News Desk

Feb. 20 (UPI) — Wildfires have burned more than 300,000 acres in the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles, and more than a million people in the region were under a fire watch Friday.

No deaths were reported, but several structures have been damaged or destroyed in Oklahoma’s Panhandle, where a 283,000-acre Ranger Road Fire was 20% contained as of Friday morning, KFOR reported. That fire spread into parts of southwestern Kansas.

The Stevens Fire, 12,428 acres, and the Side Road Fire, 3,680 acres, in Oklahoma’s Texas County were 60% and 75% contained, respectively as of Friday morning.

The Poor Farm Fire in Latimer County was 10% contained after burning some 9,000 acres.

Among other significant fires, the 43 Fire in Woodward County has burned 1,680 acres and was 60% contained, while the 1,400-acre Rattlesnake Fire in Osage and Washington counties was only 30% contained.

Other active fires are the 182-acre Hospital Road Fire in Carter County, which was 40% contained; the 242-acre 615 Fire in Cherokee County, which was 70% contained; and the 126-acre Chelsea Fire in Rogers County, which was 60% contained.

Warm, dry and windy conditions in the area triggered the fires, and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday declared states of emergency for Woodward, Beaver and Texas counties.

Many residents have evacuated those counties, and a significant fire danger remains in Texas and Cimarron counties in the Panhandle region.

Local forecasters said cooling temperatures and lessening wind speeds are expected to reduce the threat of the fires spreading, but wind speeds of between 25 mph and 35 mph, with gusts of up to 60 mph, continued on Friday morning.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, its embarked airwing and elements of its carrier strike group (CSG) are now in the western Mediterranean. The Ford and the USS Mahan, one of its Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer escorts, transited the Strait of Gibraltar around 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. Eastern), eyewitnesses told The War Zone. The Ford passed through the Strait from the Atlantic after leaving the Caribbean, where it took part in the mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.

This marks the Ford‘s return to the Mediterranean since leaving its homeport of Norfolk on June 24, 2025. The Ford‘s deployment was extended for a second time to join a growing list of U.S. military assets in the Middle East, including the Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, as President Donald Trump considers an attack on Iran. You can read more about how the extension affects the ship and its crew in our story here.

Daniel Ferro, (@Gibdan1 on X), shared photos of the ships with us. 

Another eyewitness, who runs the @maritimegraphy X account, provided to us videos of the ships crossing as well as a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol jet flying overhead. The P-8 is packed with sensors and they often provide overwatch for CSGs to detect potential threats on and under the water’s surface.

Both ship spotters said the U.S. Navy vessels were accompanied by at least one Spanish Navy Santa Maria class frigate. The Pentagon declined comment.

Ford Carrier Strike Groups Enters The Med On Feb. 20th, 2026

As noted earlier, the Ford CSG will eventually be joining the Lincoln CSG, already deployed to the Middle East, as well other Navy ships and scores of tactical jets, surveillance planes, tankers, airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as additional air defense assets. The Ford‘s current location puts it about 2,500 miles east of the Israeli coast, meaning it could take a few more days to arrive there if that is indeed its intended station, as one report states. While patrolling there would help Israel defend against incoming barrages, the ship’s air wing would have to fly across Israel or Lebanon, Syria or Jordan, and Iraq, to reach Iranian territory.

In addition to the tactical jets already in theater or in bases in Europe preparing to fly there, reports have emerged that the U.S. has pulled F-35 Lighting II stealth fighters and other assets and troops out of NATO’s Cold Response exercise scheduled to take place in Norway next month. This move is another part of the U.S. buildup in the Middle East, according to Norwegian defense officials.

NATO declined comment and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to our query.

The influx of aviation assets has packed U.S. facilities in the Middle East and elsewhere. For instance, satellite images show 18 F-15E Strike Eagles, 18 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons, six E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare jets and two MQ-9 Reaper drones visible at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan alone. This does not include all the aircraft that cannot be seen under shelters and sun shades. Every designated spot for a tactical jet that is visible from space is now full at the packed installation.

Lajes Air Field in the Azores has also seen a big uptick of aircraft. There were at least 11 KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tankers, 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons and a C-17 Globemaster II cargo jet there as of yesterday. This includes a KC-46 that had an aborted takeoff last month. The tankers at the island airfield are a critical component of the air bridge between the U.S. and Europe and the Middle East that enables the rapid buildup we have been seeing unfold.

Satellite imagery also shows an increase of refueling tanker activity at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, while a continuous decrease at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. The closer the base is to Iran, the more vulnerable it is to large scale barrages or ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. Al Udeid sits right on the Persian Gulf. As we have previously noted, both Jordan and Saudi Arabia have both said they would not allow U.S. forces to use their territory or airspace for an attack against Iran. Whether that pledge sticks is doubtful.

Friday morning, Trump was asked if he is considering a “limited strike” against Iran if it does not agree to a deal to curtail its nuclear weapons ambitions. He replied in the affirmative. The president did not provide details of what that could entail or when it might be launched.

KERRY Katona and her partner Paolo Margaglione are brushing off their drama-filled week with a night out in London.

The Sun revealed yesterday how Paolo was hit by Katie Price’s husband Lee Andrews in a bust-up during their recent trip to Dubai, where they went to visit the couple.

The incident was the first time Kerry and her partner were meeting her best pal’s new man, following their whirlwind romance, with the trip turning sideways just hours in.

But seemingly not letting it get to them, Kerry and Paolo headed to the capital from their Cheshire home to celebrate her daughter Heidi’s 19th birthday.

Heading to celeb hotspot Sheesh Mayfair, Kerry enjoyed cocktails as she filmed herself dancing with Paolo.

Appearing in high spirits, the pair giggled as Kerry captioned the clip: “Mums and dads on the loose.

SLURRED SPEECH

‘Pregnant’ Katie Price slurs in video after Lee PUNCHED Kerry Katona’s man

QUICK ESCAPE

Kerry Katona’s boyfriend fled the country hours after Katie Price bust up

“Can you tell we don’t get out often?”

In another video, Kerry planted a kiss on Paolo, who beamed for the camera.

Kerry and Paolo headed to Dubai last week for a Valentine’s Day getaway, where they met close friend Katie and her husband Lee, who are on their honeymoon after a surprise wedding.

While the two couples appeared in high spirits when Kerry and Paolo touched down in the UAE, Kerry later said that Paolo had to head home “urgently” due to a work commitment.

But yesterday, we revealed that the dad-of-two actually locked horns with Lee, who took a strike at him.

An onlooker told us: “Lee was having some cross words with Katie. He was acting in what appeared to be an aggressive manner.

“Paolo then appeared and stepped in. Lee seemed to be very angry and was shouting at him.

“It all got very heated and Lee threw some punches and one of them landed Paolo square on the head.”

The incident happened in a public part of the hotel where Kerry and Paolo had been staying, with onlookers seeing what went on.

Kerry is thought to not have been present at the time of the altercation.

Sudan’s civil war is shifting into a drone-driven phase, erasing the lines between battlefield and civilian life. As Ramadan begins under famine conditions, how do the people of Sudan mark the holy month in the midst of war?

In this episode: 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Sarí el-Khalili and Melanie Marich with Maya Hamadeh, Tuleen Barakat and our guest host, Tamara Khandaker. It was edited by Ney Alvarez. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

The United States Supreme Court ruling against the administration of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs has left a question unanswered on what is the refund process for the funds collected over the past several months through the tariffs that had been imposed on most US trading partners .

In a 6–3 decision issued on Friday, Chief Justice John Roberts upheld a lower court ruling that found the president’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) exceeded his authority.

The high court did not specify how the federal government would refund the estimated $175bn collected under the tariffs. In his dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned that issuing refunds would present practical challenges and said it would be “a mess”.

The case will now return to the Court of International Trade to oversee the refund process.

More than 1,000 lawsuits have already been filed by importers in the trade court seeking refunds, and a wave of new cases is expected. Legal experts say the administration will likely require importers to apply for refunds individually. That process could disproportionately burden smaller businesses affected by the tariffs.

“The government is probably not going to voluntarily pay back the money it unlawfully took. Rather, the government is going to make everyone request a refund through different procedures by filing formal protests. They’re going to delay things procedurally as long as they can. Hiring lawyers and going through these procedures costs money and time,” Greg Shaffer, a law professor at Georgetown University, told Al Jazeera.

“I imagine the largest companies, who have been prepared for this eventuality, will eventually get their money back. But smaller importers, it’s a cost-benefit analysis where they might shrug their shoulders and say it’s not worth going through the hassle to get the unlawfully imposed taxes paid back to them.”

Trump’s path forward

Despite Friday’s ruling, other sweeping levies remain in place. Trump had invoked Section 232 of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act to impose sector-specific tariffs on steel and aluminium, cars, copper, lumber, and other products, such as kitchen cabinets, worldwide.

On Friday, Trump said he would impose a 10 percent global tariff for 150 days to replace some of his emergency duties that were struck down. The order would be made under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, and the duties would be over and above tariffs that are currently in place, Trump said.

The statute allows the president to impose duties of up to 15 percent for up to 150 days on any and all countries related to “large and serious” balance of payments issues. It does not require investigations or impose other procedural limits.

The president also has other legal avenues available to continue taxing imports aggressively.

“Our trading partners were well aware of the risks the President faced in using IEEPA as the basis for reciprocal and other tariffs. Nevertheless, they chose to conclude deals with Washington, convinced by Washington that other statutes would be utilised to keep the tariffs in place,” Wendy Cutler, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, told Al Jazeera in a statement.

“With respect to China, USTR [United States trade representative] still has an active Section 301 investigation on China’s compliance with the Phase One agreement, which could be a major feature of the back-up plan for Beijing.”

The president is expected to travel to Beijing next month to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, to discuss trade.

“The two main options include Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, the traditional mechanism for imposing tariffs in response to unfair trade practices by other countries. It requires an investigation and a report, but ultimately gives the president considerable discretion to impose tariffs. It has been used in the past and will likely be the most frequently used measure going forward,” Shaffer, the law professor, said.

He noted, however, that the administration’s tariff options could not be applied retroactively, meaning any new tariffs would apply only to future imports rather than covering duties already paid.

Raj Bhala, professor of law at The University of Kansas School of Law, argues there are remedies at the president’s disposal in addition to Section 122. Bhala said that Trump could use Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (also known as the Smoot-Hawley Act). That allows the president to impose a 50 percent tariff to challenge discriminatory trade practices from other countries.

“Each option involves procedural hurdles,” Bhala said.

Congressional pressure

Roberts wrote that the president must “point to clear congressional authorization” to impose tariffs. The ruling has increased pressure on both Trump’s allies and critics in Congress to clarify the scope of executive trade authority.

“What a fantastic ruling for a feckless branch of government. While its current tendency is to abdicate, the court has told Congress to do its job,” a former official in the White House Office of Management and Budget told Al Jazeera in response to the decision.

“Congress must either act with specific legislation, or declare war, which would grant the President the emergency powers to levy tariffs.”

“Congress and the Administration will determine the best path forward in the coming weeks,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on the social media platform X.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, by contrast, welcomed the ruling, saying it will “finally give families and small businesses the relief they deserve” and that Trump should end “this reckless trade war for good.”

But how that money will get paid back, and if it was already spent, will require Congress to step in.

“If it has been spent, the money will have to be reallocated by Congress. Congress will have to determine how much is owed to importers, pass a law to fund it, and create a mechanism for repayment. There’s also the question of who is entitled to it. Is it only the importer, or does it extend to the end consumer? Where does the line stop?” Babak Hafezi, professor of international business at American University, told Al Jazeera.

“This is not something that will be fixed in 24 hours. It will most likely take years, possibly even a decade, to resolve all the issues this less-than-a-year-old law has imposed on Americans.”

We used to have more films like “Midwinter Break,” in which the combination of a couple of great actors, a gifted writer and the unfussy shepherding of a thorny, intimate scenario gave discerning moviegoers their recommended weekly allowance of adult drama about the human condition.

That’s no longer the case, so you would be forgiven for attaching more importance to the small-scale appeal of this adaptation of Irish author Bernard MacLaverty’s 2017 novel. Without gimmicks or pomp (save a picturesque setting) and through the supreme talents of Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds, it offers up an affecting two-hander about a couple on the brink who’ve never really acknowledged said precipice. As directed with low-key confidence by Polly Findlay, the movie is both good and, in a certain way, good enough.

Should a marriage be merely good enough? Because hiding in the 40-year togetherness of retired teacher Stella (Manville) and ex-architect Gerry (Hinds) is an unmistakable chasm. It’s a divide with roots in the turbulent Belfast of their youth, which necessitated starting their family in Glasgow. It manifests now in a brittleness that tints their everyday exchanges as ossifying empty nesters.

Stella’s restless energy in wanting to fix things spurs her to arrange an impromptu trip for them to Amsterdam. Initially they rekindle a genial intimacy over art, meals and the city’s beauty. She eases off her intolerance for his drinking by tagging along to bars, while he accompanies his faith-driven wife to the Begijnhof, a historical religious site of dwellings initially intended to house a sisterhood of single Catholic women. We gather her keen interest isn’t entirely touristy but also, because Hinds is so good, that his wisecracks about religion — which she bristles at — have a basis in something personal, too.

We eventually learn what it is that has kept Stella and Gerry in a state of deepening apartness. But these expected revelations aren’t as cathartic as one might hope, probably because what “Midwinter Break” had going for it was a gathering totality of unhurried observance, as if we, too, were stumbling in the dark along with these nervous dancers, who once knew each other so well yet had lost the ability to turn knowing into understanding.

Still, the chance to see Manville and Hinds give heart, soul and edge to a cracked marriage is a display of nuanced skill that no screenwriting choice (even if true to the source material) can fully hamper. Manville, one of our greatest actors, is achingly real, giving Stella the protective bearing of a wounded soldier. Hinds, meanwhile, masterfully shows an affable partner’s emotional immobility.

Findlay knows to stay out of the way when her actors are deep inside what’s lived-in about their situation, or when grace notes — especially the story’s real ties to the Troubles — needn’t be overstruck. Modest to a fault, “Midwinter Break” seems to float like something cautious and wishful, hoping along with the audience that this union’s individual strains will fall into harmony once more.

Feb. 20 (UPI) — Peru’s interim President Jose Maria Balcazar was summoned to continue his trial over alleged misappropriation of funds from the Lambayeque Bar Association just one day after assuming the presidency.

The case adds legal pressure to a temporary administration already shaped by political uncertainty.

Peru’s Public Ministry alleges that during his tenure as dean of the Lambayeque Bar Association from 2019 to 2022, Balcazar committed irregularities in managing the institution’s financial income and expenditures.

Prosecutors also allege he ordered profits to be deposited into his personal bank accounts, El Comercio newspaper reported.

Balcazar, a lawmaker from the leftist Peru Libre party, assumed the interim presidency Wednesday following the removal of his predecessor Jose Jeri. News of the court summons emerged only hours after his inauguration.

The first hearing is scheduled June 16, with additional sessions set for June 23 and June 30, either virtually or at the Lambayeque Superior Court in Chiclayo, according to judicial authorities.

A judge ordered the president’s mandatory attendance and warned that failure to appear could result in him being declared in contempt and subject to a nationwide arrest warrant.

On the day lawmakers elected Balcazar, the Lambayeque Bar Association issued a statement opposing his candidacy and warning of multiple allegations against him, RPP Noticias reported.

The association expelled Balcazar permanently Aug. 13, 2022, citing violations of its statutes and code of ethics. It said his conduct caused “serious harm to his own professional association and, consequently, to the dignity and distinguished image all Peruvian lawyers must preserve.”

Balcazar has consistently denied the accusations, saying they lack legal basis.

He also has faced other investigations and complaints over several years. During his time as a judge and later as a congressman, he was the target of allegations including suspected judicial misconduct, fraud, identity impersonation and bribery, along with other questions raised about his professional conduct.

In his first remarks as president, Balcazar sought to downplay the impact of his legal cases, saying “it is not difficult to govern a country” and adding his administration will focus on ensuring “unquestionable” elections scheduled for April.

Separately, former President Pedro Castillo, who is serving an 11-year, five-month sentence for rebellion after his failed 2022 attempt to dissolve Congress, has requested a presidential pardon from Balcazar.

Castillo’s former defense minister and attorney Walter Ayala formally delivered it to the presidential office.

During Castillo’s administration, Balcazar emerged as one of his most visible defenders. He supported Castillo’s government and questioned investigations that involved officials close to the executive branch, local outlet Peru21 reported.

Millions travel to Kenya and Tanzania each year to witness the Great Migration, but growing tourism infrastructure is raising concerns. Conservationists and community leaders warn that development is disrupting wildlife corridors and impacting Maasai land rights. We explore the science behind migration shifts, the economic role of tourism, and ask whether conservation and community livelihoods can coexist.

Presenter: Stefanie Dekker

Guests:

Joseph Moses Oleshangay – Lawyer and human rights activist

Chloe Buiting – Veterinarian and wildlife conservationist

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka – Veterinarian

Grant Hopcraft – Researcher and professor, University of Glasgow

The new series of Big Cats 24/7 is back in the Okavango Delta following the lives of lions and leopards

Having only been away from the Okavango Delta in Botswana for six months since filming the first series, the BBC ’s wildlife filmmakers might have worried there would not be enough new things happening amongst the big cats there. But if anything, the dramatic lives of Africa’s lions, cheetahs and leopards had more shocks and surprises than the first time around.

Following them across six vital months from June to November we see the cats – and humans – battle punishing seasonal change, from flood to extreme drought. The Xudum lion pride, now the largest in the world, grapples with the challenges of this newfound status. When we rejoin them, dominant males Big Toe and Madumo are missing so the pride females, deserted by their leaders, are forced to battle intruders alone and also find enough food to feed 40 lions. There is an influx of aggressive male leopards and a new female, Lediba. And cheetah Pobe surprises the team with two young cubs of her own – but her challenge now is to keep them safe.

Cinematographer and wildlife presenter Gordon Buchanan says: “I think my slight concern was that we’re going back to the same place. We’re going back to the same cats. Are we going to go back to the same stories? And no, absolutely not. I mean I was startled at how things that were quite common in the first year, we see all the time, you didn’t see you didn’t see again,

“This series is a drama. And I suppose our job is just to capture that. This second series is a bit like The White Lotus[TV Drama}. There’s some similar characters, and there’s similar themes, but the stories are completely different.”

For Gordon, returning to cover the Lion pride was the highlight and he adds: “Filming 24/7 means surrendering to their world, working on their terms. The hours are long, the terrain unforgiving – deep sand, floodwaters, freezing cold nights or searing midday heat. You chase fleeting glimpses across vast landscapes and are often driven by nothing more than instinct. It’s physically and mentally gruelling. But when you finally catch ‘the’ moment, it makes everything worth it.

“Many lions don’t even make it to their second birthday so to see a lion you met as a vulnerable cub stride successfully and confidently towards adulthood is the most wonderful thing of all. There’s is nothing more beautiful than a lion cub giving life its best shot.”

This extraordinary, exclusive access to the cats’ lives is supported by the use of cutting-edge filming equipment: state-of-the-art thermal cameras, and the latest in drone technology, meaning the team can film the cats from the ground, the air and, uniquely, through the night. By following the cats around the clock, the team reveals yet more brand-new insights into their lives.

But fellow filmmaker Anna Dimitriadis didn’t wait long to be reunited with her beloved cheetah pal Pobe. “It’s every wildlife cinematographer’s dream to be able to go back to the same place and see characters that you filmed with before. But seeing her on the first day, it was like she was coming back to welcome us. It really felt like Pobe knew we’d arrived, and it felt like she was showing off because she had her two lovely little cubs as well. It basically felt like just seeing an old friend that I got to know really well. I mean, I got to know her very well. She’s actually tattooed on my arm now so she’s with me forever.”

Anna and Gordon worked alongside a team that also included Brad Bestelink who grew up in the Delta and Botswana born Tristen Woodward in the heart of big cat territory. And by the end of series two, Anna feels even closer to the cat and her routines which we will witness.

“I just know so much about her, and I could really predict her behaviour by the end, like I knew the exact kind of hunting style she was going to do. And I could predict exactly what we were going to see. It was really cool, when you start having that connection with an animal.

“This time, we saw another side. She was playful, tender and at times extremely vulnerable. Our time with her this year was a powerful reminder of how hard life is for a solitary cat. At every stage – whether still learning or in her prime – survival is a constant battle and every success is hard won.”

Meet some of the stars of the Delta…

POBE A smart, experienced and streetwise female cheetah; charismatic Pobe, now seven-years-old has a new family! She has two young cubs to take care of and though she is an experienced mother and superb huntress – already seen one cub, Neelo, to independence – the odds are stacked against her. Navigating Xudum island – now home to the largest lion pride in the world, and leopards round every tree – is no easy task. She knows when to run and hide and avoid danger, but with two innocent cubs in tow, she’s more exposed than ever.

XUDUM A remarkably relaxed and an impressive leopard; Xudum can confidently catch a meal leaping through the air (jumping from trees) or stalking on the ground. She is the resident female leopard followed by the team in Series 1, is now six years old and should have started a family. Unfortunately, after her tragedy witnessed by the team in 2023, Xudum is still to rear a cub successfully. Surrounded by dangerous male leopards (who will kill any cubs that do not belong to them), in series two Xudum must find a new, safer territory in which to make her home and become a mother.

BIG TOE & MADUMO So named due to a prominent digit on his paw, Big Toe is now eleven years old, ruling the Xudum pride alongside his sibling, Madumo, for the last six years. He’s a formidable lion, slightly leaner and wirier than Madumo, but no less formidable. Though he’s undeniably the more handsome of the two, he’s no pretty-boy; usually the first to get into a scuffle with intruders, or younger males in the pride.

Madumo – meaning “to roar” – is the other dominant male lions of the Xudum pride. Though he is bigger and heavier set, Madumo is the brains of the operation, while his coalition partner Big Toe is the ‘grafter’. But when required, Madumo has the muscle to be a powerful and commanding leader. He and Big Toe remain extremely close; most likely brothers from the same cohort of cubs, they make a strong and formidable partnership and over the past 6-years he and Big Toe have successfully protected the Xudum pride.

But as we start season two, both are now absent, where they are is unclear; and without their combined strength and new male lions circling, the Xudum pride’s females are under more pressure to protect their family than ever before.

MATHATA Trouble by name, trouble by nature! Mathata is the oldest cub in the Xudum pride – 18 months in age – and the rest of the youngsters seem to look to Mathata for leadership. But as Mathata (Magogo’s son) grows, will he cause trouble for his siblings, or will he rally them to make trouble for their enemies, and prey?

He is now ready to join his mother and aunts as they hunt and feed their family, but he has a lot to learn before he will start being a useful addition – his inexperience could be a hindrance.

LEDIBA The queen of stealth! Lediba is a small and subtle female leopard. She shows more patience in her stalking and variety to her diet, than any other leopard the team has seen on Xudum island. Lediba (10 years old) is also an experienced mother; previously raising cubs to adulthood and has two young cubs to provide for in series two. She will have to work hard to keep them safe from scavenging lions and unpredictable male leopards. For the team, getting to know Lediba’s character will take as much patience as she shows during each hunt!

MAGOGO At more than eleven years old, Magogo is likely the oldest female in the Xudum pride. She is an experienced, wise and powerful lioness and has successfully reared multiple generations of cubs, showing her skill as a mother. His son, Mathata, is the eldest cub in the Xudum pride, and a future pride male. Despite being eighteen months old, Mathata still relies on Magogo for food and protection against any intruding male lions – so Magogo still has her work cut-out to support him.

* Series Two of Big Cats 24/7 starts on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer on Friday February 27 at 9pm.

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“The United States, after all, is not at war with every nation in the world.” The US Supreme Court has struck down Donald Trump’s use of a national emergency declaration to impose sweeping global tariffs. Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna explains the court’s reasoning.

The Israeli government has approved a plan to claim large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property” if Palestinians cannot prove ownership, prompting regional outcry and accusations of “de facto annexation.” The move forces Palestinians to navigate complex legal hurdles after decades of occupation and displacement, amid continued Jewish settlement expansion. What could this mean for the future of Palestinian land?

In this episode: 

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Noor Wazwaz and Melanie Marich, with Tamara Khandaker, Marcos Bartolomé, Maya Hamadeh, Tuleen Barakat, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay apologised to listeners after getting emotional while discussing his family life, before accidentally saying the wrong thing on air

BBC presenter Vernon Kay, who shares two daughters with wife Tess Daly, has issued an apology for using language his mum wouldn’t be pleased with, during a discussion about vintage technology that prompted him to share personal family memories.

The TV and radio presenter, 51, explored how technology has evolved by referencing his Sony Walkman. Vernon explained: “Earlier this week I was talking about finding my old [Sony] Walkman in the loft, played some old mixtapes from various clubs in the north west.

“It’s interesting, we were talking in the studio how the evolution of playing music whilst you’re on the go, whilst you’re mobile, has changed so much through the years. I was fascinated, I lifted the lid and just watched the tape go round.

“I was in a trance, thinking wow it’s so mechanical, it’s so raw, it’s there, you can see the engineering in it and these days you just press play and music plays in your ear.

“There was something so stunning about watching a tape go round knowing that back in the day, it was the opposite, you hated winding it on with a pencil and then mixtapes. So there have been many advances in personal listening technology, some of which took off, others not so much.”

Vernon subsequently played a segment from Tomorrow’s World showcasing the Dataplay, a device that never gained traction.

Later during the BBC programme, he turned to video recordings and revealed how his dad would accompany his grandad on lorry trips throughout Europe, before inadvertently uttering the word “Jesus”, then recalling his mother’s disapproval of taking the Lord’s name in vain.

He explained: “My mum in particular, has some footage somewhere of my grandad from way back when, because when my dad used to do international lorry driving he used to take my mum’s dad with him in his truck.

“So they’d go down to the south of Spain, Africa, all that kind of stuff. I think they’ve got some old cine-reel footage of them both trucking together.

“Trucks in them days weren’t as comfy as they are now….I was emotional then, I was getting quite emotional then.”

He then remarked to radio producer Phil: “You’re like a big full stop. He’d be a rubbish therapist, move on, your time’s up son, get out. Go on. Jesus.”

Suddenly realising his slip-up, he quickly added: “Sorry for swearing, do beg your pardon…You just feel so relaxed and then you forget that seven million people are listening.

“I’m so sorry. Gladys, she hates me using the Lord’s name in vain…so sorry.”

BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 20 (UPI) — The announcement of the closure of FATE, the only tire manufacturer entirely owned by the Argentine capital and with more than 80 years of history, became the most visible symbol of the fracture facing industry under the government of Javier Milei.

FATE’s decision, announced on Wednesday, was made due to the company’s inability to compete with a wave of imported tires arriving from Asia at prices far below local costs.

FATE’s case was not isolated. According to the association Industriales Pymes Argentinos, or IPA, more than 22,000 companies have closed and more than 300,000 formal jobs have been lost over the past two years as a result of a trade liberalization policy that reduced tariffs with the promise of lowering consumer prices.

This strategy left local production facing competition that many business owners describe as unequal and difficult to sustain.

Daniel Rosato, the IPA president, told UPI that over the past two years, the country experienced an avalanche of imports, ranging from capital goods to food products.

He said Milei’s government reduced tariffs to boost competitiveness, but the outcome was different.

“Argentina has very high dollar-denominated costs and the domestic industry was unable to compete against cheaper imported products, many of these come from Asia,” Rosato said.

“It is very difficult to compete with China. This led the industry to begin producing less due to a lack of competitiveness. The recession is deepening. Factory closures affect not only small companies, but the entire industrial sector,” he said.

Economist Leonardo Park, a researcher at the think tank Fundar, said the government implemented a sweeping deregulation of foreign trade.

Some of these measures, he said, were necessary, such as eliminating bureaucratic systems that previously delayed or limited product imports and simplifying the permits companies needed to bring goods from abroad.

However, tariffs were also reduced, technical standards relaxed, customs controls loosened and the anti-dumping system was reformed.

“All of these reforms generated strong growth in imports since last year,” he said.

Park warned that a rapid increase in foreign purchases creates a risk for local production, as it competes directly with it.

“A drop in production can translate into a risk for the employment associated with that activity,” he said, adding that FATE’s case illustrates such an impact.

“More imported tires mean less domestic production,” Park said. “When production falls, companies downsize or close. The final effect is layoffs and job losses.”

The economist also pointed to two central concerns: the loss of industrial capabilities the country already developed and employment.

“Displaced workers often face difficulties finding jobs in other sectors, whether due to a lack of dynamism in the labor market, a shortage of new skills or because growing activities are concentrated in other regions,” Park said.

From a legal perspective, labor attorney Walter Mañko, partner at Deloitte Legal Argentina, said the company cited a loss of competitiveness that made the business unviable.

“It is true that tires coming from China have a much lower cost than those manufactured in Argentina and that generates a decline in domestic demand,” he said.

Mañko also underscored the social impact. The 920 jobs lost with FATE’s closure represent families that could be left without income. In economic terms, he added, the country loses its main tire manufacturer, a loss that he said cannot be overlooked.

After the closure announcement, Milei’s government intervened through the Labor Secretariat and ordered mandatory conciliation. It is a legal tool the state can activate without prior request from the company or the union to halt the conflict and restore the situation to the point before the crisis.

For 15 days, with the possibility of extending the period by five more, both sides must sit down to negotiate. The room for agreement is narrow. What happens in those talks will not only define FATE’s future, but also send a signal about Argentina’s industrial direction in this new economic phase.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains under investigation, which means he has neither been charged nor exonerated by police.

British police are searching the former home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for a second day after questioning him on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The search of the disgraced royal’s former Royal Lodge home on the Windsor estate continued on Friday, one day after the 66-year-old was released under investigation after being held by police for 11 hours over allegations that he sent confidential government documents to the late convicted sex offender Epstein.

During his time in custody, police had raided Wood Farm on the sprawling grounds of the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where he is currently living, and his former home, the 30-room Royal Lodge residence in the parkland near Windsor Castle, west of London.

Unmarked vans, believed to be police vehicles, were seen entering the grounds in Windsor throughout Friday morning.

Mountbatten-Windsor remains under investigation, which means he has neither been charged nor exonerated by Thames Valley Police, the force responsible for areas west of London.

The king issued a rare, personally signed statement Thursday, insisting “the law must take its course”, seeking to project a business-as-usual air on one of the most tumultuous days in the modern history of the United Kingdom’s royal family.

Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, but the release of millions of documents by the United States government showed the friendship continued long after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

Those files suggested Mountbatten-Windsor had shared British government reports with the financier while serving as the government’s special representative for trade and investment. The reports related to investment opportunities in Afghanistan and assessments of Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited.

Thames Valley’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement on Thursday that officers had now opened a full investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office.

A conviction for misconduct in a public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and cases must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which handle the most serious criminal offences.

Thames Valley Police has previously said it was also reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew. Thursday’s arrest was not related to that allegation.

In 2022, the king’s brother settled a civil lawsuit brought in the US by the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager at properties owned by Epstein or his associates.

Other police forces are also conducting their own investigations into Epstein’s links to the UK, including the assessment of flight logs at airports. They are coordinating their work within a national group.

On Friday, London’s Metropolitan Police said it was assessing, with the help of US counterparts, whether the capital’s airports, which include Heathrow, “may have been used to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation”.

It also said that it is asking past and present officers who protected Mountbatten-Windsor to “consider carefully” whether they saw or heard anything that may be relevant to the investigations.

As of now, it said no new criminal allegations have been made regarding sexual offences within its jurisdiction.

The arrest of the senior royal, eighth in line to the throne, is unprecedented in modern times. The last member of the royal family to be arrested in the UK was Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649 after being found guilty of treason.

Chasing a Killer: Gary Allen is set to premier on Prime Video this weekend.

A killer’s harrowing admission is set to be heard in a brand new true crime documentary premiering this weekend.

Chasing a Killer: Gary Allen will be released on Prime Video in a matter of days, on Sunday, February 22 spanning across two episodes, each 45 minutes long.

Plunging viewers into the chilling investigation into the suspect who was “known for decades as the man who got away with murder”, fans will see how the investigation unfolded.

The series follows the long pursuit of murderer Gary Allen by detectives determined not to let the case go cold, featuring firsthand accounts from investigators, journalists, and survivors.

Prime Video teases: “In February 2000, Gary Allen walks free from Sheffield Crown Court, acquitted of murdering 29-year-old Samantha Class. But detectives are convinced it’s only a matter of time before he strikes again.

“What follows is a two-decade pursuit by detectives who refuse to let the case go cold. A change in UK law, a covert operation, and the tragic murder of another woman lead detectives to hope they will finally bring Allen to justice – ‘You can’t get away with murder twice, surely?’ journalist Lisa Welton asks.”

Following another murder investigation in 2018, the streaming platform adds: “Featuring firsthand accounts from detectives, journalists, and survivors, this two-part documentary highlights the tireless efforts of South Yorkshire and Humberside Police to bring down Gary Allen, a man who believed he was above the law.

“Known for decades as the man who got away with murder, will he finally be brought to justice?”

In an exclusive first look ahead of the Prime Video release, a chilling confession can be heard.

The short clip hears from Chris Calvert who reads out part of a probation report revealing some of Allen’s troubling behaviour and disturbing thoughts, with Chris later branding him as a “psychopath”.

She says: “The extract I’m about to read is from the report that I found in one of the boxes from the probation officers who interviewed Gary Allen in 2003.”

Reading from the report, Chris added: “In the report they write he spoke openly about his strong dislike of prostitutes.

“Gary admitted to me that he planned and subsequently committed the attacks on the prostitutes in Plymouth he stated that the pleasure of hurting builds from the planning stage.

“Prostitutes are easy targets, I just want to hurt people, I enjoy thinking about it, I get pleasure from thinking. I just really enjoy different types of violence.”

After reading the extract, Chris continued: “It’s the words of a psychopath isn’t it.”

Chasing a Killer: Gary Allen is available to stream on Prime Video from February 22.

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