USA

Bill Clinton told Congress he never saw or knew about Epstein’s crimes. • The testimony took place in a closed‑door, day‑long deposition in New York. • Clinton was questioned about files referencing him, including a hot tub photo. • The photo shows him with an unidentified person whose face is obscured. • Hillary Clinton testified the previous day, also denying any knowledge of wrongdoing. • Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has been accused of misconduct by Epstein survi

• Carney began the trip in Mumbai to meet business leaders and will then hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. • Relations had deteriorated after Canada accused India of involvement in the 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar—an allegation India denies. • Both Canada and India now appear willing to move forward despite lingering concerns within Canada’s Sikh community. • Canadian officials say the two countries are having “

• Large plumes of black smoke were seen near the US Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama; damage is unclear and the US has not commented. • The UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait report intercepting missiles in their airspace; all host US military bases. • Qatar’s defence ministry says it intercepted several missiles apparently aimed at al‑Udeid Air Base, the largest US base in the region. • Iran’s IRGC says it is targeting US bases and assets under “Truthful Promise 4” in retaliation

• Trump stated that “major combat operations” are underway and called for regime change in Iran. • Reported targets in Iran include the supreme leader’s office, the presidential office in Tehran, and multiple military sites. • Ordinary Iranians are exhibiting mixed reactions, including panic and, for some, relief. • Iran has carried out retaliatory strikes on Israel, according to the Israeli military. • Explosions believed to be Iranian attacks have been reported in Qatar, th

• Nvidia reported record annual revenue of $215.9 billion. • Revenue for the final quarter of its financial year increased 73% compared with the same period a year earlier. • Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang said computing demand is rising rapidly and companies are increasing investment in AI computing. • Nvidia supplies chips to major AI developers including OpenAI and Meta. • Nvidia is the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, with a market valuation of about $4.8 tr

The announcement was made on 21 February 2026 via Truth Social. This replaces an earlier proposal of a 10% tariff. The 10% tariffs had been scheduled to take effect on 24 February 2026. It is unclear whether the 15% rate will begin on the same date. ⚖ Supreme Court Ruling On 20 February 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States  ruled 6–3 that: Trump exceeded his authority when imposing sweeping global tariffs last year. He improperly used the International Emergency Econo

Us GDP grew at an annualised rate of 1.4 in Q4 2025 Growth in Q3 2025 was 4.4%. Full-year economic growth in 2025 was 2.2%. Consumer spending rose 2.4% in Q4 (down from 3.5% in Q3). Government spending fell by more than 16% in Q4. The federal government shutdown reduced GDP by an estimated 1 percentage point. President Donald Trump claimed the shutdown cost “at least two points” of GDP. Early 2025 saw a mild contraction due partly to a surge in imports ahead of tariffs. Impor

The Court determined that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorise the President to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the majority opinion. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented. The ruling may require the US government to refund approximately $150 billion in collected tariffs. The decision overturns: “Reciprocal” country-by-country tariffs (e.g., 34% on China, 10% baseline globally). 25% tar

this week (week of 16–22 February 2026)  — focusing on national-level developments and key political news (not local or entertainment events): 📅 Political Calendar & Key Events Annual National Governors Association (NGA) gathering  — 19–21 Feb :• Traditionally a bipartisan meeting of governors and the White House, but this year has become politically contentious due to disputes over invitations. • President Trump is hosting a meeting with governors on 20 Feb  at the White Ho