New Delhi: A Delhi Police special cell on Thursday questioned some members of Penguin Random House India’s publishing team for allegedly leaking the unpublished memoirs of former Army chief (retd) MM Naravane.The interrogation lasted two hours the day after investigators sent notice to the publishing company. Sources said another round of questioning may be held depending on the findings of the first round of meetings.The police have sought the original manuscript of the book “Four Stars of Destiny” from Penguin Random House India and compared it with the version that has surfaced online. Publishers are asked to answer 15 to 20 questions, including what steps they took after learning of the alleged breach.“The team, led by a DCP-rank officer, asked the publishers about their standard operating procedures while handling books and details of people who had come into contact with the manuscript of the book written by the former Army Chief. We also asked the publishers why they did not lodge a complaint immediately after finding out about the alleged leak,” said a person familiar with the matter.Penguin Random House India said it has exclusive publishing rights to the book and it has not released it in any format. The investigation focuses on the alleged sale or distribution of preprints in countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Police suspect the leak was co-orchestrated to circumvent Ministry of Defense clearance. The special cell added charges of “conspiracy to commit criminal conspiracy” in the FIR. Police are also analyzing the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
president Donald Trump House Speaker Mike Johnson called the 2025 tax year refunds “historic” and predicted they would be a huge sum for millions of people.
Millions of Americans are expecting big tax refunds this year. However, not everyone sees the huge payout from the IRS. This is why (Pexel)
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRSJohnson revealed last month that the average refund this year for this filing season will be about $4,000, up from $3,167 in 2025, according to the data.
Millions of Americans are expected to get big tax refunds this year thanks to new legislation and huge deductions. However, not everyone sees the huge payout from the IRS.
Large tax refunds are always preferable, but they are never free.
Essentially, the refunds are the government giving Americans back the money they earned over the course of a year through interest-free loans.
Here are 5 reasons why you may receive a smaller tax refund.
The refund can be automatically reduced to satisfy certain debts you owe to government agencies or, in the case of a joint return, to satisfy taxes owed by your spouse. This triggers offset notifications.
According to the IRS’s official guidance on Tax Topic 203, a “refund reduction” may occur if part of your refund is offset or redirected to settle certain outstanding bills, including child support, student loans, or federal agency obligations.
The offset notice outlines the amount taken and which agency received it.
Capital gains and asset sales
When you sell a personal asset such as a home or boat, your taxable income increases. Likewise, if you sold certain stocks and cryptocurrencies on the market and received a significant amount of capital from them, this could push you into a higher tax bracket.
If you don’t set aside funds for the expected payment, this will show up as a large gain, resulting in a refund or a reduction in taxes due when you file.
IRS staffing shortage
The Internal Revenue Service is understaffed and overburdened when the 2026 filing season begins, increasing the likelihood of delays and problems for millions of taxpayers, according to an assessment by Treasury Department inspectors.
While this doesn’t exactly mean fewer transaction refunds, delays and service issues could cause delays if returns are processed more slowly because the agency considers returns complex.
this child tax Credit remains the main driver of household refunds. However, once a child turns 17 or older, the $2,200 enhanced credit typically drops significantly to about $500 per child.
This change alone can slash your expected tax refund if multiple dependents age out during the tax year.
Higher incomes and a variety of jobs
If you get a raise, a bonus, or start a gig company side hustle in 2025, you’ll move into a higher tax bracket.
If you don’t pay expected taxes or change your W-4 withholding amount, the tax collected by the IRS may be less than what you actually owe. This will reduce your refund or make it a balance due.
Additionally, when taxpayers work more than one job, they often find themselves in a situation where each employer withholds taxes, which becomes the employee’s only source of income.
Therefore, the amount reimbursable at tax time may be reduced due to insufficient total withholding tax across all occupations.
New Delhi: Ahead of Kerala Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Delivering an inspirational speech to the party workers who were recently elected to local bodies in the state and asking them to develop an agenda for good governance and deepen connect with the masses, he claimed that voters are fed up with the ruling LDF and the main opposition United Democratic Front.Modi said: “It is clear that Kerala is fed up with LDF and UDF and wants confidentiality agreement Hopeful. Therefore, the elected members of the BJP-NDA will work at the grassroots level to solve the challenges faced by the people. “Meeting them at his residence, he termed the party’s performance in the state, including being elected mayor for the first time in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, as historic.In a post on He recalled the BJP’s long struggle to become a force in the state and paid tribute to party members who had worked hard over decades to establish their influence in Kerala.“It is due to their selfless efforts that we have been able to grow across the state. In future, the BJP will further grow in Kerala,” he said.In the 2024 LS polls, the BJP won its first seat in Kerala and won nearly 17% of the votes (ally over 19%).The party hopes to make further inroads in the southern state polls and is pleased with its performance in local body elections, especially in the capital Thiruvananthapuram.The BJP is paying close attention to the visit of local body members, who arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day administrative and governance skills development program titled ‘BJ Viksit Keralam’ aimed at enhancing local netas’ understanding of democratic machinery.
DOJ documents reveal the exact steps Jeffrey Epstein used to make his coffee
When the U.S. Department of Justice released the latest batch of Jeffrey Epstein documents, part of the Epstein Dossier, which contained more than 3.5 million documents, images and videos, much of the attention focused on names, travel logs and previously unseen communications, including emails, financial records and personal letters. Tucked away in the same pantry is something even more mundane: a detailed manual for pour-over coffee.this e-mailforwarded in July 2013 to his long-time girlfriend Karyna Shuliak, the document said he intended to marry her and, according to his will, she was Will inherit more than $100 million He used what was left of his legacy to outline a highly specific approach to coffee brewing with the V60. Epstein offered to show her in person and provide detailed instructions so she could try it herself. Since its re-emergence online, influencers and coffee lovers have begun recreating what social media is now calling “Jeffrey Epstein Coffee.”The method centers around the V60, a Japanese cone-shaped manual coffee dripper that uses a paper filter. It’s popular in specialty coffee circles, prized for its clean extraction and precise control over brewing.The instructions, detailing steps, weights, and volumes down to the second, read less like random kitchen notes and more like a lab protocol, surprisingly detailed for a man who must have been extremely busy, suggesting he had plenty of time to perfect the process.
24 grams of coffee – This is the weight of ground coffee beans.
360 grams of water – measured by weight rather than volume, which is the standard for professional brewing.
The coffee to water ratio is 1:15 (24 grams to 360 grams), which is considered balanced and fairly strong.
Water at 202°F, translates to approximately 94°C, just below the boiling point.
The grinder setting is marked “-7K”, likely referring to a relatively fine grind suitable for pour-over extraction.
Before brewing, he instructs the recipient to rinse the filter paper with hot water (to remove the paper smell), add ground coffee, shake it well, and then make a small indentation in the center with their thumb. This indentation helps water flow evenly across the ground.
How Epstein made his coffee, DOJ documents reveal complete step-by-step guide / Photo: DOJ
Then comes the timed pouring sequence, accurate to the second:
00:00 — Pour in water until the total weight reaches 60 g. This is the “bloom” stage, when hot water touches the ground and releases trapped gases.
00:30 — Continue pouring until the scale reads 200 grams, spiraling out from the center.
01:10 — Pour in 300 g, using the same spiral movement.
01:45 — Pour up to 360 g.
03:00 — The brewing should be complete; remove the dripper.
He also made some adjustments: If the coffee tastes sour, it’s under-extracted: grind it finer. If it tastes bitter, it’s over-extracted: Grind coarser. If it feels watery: Increase the coffee dose.In the same post, Epstein mentioned Tonx coffee subscription service, a high-end roast-to-order service founded by Tony Konecny, which was later acquired by Blue Bottle Coffee in 2014 and now operates as YESPLZ Coffee. Tony shared a video on social media, and credit card statements and receipts showed Epstein had been ordering coffee for at least several months, according to Justice Department documents. He said it was crazy that Epstein was one of his many high-profile customers when he was selling coffee beans online in 2013, and he now even has an email as evidence showing Epstein personally vouched for his coffee. The email sent to Epstein’s girlfriend also included a recommendation for another coffee brand and numerous Amazon and other links to assemble a complete starter brewing kit, showing how specific and meticulous he was in curating his coffee setup.He was probably the coffee connoisseur among his elite circles, carefully selecting beans, brewing techniques, and starter kits, and his taste was surprisingly precise for a man who had so much else to claim in his day. But all of that doesn’t even begin to obscure the broader reality: Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges related to sex trafficking of minors and died in his New York jail cell later that year. Ongoing document releases continue to shed light on his activities, associates and vast estate, revealing many names, shocking details and other dark and disturbing aspects of Epstein’s life. But what stands out most here is the contrast. In between emails about logistics and travel, there were details on pour times, gram weights and water temperatures. Online, some found the accuracy ironic. Others simply view it as a technically sound V60 guide and simmer at home.Despite the name, it’s a standard specialty coffee approach: measured dose, controlled spiral pour, three-minute total extraction. It was neither revolutionary nor amateurish, but its precision hinted at how unique his taste and meticulous habits must have been.
A body language expert shares insights on the subject of masking at: Nancy GuthrieThe house is full of talk about my son-in-law Tommaso Scioni and former band members, Dominic Evans.
A body language expert joins Tommaso Cioni and Dominic Evans to share insights into the masking theme and possible similarities in the case of Nancy Guthrie. (Facebook/Lillian Glass)
Dr. Lillian Glass, author of “The Body Language of Liars” and “The Body Language Advantage,” analyzed footage of masked subjects in the 84-year-old’s home. The FBI released the video days ago as investigators hunted Guthrie. She was reported missing on February 1, and authorities believe the octogenarian was taken from her home the night before.
The suspect has not been officially named, although FBI Director Kash Patel has hinted that there is interest. However, there has been a lot of speculation on social media about Cione and Evans. The former was reportedly the last person to see Guthrie before he was taken away, as he walked her home after dinner with his wife, Guthrie’s daughter Anne. Evans was drawn into the conversation as interest in Sione’s personal life grew and accusations were made about his bandmates’ criminal pasts.
This discussion intensified once footage of the subject was released to the public, and Dr. Glass shared her thoughts.
Dr. Glass on the Masked Man: Tommaso Scioni or Dominic Evans?
Sharing a photo of a masked figure and a photo of Sioney band Early Black, Dr. Glass wrote: “What struck me most was the slow and deliberate gait of the perpetrator, as if he had planned this ordeal. He moved slowly, unlike most burglars who usually move very quickly because they want to break in quickly and escape quickly.”
She added, “That’s why you often see more jerky, adrenaline-filled moves. And this was the opposite because he was very cautious with his steps.”
Dr. Glass noted that the masked subject’s eyes bore some resemblance to Sione’s. “The eyes are interesting because one of the eyelids covers more skin than the other. Coincidentally, Tommaso Sionis’s eyes are similar in that way.” Of Evans, Glass said, “The same goes for the eyes of the gentleman standing to the left of Tommaso in the photo, who also has the same eye pattern.”
She shared a photo of Sione, with Evans on the left and Walter Gonsalves on the right. The body language expert also said that both men have “arched brows,” but Cione “shows more of her dark lashes.”
Glass also noted that “the shape of the baklava shows that the perpetrator’s nose was broad and flat at the base.” She further spoke of the possibility that the masked person had facial hair – something that has been suggested by many people online trying to find a physical resemblance to Sione.
“Also, the base of the balaclava is curved. Most balaclavas don’t have this curve and outline the chin as they go straight up the neck, unless there’s a beard underneath. Tommaso had a beard,” Glass added. Speaking about the beard allegedly also visible in the video, Glass said: “A thick dark beard is also visible in the upper area of the mouth. Sione also has a dark beard. The man standing to the left of Tommaso in the photo has a sparse beard, while Tommaso has a thick beard. Tommaso also has a thick beard in the middle, while the other man has no hair growth in that area.”
She also compared the masked subject’s anatomy to that of Sione and Evans. “The perpetrator in the video is in good physical shape and appears to have a flat stomach and muscular thighs. Judging from Tommasos’s photo and the other man’s photo, they also have a flat stomach and long arms and appear to be in good shape like the perpetrator,” Glass wrote.
She concluded her message by saying she was not “accusing” Sione or Evans of being the perpetrators. However, according to her expert opinion, there are “some similarities” to the masking theme, which makes people “raise questions.”
Glass also argued in the post that the subject’s movements indicated they were “familiar with the details of the home” and “may have known Nancy.” Amid the ongoing search, many online have questioned whether Guthrie’s abduction was an inside job.
Authorities have so far provided no evidence to support this hypothesis. However, one of Guthrie’s neighbors also hinted that the masked subject could at least be local if Guthrie didn’t know better.
The man was spotted lowering his head as he approached the door, and Fox News’ Michael Ruiz shared another explanation offered. “One of Nancy Guthrie’s neighbors just came up with an alternative explanation for why the man seen on her doorbell camera lowered his head as he approached her front door,” he wrote when sharing the video.
“Although it’s not rattlesnake season, people tend to use flashlights and look down when walking at night to avoid accidentally stepping on a rattlesnake,” the reporter added.
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison sparred during a Senate hearing Thursday morning over the federal investigation into fraud in the state.Hawley accused Ellison of participating in a fraud scheme that resulted in the theft of federal funds allocated to social services programs in Minnesota. Federal prosecutors estimate millions of dollars were stolen from the scheme, The Hills reports.“You have been at the center of this program from the beginning, you have enabled it, and you should resign,” Hawley said during his turn at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing.Ellison retorted: “You should resign. I feel the same way about you.”Hawley raised his voice, leveling a series of accusations against Ellison and suggesting the attorney general should be “indicted” as Ellison vehemently denied the lawmakers’ accusations.Hawley claims Ellison and his family profited from the scheme. A whistleblower in Minnesota claimed that Ellison and other state officials knew about the fraud scheme as early as 2019, but officials did not intervene.“For the record, he’s lying, that’s the truth,” Ellison said.The interaction was tense from the start, with Ellison refusing to answer Hawley’s opening question confirming his position.“Mr. Ellison, you’re in my courtroom now, you’re under oath, so I suggest you answer my questions,” Hawley said.Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.) stepped in multiple times, telling Hawley, “I think we’ve made our point.”Hawley responded: “Oh, I can ask whatever I want, Senator Paul.”At another point in the exchange, Hawley told Ellison, “This is my hearing, friend.” The two exchanged words and Ellison retorted, “Don’t call me a friend.”“I should call you a prisoner because you deserve to be in jail,” Hawley retorted.Ellison has long been a target of Republican attacks. He was one of Minnesota officials subpoenaed by the Justice Department in January over allegations that state officials interfered with federal immigration operations. Since the immigration enforcement operation began, the attorney general has filed several lawsuits challenging the federal government’s actions in the state.Ellison appeared on a panel with other Minnesota officials, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Minnesota House Republican floor leader Harry Niska and Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell.The second panel at the hearing included U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, Customs and Border Protection Director Rodney Scott and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons. Paul asked three immigration officials to appear on panel following the shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis.Ellison also faces a hearing Thursday morning from Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Ashley Moody, R-Fla.Johnson blamed the attorney general for the deaths of two people killed by federal law enforcement in Minnesota.“Attorney General, you did the exact opposite and two people died because you encouraged them to put themselves in danger,” the senator said.Ellison denied Johnson’s accusations.“It was great theater, but it was all lies,” the attorney general said.
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman The Center on Thursday said the fund was not a “free pool of cash to be used at will” and asserted that every rupee of taxpayers’ money has been accounted for and funds would not be denied or stopped to any country or any scheme. She dismissed opposition accusations that funding had been cut and said the release of funds was linked to on-the-ground delivery.Reply to discussion about Budget On the RS front, FM said India is on a strong growth trajectory with low unemployment and an expanding middle class. Sitharaman said that through sustained efforts, planning, timely intervention and reforms, India is experiencing a rare phase of high macroeconomic growth and low inflation. She said the budget step shows determination to build a resilient and self-reliant India.Addressing criticism of welfare funds, Sitharaman said, “Earlier, success was measured by how much money was released without ensuring expenditure. This created a huge float. We now have absolute transparency. We do not release funds blindly to account for the expenditure; we release funds only when needed at the grassroots level. Funds will not be denied or stopped to any state or scheme. Every rupee of taxpayers’ money is accounted for.” The center’s funds are not a free pool of cash. They are the hard-earned contribution of every Indian. “Slamming Congress for “crying crocodile tears over rising debt,” she said the opposition wants the government to borrow more and release money to states. “Government cannot overborrow. This principle guides us. Congress is obsessed with spending, but we only fund results. We want results,” she added.Sitharaman denied accusations of high inflation, saying inflation was at historically low levels and there was no inflation crisis. “Inflation has been contained due to stabilization and measures taken by the government. Growth without jobs is the story of the UPA era,” she said.Attacking the TMC-led Bengal government, she alleged that it had failed to implement Centre-sponsored welfare schemes and deprived the people of their benefits. She also refuted the DMK’s claim that there were no major announcements for Tamil Nadu, which is going to polls, outlining the state’s budget proposals.Reacting to former finance minister Chidambaram’s remarks that the Budget was “forgettable”, Sitharaman said, “The Budget will never forget the past. Cherish the glorious past, but learn from the tarnished past and avoid repeating the same mistakes.” These remarks came amid the ongoing political debate in the Parliament.
On Thursday, the FIB field office provided new details about the suspect’s backpack, after the agency previously released video from Nancy Guthrie’s door camera. this FBI The backpack was confirmed to be a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” sold at Walmart.
An FBI member monitors the area around Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 11. (AFP Getty Images)
In addition, as the search for the 84-year-old man failed to make significant progress on its 12th day, the FBI increased the reward for credible information. Nancy Guthrie’s Whereabouts range from $55,000 to $100,000. In the latest details on the suspect, the FBI said the suspect is “a male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a medium build.”
“We hope the updated description will help focus the tips we receive from the public,” the FBI said. “Since February 1, 2026, the FBI has collected more than 13,000 tips from the public related to this case.” The FBI also shared new images of the backpack.
A Bangladeshi immigrant has won the right to stay in the UK after a court ruled he cannot be deported as he faces 20 years in prison over explosives charges if he returns.The man, known as “MM” in court, was granted asylum after successfully arguing that Bangladesh’s charges against him were false and politically motivated. He said he was targeted by the previous Awami League government due to his links with opposition political groups, the Daily Mail reported. The interior ministry acknowledged that the bomb charges may have been false but said it was safe for him to return because the political situation in Bangladesh had changed. However, a higher court ruled in his favour.MM told the court that he was the “political leader” of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party. He said the Awami League filed false criminal charges against him while he was in Cyprus in 2015.He was convicted in absentia and sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to court documents he provided. These documents have been verified as authentic. Seven other men, including Ahsan Habib, Mostafa Kamal, Mehedi Hasan, Rabiul Islam, Monowar Hossain, Jamirul Islam and Moynul Islam, were also previously convicted and sentenced to the same prison term.High Court Judge Madeleine Ritz said: “[It was] Confirmed [migrant’s] The case relies on the surviving finding that there are actual issued court documents proving that he has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison, and that there are two other outstanding warrants for his arrest. The question is, [he] Problems faced on return given having been convicted in absentia and taking into account national information.“They added: “He noted that the Home Office’s handling of the case was difficult to follow given the retained findings that the documents were genuine court-issued documents that were politically motivated and false and not based on any criminal conduct.”Additionally: “The documents were proven to be authentic and the appeal was therefore decided in favor of MM.”The Home Office believes that the resignation of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League in August 2024 means that MM will no longer be at risk. After months of student-led protests that turned into a nationwide uprising, Hasina resigned and fled to India. A United Nations report said as many as 1,400 people died during the unrest, most of them shot by security forces.Judge Riz said the Awami League had not completely lost power and still had supporters within government offices and law enforcement agencies. She cited reports that the country remains unstable, with some innocent people being arrested and authorities reviewing cases believed to be politically motivated.She concluded: “I therefore conclude that there is a reasonable probability of these particular facts being established. [migrant] Both parties believe they have been detained on politically motivated charges and convictions that are unlawful and do not reflect any wrongdoing. [him]”.It added: “Although these incidents relate to events under the previous regime, the conviction remains, the sentence is lengthy and there is a real risk that he will not be released on bail based on the evidence available.”The court granted his appeal, which means he will stay in the UK.
New Delhi: The two-day Bharat Bodhan Artificial Intelligence Conclave kicked off here on Thursday, bringing together policymakers, academics and industry leaders to discuss ways to deploy AI at scale in India’s education system. The secret meeting came a day after a closed artificial intelligence roundtable chaired by the education minister Dharmendra Pradhan Join the founders of 10 Indian edtech startups.Pradhan said technology must go beyond expanding access to content and focus on improving learning outcomes. He called artificial intelligence a “powerful tool for empowerment and inclusion” and said if deployed responsibly, it would be central to achieving Viksit Bharat’s vision by 2047.A roundtable held at IIT-D on Wednesday brought together policymakers, academics and entrepreneurs to discuss AI use cases related to NE. Startups showcased AI-first solutions spanning K-12 learning, test preparation, language learning, upskilling and career education. Companies include Arivihan, Fermi AI, Seekho, and others. neural network
