Trump to visit Texas as GOP Senate primary race intensifies
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Texas on Friday, timing his visit with the final day of early voting and just days before the state’s closely watched Republican primary. The trip, confirmed by a White House official, will take place in Corpus Christi, although specific details about the event have not yet been publicly released. State Representative Stan Gerdes said the announcement prompted him to move a previously scheduled campaign appearance with
San Jose policy on police identification remains in effect despite federal ruling
San Jose officials say the city’s efforts to regulate immigration enforcement activities remain firmly in place, even as a recent federal court decision temporarily paused a related California law. Local leaders emphasized that the ruling does not weaken San Jose’s existing requirements for law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves while on duty. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision Thursday that put California’s No Vigilantes Act on hold pending
Pop Mart opens new store at Westfield Old Orchard mall in Skokie
Pop Mart, the globally recognized designer toy retailer known for drawing long lines of collectors, has officially opened a new location at Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Illinois. The debut marks the company’s sixth store in the state and reflects the brand’s continued retail expansion across the Chicago metropolitan area. According to the company’s announcement, the storefront quietly began welcoming customers over the weekend. The new shop is situated on the north si
JCP&L crews restore power as outages drop after major blizzard
JCP&L has deployed more than 2,500 linework personnel across its service region as the utility continues efforts to restore electricity following a powerful winter blizzard that caused widespread outages. Officials reported that the number of customers without power has dropped to about 15,000, marking significant progress in the restoration campaign. Crews remain heavily focused on OceanCo, where the storm brought down more than 60 trees and damaged critical infrastructure. Utility crew
Waymo launches driverless taxi service in Dallas amid safety scrutiny
Waymo has officially launched its driverless taxi service in Dallas, marking another major step in the company’s nationwide expansion of autonomous ride-hailing. The service is currently available to a limited group of riders who joined the app’s waitlist, with a broader public rollout expected later this year. The move has generated both enthusiasm about the future of transportation and renewed debate about the safety of autonomous vehicles. Company officials said early access
Meta deepens AI push with major AMD GPU agreement
Meta has announced a significant multiyear agreement with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to accelerate its artificial intelligence expansion, marking another major investment in computing infrastructure just days after committing to large-scale purchases of Nvidia processors. The social media giant said Tuesday that the deal will involve deploying up to 6 gigawatts of AMD’s graphics processing units across its AI data centers, along with AI-optimized central processing units designed to suppo
Iran deploys security forces to universities amid growing student protests
Iranian authorities on Tuesday deployed plainclothes police and armed security personnel across several universities in an effort to contain a fourth consecutive day of student protests directed at Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The heightened security presence reflects growing concern within the government over expanding campus unrest and the potential for demonstrations to spread further. Clashes were reported at multiple academic institutions, including Tehran’s Univers
US Deploys 150 Aircraft Near Iran as Nuclear Tensions Escalate
Satellite imagery and open-source flight tracking data indicate that the United States has significantly expanded its military presence across Europe and the Middle East as tensions with Iran intensify over Tehran’s nuclear programme. More than 150 American military aircraft have reportedly been repositioned to forward operating bases in what analysts describe as one of the largest regional force deployments in over two decades. The aircraft include heavy cargo planes, aerial refuelling tanker
DC Water says Potomac sewage spill remains contained despite storms
WASHINGTON — DC Water officials said recent snow and rain have not worsened contamination levels linked to the Potomac sewer line failure, even as crews confront new engineering hurdles and unresolved questions about how repair costs will be divided. The agency confirmed that Mayor Muriel Bowser previously sought full federal reimbursement for the sewer collapse under disaster aid provisions. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated Monday that the current agreement cov
Social Security repeatedly declares Dallas woman dead, halts benefits
A 94-year-old Dallas resident has been mistakenly declared dead by the Social Security Administration multiple times, creating ongoing financial hardship for her and her family. The latest error, recorded in December 2025, marks the fourth time since 2017 that Helen Cvik has been incorrectly listed as deceased despite being alive. According to her family, the repeated Social Security error has disrupted critical benefit payments needed to cover assisted living expenses, insurance premiums an
Asia-Pacific markets mixed as Trump tariff warning unsettles investors
Asia-Pacific markets delivered a mixed performance on Tuesday as investors assessed renewed tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump alongside growing concerns about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the software and cybersecurity sectors. The cautious mood reflected broader uncertainty in global stocks, with market participants closely monitoring trade tensions and technology-driven disruption. The unease followed comments posted by Trump on Truth Social, wh
Zelenskyy urges Trump to maintain US support for Ukraine war effort
As the Russia-Ukraine war entered its fourth year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a direct appeal to former US President Donald Trump, urging continued American backing for Kyiv in its ongoing fight against Moscow. The Ukrainian leader emphasized that sustained US support remains critical as the conflict with Russia shows no signs of resolution. In an interview ahead of the February 24 anniversary marking Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy stressed the strategi
Mark Carney to visit India to boost Canada-India ties
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a high-profile visit to India as part of a broader Indo-Pacific tour, in what officials describe as a significant step toward revitalizing bilateral relations that have faced strain in recent years. The visit, scheduled from February 26 to March 7, 2026, will also include stops in Australia and Japan, reflecting Ottawa’s strategic focus on strengthening partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region. Carney’s itinerary begins in Mum
Former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson arrested in misconduct probe
Former United Kingdom ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to confirmation from London’s Metropolitan Police. The 72-year-old veteran Labour Party figure was detained at a property in Camden and taken to a London police station for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation. Police officials said the arrest followed the execution of search warrants at two separate addresses in the Wiltshire and Ca
Bay Area radio station renames itself to honor Alysa Liu
A Bay Area radio station is preparing a special tribute to Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu by temporarily rebranding itself in her honor. Station officials announced that 96.5 KOIT will adopt the name “Alysa 96.5” for one day on Monday, celebrating the figure skating star’s historic achievement and her connection to the local community. The move follows Liu’s recent Olympic triumph, which marked a significant milestone for American figure skating. The 20-year-old athlete del
East coast blizzard halts thousands of flights across major US airports
A powerful blizzard swept across the eastern United States on Monday, bringing air travel to a near standstill at major airports serving New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and surrounding regions. The severe winter weather forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights, with disruptions expected to continue through at least Tuesday, placing renewed pressure on carriers during the busy tail end of the winter travel season. Large portions of the East Coast, stretching from Maryland to Maine,
Modi’s Israel visit to deepen defence and innovation ties, says envoy
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday expressed enthusiasm ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit, describing it as a significant step forward in strengthening India-Israel relations. The visit, scheduled for February 25, is expected to accelerate cooperation across defence, technology, and economic sectors, reflecting the growing depth of the strategic partnership between the two nations. In a video message shared on social media, Azar said Israel was l
Trump warns of higher tariffs as India delays Washington trade visit
United States President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to global trade partners, threatening significantly higher tariffs for countries he claims have taken advantage of the American economy for years. The remarks come amid heightened uncertainty following a recent Supreme Court ruling that has reshaped the administration’s tariff authority and complicated ongoing trade negotiations. In a post on Truth Social, Trump cautioned that any nation attempting to “play games” in the w
India reschedules US trade talks after Supreme Court tariff ruling
The Indian government has decided to reschedule a planned visit by its trade delegation to Washington, DC, following fresh uncertainty triggered by the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down former president Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. Officials indicated that the move reflects a cautious approach as both sides assess the legal and strategic implications of the ruling on the ongoing India-US trade deal discussions. The Indian delegation, led by chief negotiator Darpa
