card applicants.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5zgvdz2z0o

For transgender students involved in a very special project at a culinary school in Pakistan, there is more to a class than just learning the art of cooking.

Neha Malik used to dance at parties and weddings for a living and was, occasionally, a sex worker. Since January, she has been enrolled in a new course for the trans community at the Culinary & Hotel Institute of Pakistan.

The free six-month program in the city of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, welcomed its first group of 25 trans students in January; the second group of 25 began training on Feb. 1.

Now, Malik, 31, dreams of working as a chef in Dubai, the futuristic, skyscraper-studded city in the United Arab Emirates.

She never misses a class. “I am so absorbed in learning that I don’t have time to dance anymore,” she added.

Many Pakistanis have entrenched beliefs on gender and sexuality, and trans people are often considered outcasts in the conservative Muslim-majority country. Some are forced into begging, dancing and even prostitution to earn money. They also live in fear of attacks.

The U.N. development agency said last year that the majority of trans people in Pakistan reported experiencing violence or abuse and that most reported being denied employment opportunities because of their gender identity. Just 7% were employed in formal sectors, the UNDP added.

Trans women in public office and the media have raised awareness about a marginalized and misunderstood community, and overall, the community has seen some progress in the protection of their rights.

Supreme Court rulings allow them to self-identify as a third gender, neither male nor female, and have underscored they have the same rights as all Pakistani citizens.

Last year, Lahore got its first ride-sharing service for trans people and women in an effort to protect them from discrimination and harassment, and in 2022 Pakistan launched a hotline for trans people.

“Society usually looks down on us,” said Malik. “We have to change this mindset. Now, people come up to me and ask what I do when they see me in a chef’s coat and hat.”

Since classes started, students file into the Lahore culinary school with backpacks and beaming smiles, swapping their colorful clothes for white uniforms.

However, it’s a struggle. They each get a monthly stipend of 8,000 rupees, around $26 — nowhere near enough to live on as a student.

“How can we survive on that when my rent is 15,000 rupees?” said 26-year-old Zoya Khan. Her utility bills swallow up most of it, she said.

So she performs at a few events a month.

“I used to earn a decent amount (from dancing), I won’t lie,” she added. But “there was no respect in it.”

“Why do we come here? It’s because we see hope,” said Khan, who wants to start her own business after graduating — a roadside cafe.

Nadia Shehzad, the institute’s chief executive, said the project will help the trans community, a “rejected and ignored sector of society” get equal recognition.

The school is trying to get government officials to help the aspiring chefs with visas to go abroad for work, Shehzad said. There are also talks with local hotels and restaurants about jobs once the students graduate — with wages of up to 30,000 rupees, or about $107.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-transgender-culinary-school-lahore-8a3a436943d171ba24934e68dd377127

The zombie apocalypse is now, according to Italian denim brand Diesel, which sent models onto a heavily graffiti-ed runway with unsettling milky gazes and spray-painted smiles.

Revealing silhouettes set the tone for the Fall-Winter 2025-26 co-ed collection premiered Wednesday on the second day of Milan Fashion Week. Mini skirts were little more than peplums, requiring leggings or matching panties. Men wore cheekily low-rise jeans.

Diesel has become a must-see of fashion week, in part due to its textile innovations. A silicone fisherman-pattern V-neck featured realistic chest hair detailing. Denim was treated to a reflective sheen, while jersey seemed to dissolve.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/diesel-denim-milan-fashion-week-bebb50a3822ae0794f06b813d08bad6c

Donald Trump has shared a bizarre AI-generated video on his Truth Social platform showcasing what appears to be a vision of Gaza under his proposed plan.

The footage, which the 78-year-old shared without comment, shows the war-ravaged territory before a caption appears: “Gaza 2025… What’s Next?”

It then goes on to show the area transformed into a Middle Eastern paradise with exotic beaches, Dubai-style skyscrapers, luxury yachts and people partying.

It includes a “Trump Gaza” tower and a gigantic, golden statue of the US president – with miniature versions on sale in a souvenir gift shop.

A child is also shown walking in a street, holding a huge, golden balloon of the president’s head.

The video also features the world leader dancing with a scantily clad belly dancer in a bar – and sunbathing and sipping cocktails by a hotel resort pool with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elon Musk appears in the footage several times – sitting on a beach eating humous with flatbreads as bearded belly dancers perform on the sand.

The billionaire boss of X, Tesla and SpaceX – who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has been tasked with cutting government spending – is also shown throwing dollar bills in the air for people.

A song written for the video also plays in the background.

The lyrics go: “Donald’s coming to set you free, bringing the light for all to see, no more tunnels, no more fear: Trump Gaza’s finally here.

“Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new life.

“Feast and dance the deal is done, Trump Gaza number one.”

Sky News has established the video was first shared online in early February by accounts with no apparent connection to the White House.

Mr Trump announced his plan – for when the war between Israel and Hamas ends – earlier this year.

It includes relocating two million Gazans to neighbouring Arab countries and developing the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.

He described Gaza as a “demolition site” where “virtually every building is down”.

Laying out his idea of what would happen beyond an Israel-Hamas ceasefire, he proposed: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.”

He said America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site”, before it would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”, and “level it out”.

“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs,” he added.

The White House described the proposal as “out-of-the-box” and “visionary” – but it was condemned as the effective “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians from Gaza.

Hamas described the proposals as “ridiculous and absurd” in a statement from one of its officials.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, which as fellow Arab nations support the Palestinian cause, also rejected Mr Trump’s plan.

Speaking to Sky News’ US correspondent Mark Stone, Gaza resident Oday Basheer said in response to the video: “It was disturbing to watch… it was disturbing from the moment that Trump announced that he was going to enter Gaza and take it and invest in it.

“Today, both sides (Hamas and Israel) are still fighting and we are not reaching any solution that satisfies everyone.”

Mr Basheer said that he fears Gaza will be destroyed and everyone who lives there will be forced to leave.

He added: “This is terrifying, we still don’t [know] if we are going to stay here or not… we don’t know what’s happening tomorrow.

“This is terrifying and this is terrible.”

Meanwhile, there was a mixed reaction to the video in the comments section below it.

One person wrote: “I don’t think that’s funny or cool. Sorry. Am I missing something??? I hope it’s a joke a bad joke..”

“I hate this. I love our president, but this is horrible,” said another.

Source : https://news.sky.com/story/netanyahu-on-a-sunbed-and-golden-statues-trump-shares-bizarre-ai-video-of-vision-for-gaza-13317241

Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), announced on Tuesday that over 100 intelligence officers from 15 different agencies will be dismissed for engaging in inappropriate discussions on a government chat platform.

The National Security Agency (NSA) administered the chat tool, which was designed for secure conversations about sensitive national security matters. However, according to intelligence officials, some employees misused it for sexually explicit discussions and conversations surrounding gender transition surgery, reported CNN.

The chats, which violated established professional conduct, were made public by conservative activist Christopher Rufo on Monday. Rufo, a contributor to City Journal, disclosed transcripts of the inappropriate exchanges.

Appearing on Fox News Tuesday evening, Gabbard explained that she had directed the termination of these employees and the revocation of their security clearances. She condemned the behavior as a serious breach of trust and professionalism, stating that it violated “basic rules and standards” of workplace conduct.

“There are over 100 people from across the intelligence community that contributed to and participated in what is really just an egregious violation of trust,” Gabbard said. “I put out a directive today that they will all be terminated and their security clearances will be revoked. They were brazen in using an NSA platform intended for professional use to conduct this kind of really, really horrific behavior.”

DNI spokesperson Alexa Henning confirmed, on X, that intelligence agencies have been ordered to identify and terminate those involved in the explicit discussions by Friday.

A senior administration official stated that many members of the intelligence community had been reaching out to Gabbard over the issue.

Earlier on Tuesday, the NSA acknowledged the inappropriate nature of the posts and confirmed that investigations were underway. The agency stated it was aware of the posts that “appear to show inappropriate discussions” involving its personnel and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.

Source : https://www.ibtimes.com/tulsi-gabbard-fires-over-100-intelligence-officers-over-sexually-explicit-chats-nsa-tool-3764923

President Donald Trump was under fire after he posted an AI-generated video depicting what was labeled “Trump Gaza,” which featured the war-torn region transformed into a city with colorful skyscrapers and showered with money by Elon Musk.

The video, which Trump shared on his Truth Social platform late Tuesday, featured the “Trump Gaza” song that said, “Trump Gaza’s shining bright, golden future, a brand new light.”

While the U.S. president did not caption the video, his sharing of the clip has drawn sharp criticism from users on X, who believe it is an inappropriate move.

A dancing Musk, and a relaxing Trump

In the video, Musk was depicted smiling and enjoying local food by the beach. He was also seen partying with people by the shore, with wads of cash falling from the sky.

A gold-decked hotel named “Trump Gaza” is also seen in the video, as well as a young boy holding up a golden balloon shaped into Trump’s face.

At one point in the video, Trump was depicted as sunbathing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by a hotel pool. The two are shown as having drinks before the video pans to a different scene.

As soon as clips of the video were re-posted on Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter), people started questioning Trump for posting on the sensitive topic.

Aside from Musk and Netanyahu’s special features in the AI-envisioned “Trump Gaza,” there’s also a massive statue of the U.S. president in what appears to be a plaza, as well as a store where mini Trump statues are put up for sale.

X users enraged over the post

Many users were focused on the “bearded ladies dancing” on the video, but others pinpointed the real issue, which was Trump’s motives for seeking to “transform” the Gaza Strip.

Political commentator Kyle Kulinski called out the president for posting a “deranged” video that “glorified the genocide in Palestine.”

“Yet another grift at the expense of the Palestinians. I’m sick to my stomach,” said one user.

One user said it was “disgusting,” while another called it “heartless,” and one said it was “gross to use AI like that,” calling on the Democratic Party to “stand against this.”

Journalist Aaron Rupar called the move “complete bats**t lunacy,” while another X user said it was “unbelievable” that the president of the United States would post such things.

As of early Wednesday, the video has been pinned to the top of Trump’s Truth Social timeline.

Source : https://www.ibtimes.com/trump-gaza-controversy-ai-generated-video-dancing-musk-sunbathing-netanyahu-sparks-outrage-3764927

In late January 2024, Barbara Broccoli attended a performance of her stage musical “Buena Vista Social Club” at the Atlantic Theater in New York. The longtime James Bond producer and gatekeeper was joined by three top Amazon MGM Studios executives — Jennifer Salke, Courtenay Valenti and Julie Rapaport — for a night that also included dinner and shop talk. For months, Salke’s boss, Mike Hopkins, had spearheaded discussions with Broccoli about Bond’s future at Amazon. The purpose of the night’s tête-à-tête was for Salke to make Broccoli comfortable with the studio’s loose plans for the first Bond movie since Amazon acquired MGM in 2022 for $8.5 billion. But sources say Broccoli left the meeting uninspired by Salke, a longtime TV executive, and returned to her home in London. Shortly after, talks began for the siblings to relinquish creative control of what is viewed as the last untapped mega-brand, one comparable to Lucasfilm, Marvel and DC. (Amazon declined comment. Eon did not respond to a request for comment.)

Following a year of fraught negotiations, Amazon will soon have a full grip on the franchise that has spawned 25 films about Agent 007 but whose TV, licensing, spinoff and interconnected cinematic universe potential remains unmined. (The deal needs regulatory approval in the U.S. and U.K., which is expected sometime this year.) Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos, who signed off on the complex transaction that sees Broccoli and her half-brother, Michael Wilson, retaining a financial stake in the property, is keenly interested in how the tech giant can bring Bond into the digital age.

“If you own a Ferrari but don’t control where or if it goes, it’s frustrating,” says former Amazon Studios chief Roy Price. “The Broccolis have provided the best example in Hollywood history of managing a character. But in today’s complex landscape, it makes sense for Amazon to get in the driver’s seat and control their own destiny.”

For years, Broccoli and Wilson resisted the siren call to fully exploit the property that is based on Ian Fleming’s spy novels across multiple platforms and sometimes didn’t see eye-to-eye with each other, according to insiders. But their move to limit the exposure of the man with a license to kill may have proved prudent, considering that the ubiquity of über-brands like Disney’s Marvel and Lucasfilm sparked audience fatigue and prompted a pullback on output. (Longtime Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy will step down this year, with that franchise — like Bond — entering a new era.)

But some say Broccoli was too cautious and exerted outsize control — to the detriment of Bond. Sources say Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond movie following the release of “Tenet.” But Broccoli made clear that no director would have final cut while Bond was under her purview. Nolan, a final-cut director, wound up making “Oppenheimer” as his follow-up to “Tenet,” with that film earning nearly $1 billion at the global box office and winning the best picture Oscar. (Decades earlier, Steven Spielberg wanted to make a Bond movie following “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” but was blocked by Broccoli’s father, the late Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, because he was too inexperienced.)

Still, there’s a reason the Broccolis held the reins tightly. Bond is and will continue to be a tricky needle to thread. He was created at the height of the Cold War, long before gender equality was a mantra. Yet modernizing the martini-loving lothario too much poses its own issues.

“There’s something so special and unique about Bond, and you can’t just strip him of the things that make him so debonair and cram five projects into production right now and not totally destroy everything about the property,” says Peter Newman, head of the MBA/MFA graduate dual degree program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. “And if you make Bond more politically correct, you’re going to have a lot of pushback.”

Industry observers have more confidence in Amazon’s ability to bring forth a high-quality Bond film than a TV series. The TV division has found success with fantasy dramas “The Boys” and “Fallout,” but it has struggled to generate much Emmy or zeitgeist traction with its shows. The studio gambled on a pricey “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” series that never lived up to its potential as one of the most coveted pieces of intellectual property in Hollywood. And even Amazon — one of the most well-capitalized corporations in the world — can’t afford another spy show like “Citadel,” which is considered one of the most expensive TV series ever made, with Season 1’s six episodes costing $300 million.

“You have to make a realistic assessment of your team’s capabilities and what are their strengths and what are their weaknesses, and [a Bond TV series] plays right into their weaknesses,” says one industryite.

Sources familiar with Amazon’s next steps on Bond say a film is still the top priority, and the studio will look first to attach a producer in the vein of David Heyman, who shepherded the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films with a cohesive vision.

As for Broccoli, she’s still creatively tied to Amazon and has a strong working relationship with Valenti and Rapaport. The studio is in active development on a “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” remake that Broccoli is producing.

Source : https://variety.com/2025/film/news/james-bond-amazon-christopher-nolan-shut-out-1236321078/

Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos said Wednesday that the paper’s opinion editor has “decided to step away” as the section takes a new direction focusing on “personal liberties and free markets.”

Bezos, the founder of Amazon, announced the changes on X.

“We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets,” he wrote. “We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”

Bezos explained that today the internet covers the task that newspaper opinion sections once did — covering opinions on all views.

Bezos said he offered David Shipley, the paper’s opinion editor, the opportunity to stay at the helm under this new editorial direction, but he declined.

Shipley had helmed the section since 2022.

“I suggested to him that if the answer wasn’t ‘hell yes’ then it had to be ‘no.’ After careful consideration, David decided to step away. This is a significant shift, it won’t be easy, and it will require 100% commitment — I respect his decision. We’ll be searching for a new Opinion Editor to own this new direction,” Bezos said.

Bezos explained a reason for the change in direction, saying: “A big part of America’s success has been freedom in the economic realm and everywhere else. Freedom is ethical — it minimizes coercion — and practical — it drives creativity, invention, and prosperity.”

“I’m confident that free markets and personal liberties are right for America. I also believe these viewpoints are underserved in the current market of ideas and news opinion. I’m excited for us together to fill that void,” he added.

The Washington Post — and Bezos — clashed with President Donald Trump over the paper’s coverage during Trump’s first term. Trump repeatedly took aim at Bezos and threatened antitrust action against Amazon. In Trump’s still-young second term, however, Bezos has appeared to have taken a different tack, even attending the president’s inauguration along with other affluent tech titans.

Source : https://www.nbcnews.com/media/jeff-bezos-washington-post-op-ed-david-shipley-rcna193817

A Colombian man has been arrested while boarding a flight from Cartagena to Amsterdam after police found cocaine stashed under his toupee.

The 40-year-old man was taken into custody last week at Rafael Nunez International Airport on suspicion of drug trafficking, manufacturing and carrying narcotic substances.

Authorities said he was found with 19 cocaine capsules valued at more than $10,000 hidden under his wig. He was caught after being screened through a scanner at the Colombian airport.

Video footage of the arrest showed officers cutting off the toupee from the man’s head, with several small packages of cocaine seen attached to the inside of the wig.

Authorities said they seized 220 grams of cocaine.

Metropolitan Police of Cartagena Commander Gelver Yecid Pena Araque said over 450 people have been arrested so far this year for drug trafficking.

He added that over 115 kilos of hallucinogens have been seized, including marijuana and cocaine.

“We are giving forceful blows against these criminal structures that not only dispute the local drug trafficking, but also generate different violent acts and other types of crimes that alter tranquility and coexistence,” he said.

Source : https://www.themirror.com/news/world-news/man-found-stashed-10000-worth-997337

Michelle Trachtenberg, a former child star who appeared in the 1996 “Harriet the Spy” hit movie and went on to co-star in two buzzy millennial-era TV shows — “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gossip Girl” — has died. She was 39.

Police responded to a 911 call shortly after 8 a.m. at a 51-story luxury apartment tower in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood where officers found Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive,” according to an NYPD statement.

Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. No foul play was suspected and the New York Medical Examiner is investigating the cause of death, police said.

“The family requests privacy for their loss,” Trachtenberg’s representative, Gary Mantoosh, said in a statement Wednesday.

Trachtenberg was 8 when she began playing Nona Mecklenberg on Nickelodeon’s “The Adventures of Pete & Pete” from 1994 to 1996 and then starred in the title role in the film adaptations of “Harriet the Spy” and “Inspector Gadget,” opposite Matthew Broderick.

“Michelle comes off as genuine because she really is a genuine kid. Everyone can identify with her,” said Debby Beece, president of Nickelodeon Movies in 1996.

In 2000 Trachtenberg joined the cast of “Buffy,” playing Dawn Summers, the younger sister of the title character played by Sarah Michelle Gellar between 2000 and 2003.

Trachtenberg thanked Gellar for speaking out against Joss Whedon in 2021, following abuse allegations made against the “Buffy” showrunner. “I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman to repost this,” she wrote on social media, and alluded to “his not appropriate behavior” she experienced as a teenage actor.

In 2001, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for hosting Discovery’s “Truth or Scare.” Trachtenberg went on to recurring roles on “Six Feet Under,” “Weeds” and “Gossip Girl,” where she played the gang’s scheming nemesis, Georgina Sparks.

For her fan-favorite role, she was nominated as a TV villain at the Teen Choice Award in 2012. “It’s definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl,” she told Seventeen in 2009. I love the reaction you get. I never understood why some actors don’t want to play villains or evil characters.”

She was one of the original series’ stars to return for a pair of guest appearances in the 2021 “Gossip Girl” revival.

Blake Lively on Instagram on Tuesday honored her “Gossip Girl” co-star: “The world lost a deeply sensitive and good person in Michelle. May her work and her huge heart be remembered by those who were lucky enough to experience her fire.”

As if to cement herself in millennial culture, Trachtenberg made a cameo in Fall Out Boy’s music video for the “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” alongside Seth Green.

Hollywood took to social media to mourn one of their own, one who had made the transition from kid star to teen queen to adult actor. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” co-star David Boreanaz said on Instagram it was “so very sad.. horrible news.” Melissa Gilbert, who starred with Trachtenberg in the 1996 film “A Holiday for Love,” wrote on Instagram: “My heart aches for your family and all those who loved you so.”

Rosie O’Donnell, who starred alongside Trachtenberg in her “Harriet the Spy” debut, said her death was “heartbreaking:” “I loved her very much. She struggled the last few years. I wish I could have helped.” Glee star Chris Colfer remembered her this way: “Michelle was the absolute sweetest and one of the most supportive people I knew,” he wrote.

Trachtenberg’s later credits included “Ice Princess” in 2005, playing a math prodigy and aspiring figure skater. The AP said it had “a good, though feeble, heart and the best of intentions” and said Trachtenberg was “mining the same nervous twitter from her kid-sister days on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’”

The New York City-born Trachtenberg also appeared in the 2004 teen sex comedy “EuroTrip,” she co-starred with Zac Efron and Leslie Mann in 2009’s “17 Again” and played a murderous stalker and abductor on an episode of “Criminal Minds.”

Source : https://apnews.com/article/michelle-trachtenberg-dead-1789e0979c1548e4e56760badfad73ee