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  • Canada starts men’s Olympic curling competition with extra-end win

    Canada starts men’s Olympic curling competition with extra-end win

    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — The Canadian men’s curling team launched their Olympic redemption quest with a nail-biting 7-6 victory over Germany that required an extra end during Wednesday’s opening round-robin session. Skip Brad Jacobs, returning to Olympic ice for the first time since his gold medal performance in Sochi 2014, delivered a clutch final stone that secured the hard-fought win.

    The dramatic conclusion saw Jacobs execute perfect precision under immense pressure, deftly removing a German stone from the house while positioning his own rock perfectly in the button for the decisive point. “It’s been a long time for me—I’m cherishing every moment of this,” an emotional Jacobs remarked post-game. “This is spectacular.”

    Germany had forced the extra end with a remarkable two-point play on the final shot of the tenth end, tying the score at 6-6 and extending the contest in the evening’s final match at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

    The session featured multiple tight contests, with Italy delivering an upset victory over defending champion Sweden by identical 7-6 margin amid roaring home crowd support. Britain dominated China 9-4 with an end to spare, while the United States narrowly defeated Czechia 8-7.

    This opening victory carries particular significance for Canada, traditionally considered curling’s dominant force. The nation faces heightened pressure following the mixed doubles team’s failure to reach semifinals in Cortina. The international curling landscape has undergone significant transformation over the past decade, with Canada’s last Olympic medal in men’s curling remaining Jacobs’ gold from twelve years ago. Since then, Sweden and the United States have captured gold medals while Canada managed only one bronze.

    Teammate Marc Kennedy addressed the evolving competitive landscape: “People need to understand how difficult international curling is these days. These teams are good, these players have been around a long time. Many come to Canada to refine their game, and they now match or exceed most Canadian teams. That expectation of automatic medal contention has disappeared—it’s a tough battle out there.”

    The women’s curling competition commences Thursday, following Sweden’s mixed doubles victory over the United States in Tuesday’s final.

  • Four takeaways from Pam Bondi’s fiery Epstein testimony

    Four takeaways from Pam Bondi’s fiery Epstein testimony

    A congressional hearing featuring US Attorney General Pam Bondi descended into chaos on Wednesday as lawmakers grilled the Justice Department’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein case files and recent immigration enforcement actions. The House Judiciary Committee session, which lasted over four hours, frequently erupted into shouting matches and dramatic confrontations.

    Bondi opened her testimony by addressing Epstein’s victims directly, labeling the convicted sex offender a ‘monster’ and expressing sympathy for their suffering. However, the hearing quickly turned contentious when Democratic representatives challenged the Justice Department’s management of document releases related to the Epstein investigation.

    Representative Pramila Jayapal confronted Bondi about the department’s failure to properly redact victim identities, alleging that some documents contained nude images of survivors whose privacy had been protected for decades. In a powerful moment, Jayapal asked all Epstein victims present to stand if they had been unable to meet with Justice Department officials—a request to which every victim responded.

    The attorney general dismissed these criticisms as ‘theatrics,’ refusing to apologize and stating she wouldn’t ‘get in the gutter’ with her questioner. Bondi defended the department’s efforts, explaining that officials were working within legislative timelines to protect victims and immediately redacting any names inadvertently released.

    The hearing further intensified when Republicans joined the criticism regarding over-redaction. Representative Thomas Massie accused the Justice Department of improperly concealing names of individuals not entitled to protection, calling the situation ‘bigger than Watergate’ and spanning multiple administrations. Bondi dismissed these claims as a ‘political joke.’

    The discussion expanded to include Prince Andrew’s connections to Epstein, with Representative Ted Lieu displaying controversial photographs from the files. While the images showed the royal in compromising positions, their context and legality remained unclear.

    Beyond the Epstein case, Bondi faced sharp questioning about recent immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis where federal agents fatally shot two individuals, sparking nationwide demonstrations. Democratic representatives characterized the shootings as ‘executions’ that warranted investigation, while Bondi defended the actions and blamed elected officials for obstructing law enforcement.

    Committee Chair Jim Jordan and other Republicans praised Bondi’s implementation of President Trump’s immigration policies, creating a stark partisan divide that characterized the entire proceedings.

  • Clashes continue in Manipur; houses burned, internet suspended for 5 days

    Clashes continue in Manipur; houses burned, internet suspended for 5 days

    A state of heightened tension persists in Manipur’s Ukhrul district as renewed ethnic clashes between Tangkhul Naga and Kuki-Zo communities continue to destabilize the region. The violence, which erupted following a seemingly minor altercation, has exposed deeper socio-political fissures rooted in longstanding territorial disputes.

    According to state government officials, the initial confrontation began as a drunken brawl on February 7th but rapidly escalated into organized violence. By Sunday evening, scores of residential and commercial properties in Litan village were deliberately set ablaze by unidentified arsonists. The district administration responded by implementing strict measures including a comprehensive ban on firearms display and suspension of internet services for five days as a preventive strategy.

    Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho characterized the situation as being driven by isolated individuals rather than collective community animosity. “Both sides fundamentally desire peace and harmony,” Dikho stated to press representatives. “The government remains committed to apprehending those responsible and restoring normalcy.”

    Civil society organizations from both ethnic factions convened with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on February 11th in a concerted effort to mediate tensions. Despite these diplomatic interventions, resolution remains elusive as underlying land disputes continue to fuel hostilities.

    Community leaders expressed growing apprehension regarding the persistence of violence despite substantial security deployments. RS Jollyson, Vice President of Tangkhul Naga Long, highlighted concerns about safety within indigenous territories, while Ukhrul Kuki Students’ Organization representative Mercy Khongsai emphasized the tragic transformation of individual conflicts into collective suffering.

    The regional government maintains that the internet suspension and weapon restrictions constitute necessary precautions to prevent further escalation and misinformation spread. Security forces continue monitoring sensitive areas while judicial processes advance against identified perpetrators.

  • Dubai pioneers global Parkinson’s Ramadan guidelines, uniting 25 nations

    Dubai pioneers global Parkinson’s Ramadan guidelines, uniting 25 nations

    In a landmark healthcare initiative, Dubai has unveiled the world’s first international guidelines for Parkinson’s patients observing Ramadan fasting. The pioneering framework was officially launched under the patronage of Sheikh Faisal bin Obaid Al Maktoum at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, marking a significant advancement in culturally-sensitive neurological care.

    The groundbreaking guidelines emerged from an unprecedented global collaboration spearheaded by King’s Parkinson’s Centre of Excellence in partnership with Parkinson’s UAE. The initiative united over 350 patients, caregivers, and leading medical experts from 25 nations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australasia, both in-person and virtually.

    Parkinson’s disease, recognized as the world’s second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affects approximately 2% of individuals over age 60. The guidelines address growing clinical concerns regarding young-onset Parkinson’s cases within global Muslim communities exceeding two billion people. This comprehensive framework provides evidence-based recommendations for medication scheduling, dose optimization, and treatment continuity during Ramadan fasting periods.

    Sheikh Faisal bin Obaid Al Maktoum praised the initiative as embodying “the UAE’s vision for healthcare that harmonizes scientific innovation with compassion and inclusion.” He emphasized the nation’s commitment to developing medical advancements that respect cultural and spiritual traditions while delivering world-class, human-centered care.

    Dr. Vinod Metta, Director of Movement Disorders at King’s Parkinson’s Centre, described the guidelines as “a milestone in the global Parkinson’s community” that balances “medical precision with cultural sensitivity.” The framework enables patients to observe religious practices safely under professional guidance without compromising clinical care.

    Huzaifa Ibrahim of Parkinson’s UAE highlighted the guidelines’ transformative impact, noting they “bring hope and clarity to thousands of Muslims living with Parkinson’s worldwide” while demonstrating that faith and health can coexist harmoniously.

    The multi-center international collaboration involved specialists from Bahrain, Kuwait, the UK, Germany, India, and Australasia. The selection of Mohammed Bin Rashid Library as the launch venue symbolized the initiative’s focus on knowledge-sharing and global exchange of best clinical practices, positioning Dubai as a leading hub for culturally-responsive healthcare innovation.

  • ‘I just want him home’, says wife of Irish man detained by ICE

    ‘I just want him home’, says wife of Irish man detained by ICE

    An Irish citizen’s extended detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has drawn significant attention to immigration enforcement practices and consular protection efforts. Seamus Culleton, who entered the United States in 2009 through the visa waiver program, was apprehended by immigration authorities in September 2025 while finalizing his green card application process.

    Culleton’s spouse, Tiffany Smith, emotionally recounted the profound distress caused by her husband’s detention during a recent press conference. “The experience has been completely overwhelming,” Smith stated, emphasizing her desire to have her husband “home where he belongs.” She reported concerning deterioration in Culleton’s health during her visit two weeks prior, describing significant weight loss and apparent jaundice.

    The detained individual, originally from County Kilkenny’s Glenmore area, has established substantial ties to the United States over his 18-year residence. Culleton operates a plastering business in the Boston region and is married to an American citizen. His legal representative, Ogor Winnie Okoye, has formally requested immediate release to enable completion of the green card application process.

    From the El Paso detention facility, Culleton provided disturbing accounts of living conditions, characterizing them as squalid and inadequate. He described confinement with 71 other detainees in cramped quarters, insufficient nutrition, and severely limited access to outdoor recreation. “The uncertainty is terrifying—you never know what each day might bring,” Culleton conveyed during an interview with RTÉ’s Liveline.

    The case has escalated to diplomatic levels, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledging multiple instances of Irish citizens in ICE custody. The Irish government has adopted a cautious approach, with Martin emphasizing the necessity of effective assistance that doesn’t inadvertently worsen the situation. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee confirmed consular assistance through the Austin Consulate General and diplomatic engagement with Homeland Security officials in Washington.

    ICE officials presented a contrasting narrative through Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who characterized Culleton as an “illegal alien” who received full due process and was issued a removal order. McLaughlin asserted that Culleton elected to remain in custody despite being offered voluntary departure to Ireland. The administration’s stance maintains that detention represents a choice for individuals with pending applications, and highlighted a program offering financial incentives for self-deportation.

    The case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement priorities and humanitarian considerations, with significant implications for bilateral relations and consular protection protocols.

  • India’s Ashwin defends Pakistan’s Usman Tariq after bowling controversy

    India’s Ashwin defends Pakistan’s Usman Tariq after bowling controversy

    In a notable display of sportsmanship transcending cricket’s fiercest rivalry, Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has vocally defended Pakistani bowler Usman Tariq against mounting criticism over his unconventional bowling action. The controversy ignited following Pakistan’s 32-run victory over the USA on Tuesday, a match where Tariq’s three-wicket haul (3/27) proved instrumental.

  • Cross-Strait affairs should be settled ‘like family’, official says

    Cross-Strait affairs should be settled ‘like family’, official says

    A senior Chinese official has framed cross-Strait relations as internal family matters that should be resolved through mutual consultation, during a special Lunar New Year gathering with approximately 200 Taiwanese compatriots in Fuzhou, Fujian province.

    Song Tao, who leads both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, addressed business representatives and residents from Jinmen and Matsu islands at Wednesday’s symposium. He emphasized that matters between the mainland and Taiwan constitute domestic affairs that must be settled “like family” without external interference.

    The official pledged enhanced economic opportunities for Taiwanese enterprises during China’s forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), promising expanded market access and deeper reform initiatives to help Taiwan businesses establish stronger roots on the mainland.

    Striking a firm tone on national sovereignty, Song underscored the imperative of protecting what he termed the “common home” and preserving its assets. He explicitly called for opposition to what he characterized as separatist “Taiwan independence” activities, urging compatriots on both sides of the Strait to uphold national interests and work collectively toward the goal of reunification.

    The festive gathering, which brought together Taiwanese compatriots to celebrate the approaching Lunar New Year, served as both a symbolic gesture of cross-Strait kinship and a platform for reinforcing Beijing’s consistent position on Taiwan relations.

  • Pakistan Defence Minister says ‘begging mafia’ causes Gulf countries to cancel visas

    Pakistan Defence Minister says ‘begging mafia’ causes Gulf countries to cancel visas

    Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has publicly exposed a sophisticated begging syndicate operating within the country, revealing how organized networks generate substantial illicit revenues through professionalized panhandling operations. The minister shared compelling video evidence demonstrating how begging has evolved into a highly profitable criminal enterprise.

    The footage, disseminated via social media platforms, captures a revealing interaction between an interviewer and a child beggar. During the exchange, the minor discloses astonishing financial details: he and his three siblings collectively generate approximately PKR 12,000 daily through coordinated begging activities. Most notably, the child admits his brother’s physical disability is entirely performative—a carefully crafted deception to elicit sympathy and increase donations.

    Minister Asif characterized this operation as a fully organized profession managed by formal contractors who systematically recruit children, women, and individuals pretending to be disabled. These criminal networks allegedly generate billions in revenue while exporting beggars to Gulf nations by the thousands. The minister further alleged complicity among airport staff and law enforcement agencies, suggesting the operation thrives through institutional patronage.

    The consequences have been severe at the international level. Gulf countries, frustrated by the systematic exploitation of their visa systems, have begun restricting entry for Pakistani citizens. Official data from Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development substantiates these concerns, documenting over 7,800 deportations between 2019 and 2025 specifically related to begging charges.

    In response to this crisis, Pakistani authorities implemented stringent countermeasures in 2025, including the cancellation of passports for deportees involved in begging-related offenses. The interviewer featured in the viral video urged citizens to reconsider charitable giving practices, particularly during Ramadan, suggesting direct support to known individuals facing genuine medical or financial hardships rather than funding criminal begging operations.

  • UAE leads Mena M&A boom as regional dealmaking surges 26% in 2025

    UAE leads Mena M&A boom as regional dealmaking surges 26% in 2025

    The United Arab Emirates has solidified its position as the epicenter of Middle Eastern and North African merger and acquisition activity, catalyzing a remarkable 26% surge in regional transactions during 2025. According to EY’s comprehensive Mena M&A Insights report, the region witnessed 884 deals valued at $106.1 billion, marking a substantial increase from the previous year’s 701 transactions.

    The UAE’s dominance was particularly striking, accounting for nearly half of all inbound investment volume and an extraordinary 92% of total inbound value. The nation led domestic dealmaking with 131 local transactions—more than any other Mena country—while simultaneously attracting the region’s most substantial acquisitions. This dual strength demonstrates the Emirates’ unique position as both an originator and destination for strategic investments.

    Cross-border transactions continued to shape the Mena landscape, representing 54% of deal count and 61% of total value. Sovereign wealth funds including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Mubadala, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund emerged as pivotal players, deploying substantial capital for acquisitions within and beyond the region.

    The year’s landmark transactions underscored the UAE’s sectoral diversity. The monumental $16.5 billion acquisition of a 64% stake in petrochemicals company Borouge by Austrian energy group OMV and subsidiary Borelis ranked as the largest deal. This was followed by L’IMAD Holding Company’s $13.8 billion purchase of an 84.76% stake in Modon Holding, and Multiply Group’s $7.7 billion acquisition of 42.2% of 2PointZero.

    Inbound investment surged dramatically, with volume increasing 37% to 223 deals and value more than doubling to $25.4 billion. Austria emerged as the standout international investor, responsible for 65% of inbound value through just three chemical-sector transactions. Outbound activity similarly strengthened, climbing 29% to 256 deals worth $39.2 billion, with government-related entities from the UAE and Saudi Arabia accounting for 64% of this value.

    Technology and diversified industrial products served as the region’s primary growth engines, contributing 38% of overall deal volume. Real estate—including hospitality and leisure—and asset management represented more than half of disclosed domestic deal value, signaling robust investor appetite for long-term assets.

    Despite global political uncertainties and transformative technological shifts, the Mena M&A market demonstrated remarkable resilience. The UAE’s stable regulatory environment, expanding trade volumes, and economic diversification have positioned it as the region’s preeminent investment destination, cementing its status as an emerging global FDI powerhouse.

  • Milei takes on Argentina’s unions, drawing protests as senators debate his labor overhaul

    Milei takes on Argentina’s unions, drawing protests as senators debate his labor overhaul

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina’s capital witnessed intense confrontations on Wednesday as thousands of unionized workers mobilized against President Javier Milei’s proposed labor reforms, creating a volatile atmosphere outside the National Congress where senators engaged in heated debates over the controversial legislation.

    The massive demonstration, organized by the country’s most influential trade unions, resulted in significant traffic disruptions and violent clashes with security forces. Police deployed water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse protesters who responded with petrol bombs, stones, and other projectiles. According to Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva, two individuals were apprehended for assaulting police officers during the confrontations.

    This dramatic showdown highlights the profound sensitivity surrounding workers’ rights in Argentina, a nation where Peronism—a populist movement that has consistently positioned itself as the defender of labor interests—has dominated political discourse since the 1940s.

    Proponents of Milei’s labor modernization initiative attribute Argentina’s stagnant private sector job creation over the past two decades to excessively high payroll taxes, an overly complex severance payment system, and national wage agreements that restrict company-level negotiations. The proposed legislation seeks to introduce greater flexibility by limiting strike rights, extending employee trial periods, diminishing the influence of national trade federations in collective bargaining, and reducing severance compensation.

    Business organizations contend these changes would stimulate critically needed foreign investment and promote formal employment in a country where approximately half of all workers operate in the informal economy without legal protections.

    However, the reforms face vehement opposition from labor unions and their political allies, who argue the measures would dismantle essential worker protections developed over decades. The General Confederation of Labour, the nation’s largest trade union grouping that coordinated Wednesday’s protests, condemned the legislation as ‘austerity for the workers’ rather than genuine modernization.

    The Senate deliberation was anticipated to continue through the night, with the legislation scheduled to advance to the lower house of Congress for further debate next month if approved.