The Economic Times

US President Donald Trump delivered the longest-ever State of the Union address on Tuesday, beating Bill Clinton's 2000 record of one hour and 20 minutes. Republican Trump also smashed his own 1 hour and 40 minute record for a presidential speech to Congress, which he set last March in an annual address that was not technically a State of the Union. dk/mlm

AI firm Anthropic faces pressure from the Pentagon. The company refuses to remove safeguards for military use. The Pentagon has issued an ultimatum. Anthropic must comply or face drastic actions. This dispute could impact future AI use in defense. Talks continue between Anthropic and the Pentagon.

The European Commission is urging the United States to honor a trade agreement. This comes after the US Supreme Court overturned Donald Trump's global tariffs. Trump then introduced new, across-the-board tariffs. The EU stated that the current situation hinders fair transatlantic trade. They emphasized that a deal is a deal and EU products must maintain agreed tariff rates.

Moscow's four international airports are closed due to safety concerns. Russian air defenses shot down eleven Ukrainian drones within an hour. Air traffic restrictions are in place at Domodedovo, Vnukovo, Zhukovsky, and Sheremetyevo airports. This incident occurs as the conflict with Ukraine nears its four-year anniversary. Russia reports regular drone attacks on its regions.

Jodhpur wedding horror: Two sisters, Shobha (25) and Vimla (23), were found dead in Jodhpur hours before their scheduled weddings. Their health deteriorated suddenly early Friday morning, and they were declared dead at a hospital. Preliminary investigations suggest possible poisoning, with no suicide note found.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Israel faces a political hurdle. Opposition leader Yair Lapid insists on inviting the Supreme Court President to the Knesset address. This is due to a domestic dispute over judicial reforms. Lapid warns of a boycott if the convention is not followed. This could cause embarrassment for India.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is strengthening alliances, highlighting the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a gigantic power. Netanyahu emphasized Israel's proactive approach to security and its designation as a model ally by the US, underscoring the significant alliance between Israel and India.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has commenced military exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil transit route, ahead of talks with the United States. The drills aim to enhance the IRGC's readiness for potential threats, coinciding with a significant US naval deployment to the region. This occurs as Tehran and Washington prepare for renewed negotiations mediated by Oman.

Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza Sunday, killing at least 11 Palestinians. The military stated this was a response to Hamas violating a ceasefire. Gaza officials reported casualties from strikes on a tent encampment and in Khan Younis. This exchange occurs days before the first meeting of US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace.

Thorbjorn Jagland, who headed the Norwegian Nobel Committee from 2009 to 2015, turns up hundreds of times in the millions of documents about the former U.S. financier and convicted sex offender that were released by the U.S. Justice Department last month.

Meeting in a Belgian castle, the EU leaders agreed an action plan with a strict timeline for the economic restructuring, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The pressure and the sense of urgency is enormous, and that can move mountains, she said. The plan, to be presented formally in March, would include measures to coordinate upgrading energy grids, deepen financial integration and loosen merger regulations to allow European firms to grow to better compete globally, she sai

The FAA abruptly closed El Paso airspace for 10 days, later reduced to hours, after the Pentagon deployed an anti-drone laser without FAA coordination. This action stranded travelers and caused significant disruption, prompting calls for explanations from officials regarding the lack of inter-agency communication.