Page 622 – THE LOCAL REPORT ARTICLES

Meet Asha Sharma: Indian Exec Named Microsoft Gaming CEO World News

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February 21, 2026

Meet Asha Sharma: Indian Exec Named Microsoft Gaming CEO World News

Meet Asha Sharma: Indian-origin executive named Microsoft Gaming CEO

Microsoft has named Asha Sharma as the new CEO of its gaming division, marking one of the most significant leadership changes in Xbox history. Sharma succeeds long-time gaming chief Phil Spencer, who is retiring after nearly four decades with the company and will remain as an advisor through the summer. Her appointment comes at a challenging time for Microsoft Gaming, as the company faces slowing revenue growth, rising costs and fierce competition in the global console and content markets.Sharma has been named executive vice president and CEO of Microsoft Gaming and will report directly to Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella. In her first comments since the announcement, Sharma said she would refocus on Xbox’s core audience while navigating a rapidly changing gaming landscape shaped by subscriptions, cloud gaming and large-scale acquisitions.

Asha Sharma’s journey to becoming Microsoft’s gaming CEO

Prior to taking charge of Microsoft Gaming, Sharma held senior leadership roles at some of the world’s largest technology companies. At Microsoft, she most recently worked in AI platform and product leadership roles, which gave her direct exposure to the company’s broader efforts to advance the field of AI. Prior to that, she served as COO of Instacart and held product leadership roles at Meta. Her career has focused on scaling platforms, managing large teams, and guiding products through periods of rapid growth.Sharma was educated in the United States and holds a business degree from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. While she is widely described as being of Indian descent, public biographies and official company disclosures provide only limited details about her family background or roots, and she has not spoken extensively in public about her personal history. However, her professional background places her firmly within the growing ranks of global technology leaders from diverse backgrounds.The leadership change comes as Microsoft’s gaming business faces multiple pressures. Gaming revenue has declined in recent quarters, hardware prices have risen due to cost pressures, and consumer spending remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Microsoft is still integrating Activision Blizzard, which it acquired in 2023 in a $69 billion deal that reshaped the company’s position in the gaming industry.Sharma’s background in operations, platforms and artificial intelligence suggests Microsoft is betting on a leader who can balance content, technology and business discipline.

Changes across the gaming sector

In addition to Sharma’s appointment, Microsoft also confirmed other top-level changes. Matt Booty has been promoted to chief content officer, overseeing game studios and games, while Sarah Bond is leaving the company to start a new chapter. Taken together, these moves signal a broader reorganization of Xbox’s leadership structure.Sharma takes over at a time when Xbox is re-evaluating its identity. Competition from Sony PlayStation remains fierce, especially in terms of console market share and exclusive games. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether Sharma prioritizes hardware, subscriptions, first-party content or deeper integration with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence and cloud businesses.

critical moment

Asha Sharma’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter in gaming at Microsoft. With Phil Spencer exiting and reshuffling its leadership team, the company has signaled a willingness to rethink strategy at a time when the global gaming industry is under pressure. How Sharma handles this transition will determine the direction of Xbox in the coming years.

Indian brain drain to US: Mistral CEO India News

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February 21, 2026

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Indian brain drain to US: Mistral CEO India News

Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch

NEW DELHI: For years, Europe watched its best artificial intelligence researchers migrate to the United States. India faces the same challenge – top engineering and computer science talent continues to flow into Silicon Valley. Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of French startup Mistral AI, said reversing this trend is at the heart of the global race for artificial intelligence. “Like Europe, India is also sending talent to the United States,” Mensch told The Times of India in an interview. “The more talent you can retain locally and create value, the better.” Founded in 2023 by Mensch, Guillaume Lample, and Timothee Lacroix, Mistral AI aims to challenge the opaque, closed nature of “big AI” and make cutting-edge models more accessible through an open architecture. In just three years, the company has scaled rapidly, reaching a revenue run rate of $400 million and on track to surpass $1 billion soon. As of last year, it was valued at $14 billion. But for Mensch, the AI race is more than just business. This is structural and geopolitical. With Europe relying heavily on overseas digital infrastructure, especially hyperscalers in the United States, Mistral chose to build its own capabilities. “We don’t position ourselves as a sovereign alternative. We position ourselves as a global competitor in the AI race,” he said. “But tactically, to have fully controlled capacity, you need infrastructure – the servers running the technology.“ About 60% of Mistral’s business comes from Europe and 40% from the rest of the world. Some customers choose its platform precisely because it can be deployed on their own infrastructure, reducing reliance on hyperscale. He believes that sovereign artificial intelligence is both a strategic necessity and a political necessity. As artificial intelligence begins to dominate much of the global economy, governments and defense systems cannot risk external control. For companies, over-reliance can weaken negotiating leverage and continuity. India, which has one of the largest developer pools in the world, had a similar inflection point. “We have brought many European researchers back to Europe. India also has a unique opportunity to do the same. Universities here produce great talent in artificial intelligence and computer science. “The focus should be on making sure they innovate and create value here,” Mensch said. Mistral is currently establishing commercial partnerships in India, and the next step may be to establish a local technology center. While competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic are exploring the IPO path, Mensch said a listing is “in the works.” Profitability and global scale will be prerequisites. Mensch believes that enterprise AI adoption has largely been met with setbacks because companies view GenAI as a collection of tools rather than a transformation of a platform. Early chatbot deployments focused on improving productivity. “This doesn’t change the bottom line,” he said. Instead, Mistral focuses on high ROI use cases that address major sources of business friction. At the core of its strategy is open source. “If you have access to the model parameters, you can deploy anywhere you want – including on-premises infrastructure,” Mensch said. The open model also allows for customization. “Running a business should not mean over-reliance on a single service provider. I have said it many times – Europe cannot become an American AI colony.”

Interesting Marco Death Rumor: The truth behind claims influencer Marco Summers was shot nine times in Atlanta

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February 21, 2026

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Interesting Marco Death Rumor: The truth behind claims influencer Marco Summers was shot nine times in Atlanta

Funny American Marco comedianThe influencer and podcaster was thrust into the spotlight after unsubstantiated claims began circulating online that he had been shot nine times. This raised concerns about the death of the deceased.

The funny Marco is best known for his popular talk show Open Thoughts, where he frequently interviews rappers. (X/@TommyGoBrazy)

“Popular influencer ‘Funny Marco’ was reportedly shot nine times in ATL, Georgia this morning. Police arrived 35 minutes later… He is currently in critical condition,” a social media post said. It added “Let us pray for funny Marco and his family”.

Such claims are also widely circulated on Facebook. One person asked “Funny Marco was shot 9 times???”. Another claimed “They did kill Funny Marco.”

Others joined in, asking: “Was it so funny that Marco was dead?” and “Was funny Marco really shot?”.

ALSO READ | Lil Poppa’s manager takes center stage amid reports the rapper shot himself after they spoke; ‘What went wrong’

To be sure, these claims come from unsubstantiated profiles and are only amplified on social media. There is no indication that these claims are true. Meanwhile, the 24hoursnews.today website has also claimed that Funny Marco has died.

Debunking interesting Marco death claims

The claims about Funny Marco’s death don’t seem to be true. There is no official information yet, nor any other mainstream reports on the matter. Only chatter on social media (also from unverified handlers) suggests tragedy has struck the influencer.

alone Facebook return commented “Social media is making y’all stupid. There’s no way you think funny Marco got shot, man.”

Same thing on X, Gronk Fact-checking people on interesting Marco’s death rumors, via explain “There have been no updates from reliable sources. This claim remains an unconfirmed rumor with no reports from official channels like the Atlanta Police Department or major news outlets. Funny Marco’s recent social activity suggests he is fine.”

Additionally, it’s interesting that Marco’s social media activity shows that the rapper is good. While posts about his shooting began circulating hours ago, just two hours earlier, the internet personality posted an Instagram story about an impromptu performance in Ontario, Canada.

Who is the interesting Marco?

Funny Marco or Marco Summers is a comedian, YouTuber, and more, known for his deadpan humor. In Open Thoughts, Marco interviews stars like Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj and John Cena. He also dabbled in digital sports comedy Bleacher Report, titled Marco Is Off the Ball.

Summers reportedly has a large following on social media, with a total of approximately 14 million followers across all platforms.

MHA sets up second empowered committee for Bengal to expeditiously process requests under CAA | India News

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February 21, 2026

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MHA sets up second empowered committee for Bengal to expeditiously process requests under CAA | India News

Home Ministry sets up second empowered committee for Bangladesh to expedite processing of requests under CAA

Ministry of Interior. (data map)

New Delhi: The Union home ministry on Friday set up a second empowered committee for West Bengal to expeditiously process citizenship requests received under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019. The CAA grants citizenship to immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh belonging to six minority faiths – Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and Zoroastrian – who entered India before December 31, 2014, out of fear of religious persecution in their home countries. The newly constituted Empowered Committee in West Bengal, which shall be headed by the Deputy Registrar General, Department of Census Operations, in the state, shall take the final decision on the citizenship applications forwarded by the district-level committees after verifying documents, the home ministry said in a gazette notification issued on Friday. The original empowered committee – set up under a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in March 2024 and headed by the Director of Census Operations, West Bengal – will continue to exist. Central government sources told TOI that a new empowered committee has been formed as the number of CAA applications in the state has increased. Worksharing promises to compress processing time. West Bengal has a large number of Hindu immigrants, such as those from the Matua community. The BJP has been making major contacts with them to bolster its electoral prospects in the state. The new Authorized Committee of CAA allows certain members of the Authorized Committee notified on March 11, 2024 such as District Registration Officer of Foreigners and State Information Officer to nominate one officer each, not below the rank of Deputy Secretary. Other members such as the attached intelligence officer and the postmaster general or postal officers nominated by him remain unchanged. Like the original empowered committee, the new panel shall include a representative from the office of the Chief Secretary (Home) or Additional Chief Secretary (Home), West Bengal and a representative of the District Railway Manager as invitees.

Michael Jackson in the Epstein Dossier? The truth behind Neverland’s protection of Epstein Island children; ‘He was silenced’

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February 21, 2026

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Michael Jackson in the Epstein Dossier? The truth behind Neverland’s protection of Epstein Island children; ‘He was silenced’

Michael Jackson’s name appears with Jeffrey Epstein Many are wondering whether the criminal mastermind singer’s name appears in Epstein’s dossier. It comes after the Justice Department released the final batch of documents related to convicted child sex offenders.

Michael Jackson and Jeffrey Epstein together in a photo released by the Justice Department. (X/@GeneralJoeM17, X/@PopCrave)

This coincides with a statement going viral on social media: jackson Use his Neverland ranch to protect the kids from what’s going on Epstein Island. Little St. James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands is believed to be one of the locations where Epstein and his associates exploited minors.

ALSO READ | Whoopi Goldberg’s Epstein ties: What Epstein documents reveal about The View host; ‘Search for private owners’

“Michael Jackson used Neverland to protect children from Epstein,” one person wrote on X.

not one person claim “Michael Jackson was silenced by ‘elites’ who knew about Epstein.”

other additional “So they say Neverland was where Michael Jackson took his children to protect them from what happened on Epstein’s island.” Others claim “Michael Jackson protected children from abuse. In a recent interview, Macaulay Culkin shared how Michael Jackson saved him from getting on a plane to the island associated with Jeffrey Epstein. Culkin explained that Jackson held him back to protect him from harm.”

This was a reference to the Home Alone actor, but unfortunately, this claim is false and has been fact-checked by Snopes.

Likewise, there is no evidence that Jordan used his Neverland ranch in Santa Barbara County, California, to protect children from what happened on Epstein’s island. Jackson died in 2009, several years before Epstein’s activities became public. He also reportedly never spoke publicly about Epstein. So the claims about Neverland appear to be false and just social media chatter.

Michael Jackson in the Epstein Dossier?

There is a photo of Jordan and Epstein, but their meeting was reportedly brief and entirely professional.

Beyond that, the singer appears in Epstein’s dossier in passing and is not mentioned directly. A “Michael Jackson” who appears multiple times in Epstein’s files appears to be someone associated with interior decorating, working in his kitchen.

Renewed interest in Jackson came after a report on February 1 that previously unheard audio of the artist had been stolen. “The kids… just wanted to touch me and hug me,” Jackson said, according to The Guardian. “The kids ended up falling in love with my personality – which sometimes got me into trouble.” The singer faced child sex abuse charges in 1993.

Trump announces new 10% global tariffs after Supreme Court ruling: What are Sections 122, 232 and 301? explain

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February 21, 2026

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Trump announces new 10% global tariffs after Supreme Court ruling: What are Sections 122, 232 and 301? explain

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would sign a new order using alternative legal authority to reinstate tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down most of his previous measures.Speaking after the ruling, Trump said he would rely on a series of trade powers known as “Section 122” to impose 10% tariffs across the globe. He also said the government would use another provision, Section 301, to launch an investigation into what it calls unfair trade practices, a process that could result in additional tariffs.“All national security tariffs under Section 232 and all existing Section 301 tariffs are effective immediately and remain in full effect. I will sign an order imposing a global tariff of 10% on top of our normal tariffs under Section 122. “The Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s tariffs has created uncertainty for existing trade deals with countries including China, Canada and the United Kingdom. When these countries reassess their positions in light of the court’s ruling, it could lead to renegotiations or challenges. This could disrupt ongoing trade negotiations and affect international relations, as countries may reconsider their strategies for dealing with the United States.

What is Article 122?

Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15 percent to address what the statute describes as a “large and serious” balance of payments deficit, that is, a problem associated with a trade deficit. However, any tariffs introduced under that authority can only remain in place for 150 days, unless Congress votes to extend them.At least in the short term, the move is not much different from the 10% global tariff base Trump has previously imposed, or the 15% tariffs he has secured in trade deals with other countries over the past year.

What is Article 232?

Section 232 originates from the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. It allows for the imposition of tariffs or quotas on imported products that threaten national security. In 2018, Trump invoked Section 232 to impose a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum. This affects Canada, Mexico, the European Union and other countries. Tariffs under Section 232 remain in effect after the Supreme Court ruling because they are independent of emergency powers.

What is Section 301?

Section 301 is part of the Trade Act 1974. It allows for the imposition of tariffs for unfair foreign trade practices. These include theft of intellectual property, forced technology transfer or discriminatory measures. Trump imposed Section 301 tariffs on China, imposing a 25% tariff on hundreds of billions of goods. The goal is to combat anti-competitive behavior.

‘Notify parents’: Gujarat may tweak marriage norms India News

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February 21, 2026

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‘Notify parents’: Gujarat may tweak marriage norms India News

'Notify parents': Gujarat may tweak marriage norms

The proposal was moved by Gujarat Deputy Minister Harsh Sanghavi

Gandhinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat has proposed an “anti-love jihad” amendment to marriage registration rules that would require couples to notify their parents before registering for cohabitation – a move that has been welcomed by AP but met with silence from the Congress and flagged as a potential unconstitutionality by legal experts.Couples seeking to register their marriage must submit an undertaking stating whether they have notified their parents, according to draft rules tabled in Parliament on Friday. The Assistant Registrar will notify the parents of the bride and groom electronically, including via WhatsApp or through physical communication.Registration will be approved within 30 days of verification and all submitted details will be uploaded to the government portal. Deputy Minister Harsh Sangavi, who introduced the proposed reforms, said the government was not opposed to “love marriages” but could not allow deception in the name of mutual consent. “Innocent girls are trapped and this practice is spreading like termites in society. Salim impersonating Suresh will not be allowed,” he said. Citing an incident in Panchmahal district, Sanghavi said an inquiry was ordered after nikah certificates were allegedly issued in villages where there were no mosques or even Muslim families. Sangavi said hundreds of such certificates were allegedly issued by talati-cum-mantris (village panchayat secretaries) in villages such as Kankodakui and Nathkuva. In Parliament, AAP legislator Hemant Ahir, who had introduced a similar private member’s bill earlier this week, congratulated the government for bringing in the proposed amendments. “The rule change is the need of the hour. There are some loopholes in the rules,” he said. BJP MLA Lavingji Thakor, a staunch supporter of stricter norms, said the move would benefit families from all communities. Congress remained silent. Some community organizations, including those representing the Patidar and Kshatriya Thakor groups, have long urged parents to make love marriages compulsory. Representatives from the state government and various organizations have held as many as 30 meetings over the past three months to finalize the changes. Legal experts say the proposal may not stand up to judicial scrutiny. “This is a violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution,” said advocate Mahesh Baria. Advocate Nilesh Bhavsar said that while the government described the measure as merely suggestive, parent opposition could influence enrollment decisions, leading to litigation.

Tariff rebate check update: Trump and Supreme Court issue big warning on $2,000 payments; ‘There’s a feeling’

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February 21, 2026

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Tariff rebate check update: Trump and Supreme Court issue big warning on $2,000 payments; ‘There’s a feeling’

President Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant appeared to have ruled on $2,000 tax rebate checks following the Supreme Court’s Friday ruling on “Emancipation Day” tariffs. Americans “won’t see it,” the official said in an interview, referring to the tax rebates.

Donald Trump during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House (Bloomberg)

“I have a feeling the American people are not going to see it,” Bessant said.

$2,000 tariff rebate

The basic idea behind the payment was proposed by President Trump in January. “The tariff money is pretty substantial,” he told the New York Times in an exclusive interview. “The money is coming and I’m going to make $2,000 at some point. I would say at the end of the year.”

However, neither the White House nor Congress have revealed specific details. The concept was always far-fetched.

Questions about the rebate checks emerged after the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing global tariffs without congressional authorization.

Will Americans get $2,000 checks from tariffs?

Trump has said the checks will be sent out in 2026. The payments would be made to “moderate-income individuals,” he added. However, Congress did not vote to pass the bill and formally announce the tax rebate.

“The president is talking about a $2,000 tax rebate that would be available to families making less than $100,000 a year,” Bessant said on Fox News at the time. He added that payment was still under discussion.

Based on Friday’s ruling, it seems unlikely that Americans will see the checks.

“If there were compensation, it would be the ultimate corporate benefit,” Bessant told Fox News on Friday, hours after the high court ruling. He added that the amount of revenue affected by the Supreme Court ruling would be closer to $130 billion, rather than the estimated $175 billion.

Trump vs Scotus

Meanwhile, Trump lashed out at the six Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn his tariffs.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs is deeply disappointing, and I’m ashamed, absolutely ashamed, of some members of the court who don’t have the courage to do the right thing for the country,” Trump said in the White House briefing room.

The president added that he plans to impose a flat 10% tariff on foreign goods in the coming days.

SC deploys judicial officers in Bangladesh for SIR hearing India News

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February 21, 2026

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SC deploys judicial officers in Bangladesh for SIR hearing India News

SC deploys judicial officials in Bangladesh for SIR hearing

New Delhi: In an unprecedented decision, Supreme Court on Friday used its “extraordinary powers” to deploy judicial officers in West Bengal to decide on requests for inclusion in the electoral rolls and speed up the completion of a special intensive revision of the electoral rolls. The court stressed that CM Mamata Banerjee should be aware of the consequences if the revision work is not completed. The court explained that “extraordinary circumstances” arose in Bangladesh due to a lack of trust and non-cooperation between the EC and the government of Bangladesh, which necessitated unprecedented judicial intervention under Article 142 of the Constitution. Despite objections from the TMC-led government, a bench of Justices CJI Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi also allowed the Election Commission (EC) to publish the revised electoral roll (95 per cent of the total list) on February 28, the deadline for publication of the final electoral list, while the remaining inclusion requirements are still being decided. The judge also disagreed with the state government’s argument that the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) and not the judicial officer should have the final say in deciding whether to be included in the electoral roll.TMC: SC orders SIR to hold vote of no confidence in ECThe Trinamool Congress on Friday described the Supreme Court order to hear SIR cases on logical discrepancies by replacing judicial officers instead of those appointed by the EC as a “vote of no confidence in the EC”. The party said in X’s post: “This is a serious indictment of a constitutional institution that has failed to faithfully perform its duties. It is also a powerful testament to our principled fight to defend people’s rights and preserve the integrity of the democratic process.” “Even the country’s Supreme Court seems to believe that the poll body is not neutral and incompetent after issuing unreasonable notices for hearings to people,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

Donald Trump’s swollen ankle sparks new health concerns after appearing on Josh Pate’s podcast

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February 21, 2026

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Donald Trump’s swollen ankle sparks new health concerns after appearing on Josh Pate’s podcast

President Donald Trump’s long-discussed issue of swollen ankles is once again in the public spotlight after a photo taken during a taping of The Unofficial podcast in Georgia surfaced online.This photo shared by sports podcaster Josh Pate shows Trump sitting at The Varsity fast-food restaurant in Rome, Georgia, before a political rally. In the photo, Trump’s calf was visibly swollen above his shoe, sparking new speculation about his health.Pate posted the photo on social media, noting that Trump would appear on his show. The president stopped at a restaurant for a cheeseburger and briefly recorded a podcast before continuing on the campaign trail, according to local reports.

White House cites medical condition

The White House has maintained that Trump’s ankle swelling is caused by chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common in older adults in which veins have difficulty circulating blood efficiently back to the heart.Trump previously admitted in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that he used compression stockings to manage his condition but stopped wearing them because he “didn’t like them.” His aides also told the publication that increased exercise and walking could help improve swelling.In response to the latest photos, a White House spokesman defended Trump’s health and said The Daily Beast, “President Trump is the most perceptive, approachable and dynamic president in modern American history,” he said while dismissing criticism surrounding his condition.However, questions surrounding Trump’s health remain after recent public appearances. The 79-year-old president was caught on camera appearing to doze briefly while seated during his first meeting of the Peace Council on Thursday, the latest in a series of instances where he has appeared tired at official events.

Similar incidents in recent months

In the latest episode, Trump repeatedly noticed swelling in his ankle during public appearances. Photos taken last week of a meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro in the Oval Office also drew attention to the issue.In October last year, Trump suffered significant swelling in his ankle while meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Similar observations emerged a month ago when Trump and first lady Melania Trump returned from an overseas trip.Trump, the oldest person currently serving as U.S. president, has also been photographed looking exhausted at some recent official meetings, further fueling debate about his health and stamina.