NEW DELHI: Opposition lawmakers staged a protest at the Parliament complex on Thursday over the India-US interim trade deal, accusing the Modi government of abandoning India’s interests. They also supported unions in their nationwide campaign against new labor laws.Mallikarjun Kharge, TR Baalu, Dharmendra Yadav, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Sudama Prasad and many other MPs held huge banners labeled “Trap Agreement” and “Narender Surrender” posters at the entrance of the Parliament and held slogans.leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi Accused the government of “ignoring” the voices of workers and farmers when making decisions about their future.Haq said trade unions, farmers and workers took to the streets to oppose the Modi government’s trade deals, labor laws and “rob” of MGNREGA. “We are firmly opposed to the anti-people ‘trap deal’ that mortgaged the future of millions of hardworking farmers, workers and labourers. The Modi government succumbed to foreign pressure and tampered with the lives of tens of millions of the country’s citizens,” he said.Gandhi wondered if PM Modi would now listen to farmers and workers or if the “control” he mentioned in his LS speech was too strong. “From the streets to parliament, our fight will continue,” Hager said.Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, “The government has betrayed the farmers. The trade deal they signed will cause pain to the farmers. We are supporting the strike by the unions today.” Later in a meeting with Lok Sabha MPs, Rahul praised the opposition for dominating the first half of the budget session and cornering the government on key issues. neural network
Kelly Bush beauty pageant The Queen has drawn attention after publicly criticizing the Miss America Organization’s latest gender identity policy.
Kelly Bush, crowned Miss North Florida 2024, criticized the Miss America Organization’s gender identity policy and refused to sign the contract (Kelly Bush | Instagram )
In an interview with TMZ, Bush said she was forced to give up her title of Miss North Florida because she refused to sign the organization’s revised contract.
She was crowned Miss North Florida in September 2024.
Kelly Bush wins Miss Northern title Florida title, a regional competition, incorporated into the national Miss America system.
Weeks later, Bush said she received a revised contract that expanded the definition of “female” to include individuals who were born female or who have fully completed certain gender reassignment procedures.
Bush and her family argued that they entered the pageant thinking it was specifically for biological women.
“I was asked to sign a different contract than the first one I agreed to because they changed it four weeks after I correctly won,” she detailed of the contract discussions.
Bush and her mother immediately signed the contract and got on the phone with the Miss America Organization. “I begged them over and over again through Liberty Counsel, sent videos, sent letters, emails, because they took on my case,” Bush said.
She said the organization had just rejected her request and later “double down” on their decision.
Bush ultimately refused to sign the contract, telling TMZ, “I was unwilling to agree that little boys could become girls, and I took a stand against the Miss America Organization and lost my crown as a result.”
according to a Miss America Rep, Bush “kept her crown” but “just didn’t move on because she refused to sign the contract that the other contestants signed,” contradicting Bush’s claims to TMZ.
The Miss America Organization’s latest rules for contestants, emphasized in Bush’s contract, are that they must be “female,” between 18 and 28 years old, single, childless and a U.S. citizen. The regulations define “female” as “an individual who is born female or who has undergone full sex reassignment surgery.”
Team Australia (Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
New Delhi: The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues to build momentum with three intriguing group stage matches scheduled to take place on Friday, February 13, as teams look to cement their positions in the highly competitive tournament.The day’s matches will begin with Australia taking on Zimbabwe at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
T20 World Cup | Mohammad Wasim holds press conference after loss to New Zealand
Australia got off to a strong start and will aim to maintain their momentum and cement their place in Group B. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have impressed with an early victory and are eager to challenge the five-time world champions, making the clash between the two attackers likely to be intense.The second match of the day will see Canada take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The two partner nations are still looking for a first win in Group D in a game that could prove crucial to their World Cup dreams. With both teams eager to break their winless streaks, this game promises to be a tight affair with glory and points at stake.The final match on February 13 will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, pitting the United States against the Netherlands. The Netherlands has been competitive in Group A, while the United States is eager to bounce back after an early loss. The Chepauk surface is known for assisting spinners and can play a key role in deciding the outcome of a match.With the group stages heating up and teams vying for qualifying spots, intense action will take place across three venues on February 13, including heavyweight matches and crucial joint matches. As the battle for the Super 8 stages intensifies, every game, every score and net run rate could play a decisive role in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Tommaso Cioni’s height became a new talking point after the FBI released details about the masked man. Nancy GuthrieIn the video, he is at home. FBI Phoenix wrote “Today, the FBI is increasing the reward to $100,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
Tommaso Cioni appears with Nancy Guthrie in an old family photo (left) and in a more recent photo shared by the FBI of the Guthrie kidnapping suspect (right). (X/@Nerdy_Addict, X/@FBIDirectorKash)
They said the subject was approximately 5 feet 9 inches – 5 feet 10 inches tall. The FBI added that the suspect is a man of medium build. “Forensic analysis of doorbell camera footage by the FBI Operations Technology Division has confirmed new identifying details for the suspect in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. The suspect is described as male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a medium build. In the video, he is wearing a black 25L’Ozark Trail Hiker Backpack,” the post states.
Although Cione has not been named as a suspect, he has been at the center of online speculation since former NewsNation reporter Ashley Banfield reported that he could be a suspect. Authorities dismissed her charges at the time. However, it later emerged that Sione was the last person to see Guthrie before the 84-year-old was reported missing on February 1. He reportedly sent her home after the latter had dinner with Cione’s wife and Guthrie’s daughter. Anne.
Now, new details about the suspect have many questioning whether Sione matches the physical description.
Tommaso Cioni height
After the FBI released the suspect details, many netizens asked “How tall is Nancy Guthrie’s son-in-law?” An independent reporter claimed that Cione was much taller than the agency’s height details of 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches.
However, another person shared a family photo and noted that Cione appears to be the same height as his sister-in-law, Today show host Savannah Guthrie. Guthrie is reportedly 5 feet 10 inches tall. Sione’s actual height is not known.
Someone else said “Savannah is 5 feet 10 inches tall. Still think Tommaso is much taller?”. Also earlier, when the video of the masked man was released, people on social media speculated that Cione’s height was around 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 0 inches.
“This is 1000% Tommaso Cioni. Same build and facial hair (beard and mustache), male, 5’10 – 6’0″, 230 pounds. Weight is concentrated on his chest and torso. Arms are thinner. Legs are thicker,” one person on X wrote.
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.
