Feb. 6 (UPI) — A group of prominent Nigerian religious and traditional leaders visited Washington, D.C. this week seeking understanding and support for addressing their country’s critical security situation as a result of ethnic and religious based violence.
The group comprised three Christian leaders, both Catholic and Protestant, and three Muslim imams, one of whom is also a traditional ruler in Zamfara state in northwestern Nigeria.
Last Wednesday they briefed international stakeholders on the current state of the security crisis in Nigeria and discussed interfaith action priorities with potential international partners.
Ambassador Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and chairman of the 2026 International Religious Freedom Summit underscored the urgency of the situation. He told the working group, “If this moment is not wisely used, you could lose the country. I fear this is the road this is starting down without sustainable solutions. You don’t have a lot of time.”
The virtual disappearance of state sovereignty in certain rule areas where armed groups extort taxes, requisition harvests, and hijack local government was a central issue of concern. In addition, estimates of internally displaced people, or IDPs, as a result of armed conflict range from 3.5 to 8 million. Most IDPs are forced to live in hastily assembled refugee camps.
“This should not be possible in 2026,” said Cardinal John Onyaikan, one of the visiting faith leaders.
Nigeria’s fragile security situation had directly affected members of the visiting group. Alhaji Hassan Attihuru, the Emir of Bungudu, in Zamfara state, challenged the idea that kidnappings and killings were targeted on religious grounds. He himself had been kidnapped by members of his own Fulani people who were fellow Muslims.
Rev. John Hayab is a Baptist minister in Kaduna State, and the country Director of Global Peace Foundation Nigeria. Students at a school his church ran were kidnapped and held for ransom. His son was one of a small group that managed to escape into the nearby forest.
The group’s visit to America was a follow-up to the Abuja High-Level Interfaith Dialogue, convened by the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria last December. The meeting produced a blunt statement challenging the federal government to do more to combat the violence.
It also established a Joint Interfaith Advocacy Committee on Freedom of Religion and Belief that agreed to increase peace messaging to affected communities and track progress on reducing incidents of violence.
Attending the dialogue in D.C. from the American side were representatives of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Global Impact, Religious Freedom Institute, Alliance Defending Freedom, the U.S. State Department, and American University.
Cardinal Onyaikan told those present, “Our problems are self-inflicted so we need our own solutions. But no nation is an island, so we also need support.”
The dialogue was co-sponsored by the Global Peace Foundation, Religious Freedom Institute, and Pepperdine University.
Summing up the meeting, Fr. Canice Enyiaka, Global Peace Foundation Director of African Peace Initiatives said, “Bringing the experience and insights of faith leaders here to Washington is very important because of the seriousness of the current crisis. Religious faith is a powerful force in Nigeria and I am grateful for all the organizations supporting religious freedom and human rights represented here.”
Yesterday, the Nigerian group met with Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV)who has been vocal about the violence suffered by Christians in Nigeria. He is said to be preparing a report on the security threats to Nigerian Christians for President Trump with options for how the U.S. government should respond.
The visiting group briefed him on the complexities of the situation and the role that interfaith cooperation at the leadership level can play in addressing it. Moore agreed to continue to receive their input after their return to Nigeria.
Molly-Mae has revealed how far along she is in her pregnancyCredit: InstagramThe star shared the news on Instagram on ThursdayCredit: InstagramShe’s now revealed she’s actually six months into her pregnancyCredit: Instagram
Molly-Mae, 26, quietly broke the news to family and close pals months ago, but shared a surprise video with fans on Instagram, which showed her revealing her bump.
However, she has now gone into more detail about her pregnancy and confirmed she’s actually six months pregnant already.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, she shared a snap from her L’Oreal catwalk in late September and wrote above it: “Little baby with me in this moment…and I didn’t even know.”
She also reshared her pregnancy announcement video and wrote below it: Nearly 6 months on….and it still hasn’t sunk in.”
Molly-Mae then shared a video from last weekend showing her growing bump in a black top and jogger bottoms as partner Tommy bent down to kiss her stomach.
Molly-Mae, who also has three-year-old daughter Bambi with Tommy, had filmed her pregnancy reveal video on January 23, and captioned it: “Soon to be four.”
Molly dropped various clues about her pregnancy before announcing the news, which is said to have strengthened her relationship with Tommy after they got back together early last year.
A source told The Sun: “Finding out Molly is pregnant has really helped bring them close together again.
“Tommy is determined to do things right this time he has cancelled all of his summer trips with his friends, as he wants to stand by Molly every step of the way.
“Their new home is in a better place for both of them and has more than enough space for two children.”
Taking to Reddit, the cruel users gathered to compile a list of reasons why Ms Hague shouldn’t be welcoming baby number two.
“If it makes her happy, then it’s good but Molly seemed to be quite overwhelmed with one child considering she basically hinted that Tommy is always at events or away from home anyway. Obviously, that comes with his job.”
Molly reshared her announcement video as she gave more detailsCredit: InstagramMolly-Mae and Tommy reunited early last year and are excited for daughter Bambi, three, to become a big sisterCredit: Instagram
“Knew it would happen but still is so disappointing as a molly Stan,” said another.
A third added: “The concept of having a second child when you can’t handle the one you already have is abysmal.”
Molly has been open online about the struggles she’s faced as a first-time mum to her daughter Bambi, 2.
A Congolese miner told Al Jazeera he saw his friends around him die as the mine they were working in collapsed in heavy rains, trapping dozens underground for hours. Rescuers pulled Grace Barata alive from the mud the following day.
A suicide bomb attack during Friday prayers at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has killed dozens of people and injured at least 170 others.
Finneas O’Connell took to social media to defend Billie Eilish and her Grammys acceptance speech from a specific demographic that was angered by her remarks.
“Seeing a lot of very powerful old white men outraged about what my 24 year old sister said during her acceptance speech,” O’Connell wrote Wednesday on Threads. “We can literally see your names in the Epstein files.”
The sibling duo won the Grammy for song of the year Sunday, becoming the first ever three-time winners of the category. The “Wildflower” songwriters were among those wearing “ICE Out” pins at the 2026 Grammy Awards as a statement against the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration-enforcement agency and its tactics after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota sparked a national outcry.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said while accepting the award. “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in this room and like we just need to keep fighting, speaking up and protesting. Our voices really matter.”
While some of her speech was censored during the live broadcast, Eilish was also heard saying “F— ICE,” drawing cheers from those in attendance.
Eilish was one of many artists who used their moment on the Grammys stage to speak out against the Trump administration and the federal immigration raids that have been happening in multiple states, including California. Some, including R&B song and performance winner Kehlani, were just as direct in their language condemning ICE. Other winners, including Bad Bunny and Shaboozey, used their speeches to celebrate immigrant communities.
Feb. 5 (Asia Today) — Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant prospect. It is rapidly advancing into areas once considered uniquely human, including translation, medical diagnosis, law and content creation. With the possibility of human-level general AI now openly discussed, its impact is widely viewed as greater than any previous technological breakthrough.
Optimists foresee a long-awaited utopia. Self-driving cars dominate roads, AI assistants handle household chores and administrative work, doctors deliver more precise care with AI support, and teachers focus on personalized education. Like electricity or the internet, AI is expected to function as a general-purpose technology that raises productivity across the entire economy. Some forecasts suggest it could add about one percentage point to annual productivity growth over the next decade, potentially accelerating research and development and sustaining long-term economic expansion.
History, however, offers a more complex picture. General-purpose technologies often depress productivity in their early stages because firms and workers need time to adapt and reorganize. This so-called productivity J-curve may also apply to AI, as high implementation costs and training requirements delay gains and concentrate benefits among a limited number of firms and industries.
More immediate concerns are emerging in labor markets. Automation is already replacing clerical and repetitive tasks, while mid-skilled jobs are shrinking. As AI evolves from generative models to autonomous agents and physical systems, even highly educated workers may struggle to find stable employment. A small group with advanced AI skills may enjoy rising wages, while many others face job insecurity, raising fears of a society where algorithms dominate and humans are treated as expendable.
The debate over whether AI leads to utopia or dystopia ultimately centers on a single question: will AI replace humans. The answer lies in understanding the fundamental differences between artificial and human intelligence. AI excels at processing vast data and making predictions, but humans interpret context, make judgments under uncertainty and weigh ethics and values. Humans also build trust through empathy, communication and responsibility.
What matters most in the AI era is not intelligence itself but wisdom – the capacity to reflect on purpose, distinguish right from wrong and respect others. Rather than competing with AI, humans must cultivate complementary abilities that guide technology in constructive directions.
The future shaped by the AI revolution remains open. Its outcome depends on whether individuals and societies can develop the knowledge, skills and wisdom suited to this era. Continuous learning is essential, as is education that moves beyond test scores to nurture curiosity, critical thinking, ethics and responsibility.
At the societal level, education systems must shift away from standardized knowledge delivery. As AI handles information retrieval and analysis, priorities should include creativity, problem definition, collaboration and lifelong learning. Universities need closer alignment with labor market needs, while labor systems must become more flexible and competency-based.
Vocational training and retraining are equally urgent. In an age of rapid job transformation, a single education cannot last a lifetime. Governments, businesses and schools must cooperate to support mid-career workers and vulnerable groups. At the same time, governance frameworks ensuring transparency, accountability and fairness in AI use are essential for building public trust.
Artificial intelligence can expand human capabilities rather than replace them. True competitiveness in the AI era will come not from algorithms alone, but from the intellectual synergy created when humans and AI work together. What is needed now is not abstract optimism or fear, but deliberate investment in people.
Lee Jong-hwa is a chair professor of economics at Korea University. The views expressed are the author’s own.
The adage that records are made to be broken definitely applies to the TV ratings for the Super Bowl.
For three straight years, the game deciding the champion for the NFL season has set new viewing records, including last year’s Philadelphia Eagles crushing victory over the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 that scored an average audience of 127.7 million viewers on Fox.
Both the 2024 and 2025 games had the benefit of the pop culture sizzle generated by Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s romance with pop superstar Taylor Swift, bringing in more casual fans.
This season, the Chiefs won’t be in the game for the first time in three years as NBC will have the Seattle Seahawks facing off Sunday against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, not the match-up experts predicted for this year.
But that doesn’t mean it can’t set another ratings record.
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrate the Chiefs’ victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.
(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
“I believe it can,” said Lee Berke, president of LHB Sports, Entertainment & Media, noting the lift the NFL ratings have seen this season as viewing information from set-top devices and internet connected televisions in 45 million households are now included in Nielsen’s audience measurement.
“It’s definitely showing up and bumping up ratings throughout the year for the NFL,” Berke said.
A recent report from the Video Advertising Bureau found that the new measurement from Nielsen has boosted ratings for prime time NFL games in the mid-to-high single digit percentages.
Other changes to Nielsen’s measurement in recent years have given the Super Bowl a boost. While surpassing 100 million was once a reasonable goal, the numbers started climbing above that threshold since out-of-home viewing was added in 2021.
History is on the side of a robust audience number this year. The last time the Patriots faced the Seahawks in 2015, the NBC telecast set a viewership record at the time of 114.4 million. Fans watching Sunday can expect to see clips of Malcolm Butler’s interception at the goal line that helped give Tom Brady’s Patriots the win that year.
But NBC doesn’t need a record audience number for the Super Bowl to be a financial success. A robust TV advertising marketplace helped the network sell out the game at a record average of $8 million per 30-second spot, with some going for $10 million.
NBC has also sold spots that will air only on its Peacock streaming platform. The network pulled in the range of $3 million a spot, significantly above the $2 million Fox took in for ads last year when the game was streamed on its Tubi service.
This year NBC was able to use Super Bowl LX to drive ad sales for its coverage of the Winter Olympic Games in Milan that begin Friday and run through Feb. 22, (which is also sold out). The network also has the NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Feb. 14, which is why Mike Cavanaugh, co-chief executive of NBCU parent Comcast, recently described February as “the most consequential month in live sports history.”
In 2022, NBC’s combination of both the Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl, accounted for $1.5 billion in revenue according to Comcast’s earnings report, a number the company will likely surpass this year. The company isn’t commenting on revenue but has said it expects to set a record for Super Bowl ad revenue.
Mark Marshall, chairman of global advertising sales and partnerships for NBCUniversal, said 70% of the companies in the Super Bowl are also running commercials in the Olympics.
In previous decades, a Super Bowl commercial was an event in itself with the reveal happening on the telecast. But Marshall noted that, as part of a larger marketing effort, advertising campaigns are now introduced with teasers ahead of the telecast and many get a full preview online.
This year, NBCU was able to offer the Olympics to help marketers connect with more consumers.
“We told advertisers ‘you’re going to spend eight figures (on producing a commercial) — extend the reach of that,” Marshall said.
Technology companies make up the largest share of advertisers. Several AI companies, including Anthropic and Genspark, will be first-time Super Bowl ad buyers. Viewers will also see returning entries from Google, Meta, Wix and Amazon, which will air a spot for its Alexa device.
While there are the usual array of snack food and soft drink companies that will appearin the commercial breaks, viewers will also see a spurt in pharmaceutical ads. Marshall said the category has increased its presence on NFL games. The Super Bowl spots will focus on a message of “wellness,” rather than straight ahead product spots with disclaimers listing unpleasant drug side effects.
Marshall said NBCU does not expect the announced alternative halftime show presented by Turning Point USA to have an impact on the ratings. A concert featuring Kid Rock and lesser known country artists Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, will stream on YouTube, X, Rumble and several right-wing TV channels.
The concert promoted by the right-wing group founded by the late Charlie Kirk and now run by his widow Erika is in response to conservatives outraged over the NFL’s selection of Grammy-winning music superstar Bad Bunny, who sings primarily in Spanish, as the halftime act. (President Trump called the decision “terrible” and is skipping the game.)
But the league has not wavered for a moment amid the blowback, as it seeks to expand its global reach by having the most streamed artist in the world on the stage of its marquee event.
The only effective counter-programming gimmick against the Super Bowl halftime show came in 1992. Fox, still an upstart network, ran a live edition of its sketch comedy show “In Living Color” against the halftime of the CBS telecast of Super Bowl XXVI, which featured ice skaters Dorothy Hamill and Brian Boitano.
The pronounced dip in viewership prompted the NFL to sign Michael Jackson as the halftime act in 1993. The game saw a significant ratings boost and the league has booked contemporary music acts for the game ever since.
Unionized workers of the news channel YTN stage a rally in front of the government complex in Gwacheon, South Korea, 07 February 2024, to voice their objection to the Korea Communications Commission’s approval that an affiliate of the mid-sized conglomerate Eugene Group becomes the largest shareholder of the local news channel. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Feb. 5 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection said Thursday it will begin a first-half audit of public institutions’ asset management, including the sale of broadcaster YTN, amid allegations that some state-linked assets were disposed of at below-market prices.
The audit agency released its 2026 annual plan and said it will focus on high-risk areas tied to financial soundness, including large public-sector projects, asset sales and the operations of overseas offices.
A Board of Audit and Inspection official said the agency will conduct a comprehensive review of cases in which assets were sold or leased at low prices without sufficient valuation, citing claims that public institution assets, including YTN, were subject to “fire-sale” pricing.
YTN became the center of controversy in October 2023 over allegations of forced privatization and a rushed or preferential sale after a 30.95% stake held by KEPCO KDN and the Korea Racing Authority was transferred to the Eugene Group, according to the report.
President Lee Jae-myung ordered ministries in November 2025 to halt and reexamine state asset sales, the report said.
The audit plan also includes reviews described as “visible to the public,” covering illegal drug customs clearance management, defect handling in multi-unit housing and the operation of information security certification systems.
In addition, the agency said it will conduct “innovation support audits” in new technology areas such as artificial intelligence and research and development. The plan also calls for an audit of relaxation facilities, including a cypress sauna and a bedroom, installed at the Yongsan presidential office during former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s tenure, according to the report.
An audit agency official said the board will aim to drive institutional changes that the public can feel.
Rescue teams reach the site after blast reported at a mosque in Tarlai Kalan during Friday prayers.
Published On 6 Feb 20266 Feb 2026
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Updated: 10 minutes agoUpdated: 10 minutes ago
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At least 15 people have been killed and more than 80 wounded after a blast at a Shia mosque in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, local officials say.
The explosion occurred at Khadija Tul Kubra mosque, in southeastern Islamabad’s Tarlai Kalan area, during Friday prayers.
Rescue teams have reached the site of the explosion.
At least 15 of those injured were taken to hospitals with some of them in critical condition, rescue official Mohamed Amir said, according to dpa news agency.
Islamabad police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said the cause of the blast has yet to be determined, local news outlet Dawn reported.
In November last year, a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance of the Islamabad District Judicial Complex, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens.
Al Jazeera’s Abid Hussain contributed to this report.
Molly-Mae Hague accidentally revealed her bump in the reflection of a windowCredit: YouTubeThe influencer shared her happy news with a sweet black and white videoCredit: Instagram
Mollyposted a sweet black and white clip on Instagram filmed on January 23, captioning it: “Soon to be four.”
In the clip, the YouTuber showed off her growing baby bump in a white cropped t-shirt.
But some eagle-eyed fans have said that they spotted Molly’s baby bump last week in her latest vlog.
In the video, Molly wore a black long sleeve top and filmed a clip from her kitchen, in front of a glass refrigerator door.
Her fans were quick to zoom in and spot Molly’s noticeable baby bump in the reflection.
During the same vlog, Molly admitted she was having nose bleeds again, which was common during her first pregnancy with daughter Bambi.
On Thursday, Molly shared a sweet video with Tommy and three-year-old daughter Bambi, who excitedly wore a “big sister” jumper.
Molly expressed her desire to expand her family with Tommy in scenes aired on her Amazon Prime documentary in January.
Molly dropped various clues about her pregnancy before announcing the news, which is said to have strengthened her relationship with boxer Tommy.
A source told The Sun: “Finding out Molly is pregnant has really helped bring them close together again.
“Tommy is determined to do things right this time he has cancelled all of his summer trips with his friends, as he wants to stand by Molly every step of the way.
“Their new home is in a better place for both of them and has more than enough space for two children.”
Molly spoke candidly about hopes to expand her family with boxer Tommy during the first instalment of her Amazon Prime documentary, Molly-Mae: Behind It All, which aired to viewers last year.
Opening up about the future, she revealed: “All I want in this life is to be with him, and to have another baby with him, and to grow old as a family. And to live in a nice house together and have a nice life together. That’s all I want.”
Molly explained that after their breakup, she temporarily moved back into her original home while they figured things out.
“When Tommy and I split up I moved back to the original house so I moved for a short amount of time, like not even long enough to tell you guys, and I was just about to tell you but then sadly our relationship ended,” she said.
“It was even more of a hard time than anyone realised because my house was completely empty. I had people coming to view it to rent it. So yeah I moved house and no one knew. So that was all going on among everything. It was a lot of turmoil. It was shambles.”
Molly expressed her desire to expand her family with TommyCredit: Instagram
A senior South Korean official told reporters in Washington Thursday that he anticipates “some new progress in a few days” regarding issues with North Korea. In this photo, U.S. President Donald J. Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 30, 2019, at the DMZ. File White House Photo by Shealah Craighead/UPI | License Photo
A senior South Korean official said Thursday that he anticipates “some new progress in a few days” regarding North Korea-related issues, but he noted it is not about the resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.
The official made the remarks during a meeting with reporters in Washington amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump could seek a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when he visits China in April.
“There may be some new progress in a few days. It is not anything significant, but it is intended as a gesture of goodwill that can serve as a starting point (for progress in diplomacy with North Korea),” the official said.
“It doesn’t go as far as dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea,” he added.
He also pointed out North Korea’s lack of interest in diplomacy with Seoul or Washington.
“So we need to wait and see,” he said.
Both South Korea and the U.S. have expressed their desire to reengage with North Korea. But it remains uncertain whether Pyongyang would accede to dialogue overtures at a time when it has deepened cooperation with Russia and China to address its economic and other needs.
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.
The Joint Inter-Agency Task Force 401 (JIATF-401) released the three-page document on “Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructure” last Friday. The Pentagon established JIATF-401 last August to coordinate counter-drone efforts across the department and help accelerate the fielding of new capabilities. Last week, the Pentagon also announced new authorities for military base commanders, expanding their options for responding to drone threats more broadly.
The new guidance from JIATF-401 talks about “critical infrastructure” mostly in terms of civilian sites ranging from power plants to sports venues. Drones do present real and still growing threats to critical civilian infrastructure, something TWZ has been calling attention to for years now. The Pentagon explicitly said the document had been released as part of work it has been doing in cooperation with the White House’s FIFA Task Force, which is preparing for the United States to host the World Cup later this year. However, it is made clear that the contents are equally applicable to helping protect military facilities from uncrewed aerial systems.
“When we talk about Homeland defense, we’re not just talking about military bases, power grids and ports; we’re talking about places where Americans gather. With major international events like the World Cup on the horizon, the security of our stadiums, for example, is a national priority,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, Director of JIATF-401, said in a statement accompanying the release. “Whether it’s a forward operating base, an outdoor concert venue or a stadium hosting the World Cup, the principles of risk assessment and physical protection outlined in this guide remain the same. This new guidance provides a common playbook for our forces to work closely with federal and local partners to ensure a safe and secure environment against the growing challenge of nefarious drones.”
The new counter-drone guidance’s central concept is a framework called HOP, standing for Harden, Obscure, Perimeter.
“Hardening does not mean enclosing an entire facility, but selectively introducing obstacles that disrupt predictable aerial access,” the document explains. “Even modest obstacles can deter low-cost, consumer-grade drones and force higher-risk flight profiles.”
As noted, the guidance highlights nets and tensioned cables as examples of this kind of cost-effective hardening. It also recommends closing retractable roofs and otherwise covering any other roof openings where and when it is feasible to do so. Underscoring the immediate focus on the World Cup, the document notes that “netting used to protect fans from projectiles can be repurposed to disrupt sUAS [small uncrewed aerial systems] flight and observation.”
The section on hardening from the recently released counter-drone guidance. US Military
The guidance also recommends the construction of more substantial “permanent or semi-permanent structural shielding, including concrete walls, enclosures, or hardened roofs designed to protect critical systems from overhead approach, observation, or objects released from a UAS.”
We will come back to all of this in a moment.
The “Obscure” component of the HOP framework focuses on making it harder for drones and their operators to find their targets in the first place. This can include an array of different tactics, techniques, and procedures, such as physical camouflage and decoys, as well as regular changes to how personnel and assets move through a facility. “If a drone cannot easily identify targets, crowds, or critical systems, its effectiveness drops sharply,” the new guidance notes.
The obscuration section from the recently released counter-drone guidance. US Military
Lastly, there is the “Perimeter” portion of the HOP framework, which is centered on expanded security zones around a specific site and ways to improve general situational awareness. “Pushing the effective perimeter outward forces drones to operate at greater distance, which strains battery life, degrades video and control links, increases the chance of operator exposure, [and] creates a larger safety buffer if a drone is downed.”
The portion of the recently released counter-drone guidance discussing perimeter-related aspects of the HOP framework. US Military
As an aside, the recently announced new counter-drone authorities for the commanders of U.S. military bases include the ability to respond to threats inside expanded zones beyond the facility’s immediate “fence-line.” The right-sizing of perimeters around domestic facilities and their enforcement has been a particularly complex issue for the U.S. government when it comes to counter-drone policies in recent years. Potential second-order impacts to surrounding areas, especially in densely populated urban environments, have to be taken into account and mitigated. This all imposes limits on the kind of assets that can be employed to neutralize drone threats once they’ve been detected, as you can read more about here.
The counter-drone guidance released last week includes this annotated satellite image of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, outside Los Angeles. The red circle reflects a traditional inner security zone perimeter, while the yellow circle shows the boundaries of an expanded perimeter to help better protect against uncrewed aerial threats. US Military
“We will have the need for bases, the main operating bases from which we operate,” U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin Schneider, head of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), said during a panel at the Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA) 2025 Warfare Symposium last March. “The challenge becomes, at some point, we will need to move to austere locations. We will need to disaggregate the force. We will need to operate out of other locations, again, one for survivability, and two, again, to provide response options.”
Schneider added at that time that his service was faced with the need to “make internal trades” in how to apply available funding, including “do we put that dollar towards, you know, fixing the infrastructure at Kadena [Air Base in Japan] or do we put that dollar towards restoring an airfield at Tinian.”
A US Air Force F-16 sits in a hardened aircraft shelter at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany. USAF
“I got tons of airfields from tons of allies, and we have access to all of them. The problem is, I can only protect a few of them,” now-retired Air Force Gen. James Hecker, then head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), another member of that same panel, had also said. “We can’t have that layered [defensive] effect for thousands of airbases. There’s just no way it’s going to happen.”
“I’m not a big fan of hardening infrastructure,” Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, then head of PACAF, had also said at a media roundtable at the Air & Space Forces Association’s main annual symposium back in 2023. “The reason is because of the advent of precision-guided weapons… you saw what we did to the Iraqi Air Force and their hardened aircraft shelters. They’re not so hard when you put a 2,000-pound bomb right through the roof.”
It is worth noting here that traditional high-end guided missiles and other precision-guided munitions are no longer necessarily required to carry out strikes of this kind. Drones costing thousands of dollars, and able to be launched from very long distances away, can now execute precision attacks.
Wilsbach is now Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the service’s top officer.
The U.S. military has faced pushback from Congress on the topic of hardening. Multiple independent assessments have also raised alarms. TWZ has been following this often-heated debate closely.
There have been signs that the U.S. military’s position on hardening, and that of the Air Force’s more specifically, has been shifting already. In 2024, authorities at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina both put out contracting notices asking for information about nets and other physical barriers to stop potential drone attacks. Langley had become a focal point for the drone threat discussion by that point after the base was subjected to weeks of still largely unexplained drone incursions in December 2023, which we were first to report.
A graphic included a contracting notice put out by authorities at Langley Air Force Base in 2024 showing how sunshade-type shelters at the base might be equipped with anti-drone nets. USAF
Last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced that it had developed upgrades for a family of modular, rapidly deployable protective structures specifically to improve their effectiveness against drone attacks.
Elements of the U.S. Army’s Modular Protective System-Overhead Cover (MPS-OHC) modular structure system is subjected to a live-fire test. US Army Corps of Engineers
“The technology is not going to solve this problem for us. We can’t field a system that will stop every drone,” JIATF-401 director Brig. Gen. Ross told TWZ and other outlets during a press call in December in response to a direct question about physical hardening from this author. “At the end of that would be protection, which would be netting or fencing or physical barriers that would prevent a [sic] unmanned system from having its intended effect.”
Brig. Gen. Ross had said that this was among the things JIATF-401 had discussed in meetings with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies as part of World Cup preparations, presaging the release of the new guidance last week.
“As you think about protection, I would go all the way down to protective protection type assets, those will be included in our marketplace. And so if somebody wants to buy a $10,000 radar that has limited range, they’ll be able to buy it on the marketplace. If they want to buy a low cost interceptor for … [small drones] that just uses kinetic energy to defeat a drone – that’s a drone that hits a drone for $1,000 – they’ll be able to buy it on our marketplace,” he added. “If they want to buy physical barrier material, whether it’s a fishing net or a chain link fence, they’ll also be able to buy that as part of that counter-UAS marketplace.”
The central “marketplace” mentioned here, through which elements of the military and other U.S. government agencies can source counter-drone capabilities, is a key initiative that JIATF-401 has been working on and that you can learn more about here.
It is important to stress that U.S. military officials are unified in their position that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to countering drones. Physical hardening is just one part of a layered approach and is not a ‘silver bullet’ solution to protect against all types of drone threats. Active defenses, including electronic warfare jammers, drone-like interceptors like Brig. Gen. Ross mentioned, and more traditional anti-aircraft assets, are still part of the equation, to differing degrees, for defending against drones at home and abroad.
Elements of a counter-drone kit that U.S. Northern Command has been deploying for domestic use that includes drone-like interceptors and various sensors. US Military
At the same time, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has shown that even limited, lower-cost measures like netting can be useful for disrupting attacks by smaller kamikaze drones and loitering munitions in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In Shebekino, Belgorod region, 41 apartment buildings have been covered with anti-drone nets. The local creatures are loving it – they joke about it and, as always, endure it with classic patience. pic.twitter.com/Q26fwKX1ut
The russian terrorist state no longer has the ability to produce Tu-95s or any kind of strategic bomber. This is a tremendous victory for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/SVeQE78v0h
Outside of the United States, among adversaries and allies alike, there has also been a growing trend toward more physical hardening at air bases and other facilities. China has embarked on a particularly extensive effort to build new hardened and unhardened shelters at air bases across the country. The Chinese have been observed building other kinds of hardened infrastructure, including a new pattern of protected air defense sites along their disputed border with India, as well. Even before the unprecedented drone attacks last year, Russia had also been working to add new shelters, hardened and unhardened, to various air bases, but with a focus on ones closer to the fighting in Ukraine.
Structures that are sturdy enough even just to protect against shrapnel could have broader value, too. Just over a year ago, the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington, D.C., published a report assessing that 10 missiles with warheads capable of scattering cluster munitions across an area with a 450-foot diameter could be enough to neutralize all exposed aircraft on the ground and critical fuel storage at various key airbases. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, as well as Langley in Virginia, were specifically highlighted, as seen below.
Hudson Institute
Overall, the Pentagon’s counter-drone prescriptions are still evolving, especially when it comes to defending bases and critical civilian infrastructure within the United States. At the same time, despite public stances that officials have taken in the past, hardened structures and other kinds of physical defenses have become an important part of the current counter-drone playbook.
AMANDA Holden ditched her bra and a showed off her slim waist in yet another stunning work outfit.
The Heart Radio star, 54, looked chic as ever in a pale blue long sleeve top with a dark red rim and teamed with a brown suede skirt.
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Amanda Holden ditched her bra for another stylish work lookCredit: InstagramThe BGT judge was seen strutting through the corridor and posed for a toilet selfieCredit: Instagram
Amanda mentioned that the colours were also nod to football team Aston Villa.
The BGT judge was seen strutting through the corridors as she gave fans a rundown on her outfit, which was from designer Karen Millen.
Amanda then posed for a toilet selfie which showcased her braless look.
The TV star often showcases her stylish looks on social media.
But just last week, she revealed she once prepared a Sunday roast in front of her family — while naked.
Amanda said she stripped off while cooking the meal because it was a hot day.
And she added that her two daughters Lexi, 19, and Hollie Rose, 13, were used to seeing her without clothes.
She told the Table Manners podcast: “You know on the cusp between winter and summer where you have to give up roast dinners and turn it into a barbecue?
“My whole family moan about Sunday roast, but I make them have it, and then this one particular Sunday it was boiling hot so I did just strip off and cook everything naked.”
SEOUL, Feb. 6 (UPI) — U.S. President Donald Trump gave his “total endorsement” of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of a snap election in her country on Sunday and announced plans to meet with her at the White House on March 19.
Takaichi “deserves powerful recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Thursday. “Therefore, as President of the United States of America, it is my Honor to give a Complete and Total Endorsement of her, and what her highly respected Coalition is representing.”
“SHE WILL NOT LET THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN DOWN!” he added.
Takaichi dissolved the lower house of parliament on Jan. 23, triggering a snap election set for Sunday. The 64-year-old hardline conservative leader and her ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, appear headed for a strong showing, according to a poll released Monday by the Asahi Shimbun daily.
The survey suggested the LDP is on track to secure an outright majority in the 465-member chamber. Along with its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party, the coalition could capture around 300 seats, the poll indicated — well above the razor-thin majority it currently holds.
Such a result would strengthen Takaichi’s hand as she seeks to cement her leadership within the party and press ahead with her policy agenda.
In the 12-day campaign period ahead of the election, Takaichi has focused on economic measures to help households squeezed by rising prices.
She has floated the idea of temporarily suspending the consumption tax on food and expanding fiscal stimulus, while calling for increased public investment in strategic industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence as part of a broader growth strategy. Debate has also touched on foreign workers, tourism management and Tokyo’s security posture amid heightened tensions with China.
Takaichi is Japan’s first female prime minister. She took office late last year after winning a leadership contest within the LDP following the resignation of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose approval ratings had cratered amid high inflation and a wide-ranging slush fund scandal.
A former heavy metal drummer, Takaichi has brought a populist flair to Japan’s typically staid political establishment. Her social media savvy has made her a surprising favorite among younger voters, as her personal approval ratings run far ahead of the broader LDP.
Direct endorsements by sitting U.S. presidents in foreign elections are unusual, although Trump has previously voiced support for conservative leaders abroad, including Argentine President Javier Milei last year. On Thursday, he also endorsed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in an April vote.
Trump and Takaichi met in October during his visit to Japan, just a week after she took office. The two reached agreements on trade and rare earth minerals, with Takaichi heralding a “new golden era” in bilateral ties.
Trump’s endorsement comes amid an ongoing rift between Tokyo and Beijing over comments Takaichi made in November, when she said a Chinese attempt to blockade or seize Taiwan could trigger a military response under Japan’s security laws.
During a phone call with Trump on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Taiwan was “the most pressing issue” in their relationship, reiterating Beijing’s claim that the self-governing democratic island is “China’s territory.”
Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kei Sato confirmed Friday that Trump had extended the March 19 invitation.
“Amid a turbulent international environment, we will reaffirm the unshakable unity between Japan and the United States with President Trump, further advance cooperation in diplomacy, economic and security fields, and open a new chapter in the alliance,” Sato said at a regular press briefing. “We will make thorough preparations to ensure the visit is meaningful.”
As film and television post-production work has increasingly left California, workers are pushing for a new standalone tax credit focused on their industry.
That effort got a major boost Wednesday night when a representative for Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank) said the lawmaker would take up the bill.
The news was greeted by cheers and applause from an assembled crowd of more than 100 people who attended a town hall meeting at Burbank’s Evergreen Studios.
“As big of a victory as this is, because it means we’re in the game, this is just the beginning,” Marielle Abaunza, president of the California Post Alliance trade group, a newly formed trade group representing post-production workers, said during the meeting.
The state’s post-production industry — which includes workers in fields like sound and picture editing, music, composition and visual effects — has been hit hard by the overall flight of film and TV work out of California and to other states and countries. Though post-production workers aren’t as visible, they play a crucial role in delivering a polished final product to TV, film and music audiences.
Last year, lawmakers boosted the annual amount allocated to the state’s film and TV tax credit program and expanded the criteria for eligible projects in an attempt to lure production back to California. So far, more than 100 film and TV projects have been awarded tax credits under the revamped program.
But post-production workers say the incentive program doesn’t do enough to retain jobs in California because it only covers their work if 75% of filming or overall budget is spent in the state. The new California Post Alliance is advocating for an incentive that would cover post-production jobs in-state, even if principal photography films elsewhere or the project did not otherwise qualify for the state’s production incentive.
Schultz said he is backing the proposed legislation because of the effect on workers in his district over the last decade.
“We are competing with other states and foreign countries for post production jobs, which is causing unprecedented threats to our workforce and to future generations of entertainment industry workers,” he said in a statement Thursday.
During the 1 1/2 hour meeting, industry speakers pointed to other states and countries, including many in Europe, with specific post-production incentives that have lured work away from the Golden State. By 2024, post-production employment in California dropped 11.2%, compared with 2010, according to a presentation from Tim Belcher, managing director at post-production company Light Iron.
“We’re all an integrated ecosystem, and losses in one affect losses in the other,” he said during the meeting. “And when post[-production] leaves California, we are all affected.”
PM calls for civil debate as government faces backlash over efforts to roll back policies to support Maori community.
Published On 6 Feb 20266 Feb 2026
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New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has rejected criticism of his claims that colonisation was positive for the country’s Indigenous Maori population.
Dozens of people started booing and shouting when Seymour stood on Friday to offer a prayer during a dawn service at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where New Zealand’s founding document was signed in 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and more than 500 Maori Indigenous chiefs, setting out how the two sides would govern the country.
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Seymour made his controversial comments that colonisation had been an overall positive experience for Indigenous people on Thursday during a speech to mark national Waitangi Day, an annual political gathering that gives Indigenous tribes a chance to air grievances.
“I’m always amazed by the myopic drone that colonisation and everything that’s happened in our country was all bad,” said Seymour, who is leader of the right-wing ACT Party and a member of the Maori community.
“The truth is that very few things are completely bad,” Seymour had said, according to local online news site Stuff.
Describing his hecklers on Friday as “a couple of muppets shouting in the dark”, Seymour said the “silent majority up and down this country are getting a little tired of some of these antics”.
Following Seymour’s prayer on Friday, left-wing Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins was also loudly jeered by those in attendance.
On Thursday, Indigenous leader Eru Kapa-Kingi told parliamentarians “this government has stabbed us in the front,” and the previous Labour government had “stabbed us in the back”.
Seymour’s government has been accused of seeking to wind back special rights given to the country’s 900,000-strong Maori population, who were dispossessed of their land during British colonisation and remain far more likely to die early, live in poverty or be imprisoned compared with the country’s non- Indigenous population.
Controversial legislation that was tabled last year seeking to reinterpret the treaty’s principles and roll back policies designed to address inequalities experienced by Indigenous people led to protests and failed after two of the three governing parties did not vote for it.
Speaking on Friday, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called for national unity and for steps to address challenges faced by the Maori community.
Luxon also said the national debate over the legacy of British colonisation should remain civil.
“We don’t settle our differences through violence. We do not turn on each other; we turn towards the conversation. We work through our differences,” Luxon said in a social media post.
Denial about the destructive legacy of colonialism and its connection to contemporary challenges faced by Indigenous communities remains a frequent subject of contentious debate in former colonies around the world, including Australia and New Zealand.
“People joke that I only did it because he didn’t do his homework,” says former Premier League referee Jon Moss about the time he sent off James Milner.
Twenty-four years after making his debut, Milner, 40, will equal the record for most Premier League appearances if he features for Brighton against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
A stellar career spanning more than two decades, six top-flight clubs, 652 Premier League appearances, 61 England caps, three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League triumph has also delivered some unexpected moments.
“He said I couldn’t wait to get my card out,” laughs Moss about dismissing his former pupil after switching careers.
“People say I’m the only teacher to send off one of his pupils in a Premier League game. We can both laugh about it now.”
Milner is set to go level with Gareth Barry, who played 653 times, at the top of the all-time Premier League appearance list some 8,491 days after making his debut for hometown club Leeds United soon after leaving school in 2002.
“I think that will be a special thing for him but he is focused on top of that on the ambitions from the club as well. He wants to be always successful like he was his whole life,” said Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler.
“He is a driver of this winning mentality and I think it’s very important to have these kind of players in the squad.
“They know how to win, they know what it needs to win, how you need to prepare a game, how you react in bad phases like on bad runs we have at the moment.”
Alan Shearer, who played with Milner at Newcastle, describes him as a model professional and a “manager’s dream”.
“You would do well if you had him in your squad because you knew exactly what you were going to get,” adds former England captain Shearer.
This is the story about a young lad from Leeds who evolved to set standards for hard work, professionalism and longevity – and earn respect from fans all over the world.
VICTORIA Beckham’s £104 foundation has sold out in the two weeks since son Brooklyn disowned her — as fans throw their support behind the ex-Spice Girl.
It is now the most successful product in her beauty range — and means she stands to make her greatest turnover this year.
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Victoria Beckham’s £104 foundation has sold out in two weeksCredit: GettyThe sales boost shows Brits are backing Posh instead of estranged son Brooklyn, pictured here with wife NicolaCredit: GettyThe Foundation Drops have sold out in several huesCredit: Tik Tok
The Foundation Drops have sold out in several shades, with the waiting list the longest since she launched her range in 2019.
Currently one of her satin kajal eyeliners sells every 30 seconds.
But the foundation is on track to sell every 20 seconds once stocks are replenished.
January, traditionally the quietest month in the online beauty world, has been Victoria’s busiest to date as fans launched a viral campaign to promote her products.
A source said: “Personally it may well have been one of the worst months of Victoria’s life but professionally, these past four weeks have been astonishing.
Posh’s foundation is on track to sell every 20 seconds once stocks are replenishedCredit: Tik TokThe product is now the most successful in her beauty rangeCredit: Victoria BeckhamBrooklyn with parents Victoria and David before the feudCredit: Getty
“Not only did fans get her to number one, TikTok then went into overdrive reviewing her foundation. It got rave reviews, with make-up artists and beauty enthusiasts waxing lyrical.
“Having already sold well in the build-up to Christmas, in the wake of Brooklyn’s bombshell statement, it has had a second surge online.
“As a result, there are now enormous waiting lists and it has become her biggest ever selling hero product.”
Victoria’s most recent Companies House reports showed a 26 per cent revenue increase year on year, with turnover of almost £113million.
K Bank Chief Executive Officer Choi Woo-hyung speaks at the company’s IPO press conference in Seoul. Photo by Asia Today
Feb. 5 (Asia Today) — K Bank has lowered its proposed offering price as it makes a third attempt at an initial public offering, betting that a stronger stock market and a deeper discount will help it clear investor demand.
According to the financial investment industry, K Bank is offering 60 million shares with a target fundraising range of 498 billion to 570 billion won (about $373 million to $427 million). The proposed price band of 8,300 to 9,500 won represents a 20.83% cut from the 12,000-won upper limit floated during its failed 2024 IPO attempt.
Lee Jun-hyung, the company’s chief financial officer, said the price was set at about a 20% discount and is “20% to 30% lower than peers such as Kakao Bank and Japan’s Rakuten Bank.”
Market attention is focused on whether K Bank can secure sufficient institutional demand this time. The book-building process, which began Tuesday, runs through Monday. Industry officials noted that participation often concentrates on the final day, making it too early to judge the outcome.
If listed, K Bank plans to accelerate a non-interest income strategy centered on small businesses, platform services and digital assets. At an IPO press conference in Seoul, Chief Executive Officer Choi Woo-hyung said the bank aims to expand its retail base and open ecosystem while broadening its portfolio to include sole proprietors and small and medium-sized companies.
Choi also said the lender is preparing for future stablecoin-related business, citing its ongoing partnership with Upbit and internal development of blockchain technology, including patent filings.
Following a successful listing, K Bank plans to enhance shareholder returns. Choi said the bank is targeting a return on equity above 15% and will consider dividends or treasury share buybacks once it achieves a sustained double-digit ROE.
The IPO is being led by NH Investment & Securities and Samsung Securities, with Shinhan Investment Corporation participating in the underwriting syndicate. The listing is scheduled for March 5.
