Author: TheStateLine

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Atletico Madrid stuns Barcelona in Copa del Rey semifinals

Madrid, Feb 13 (IANS) Atletico Madrid stunned Copa del Rey holder and La Liga leader Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Friday.An own goal and strikes from Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez gave Atletico a 4-0 advantage to take into the return leg at the Camp Nou on March 3, reported Xinhua.Atletico produced a blistering first-half display, with Barcelona unable to cope with the home side's aggression and pace. Diego Simeone's team repeatedly punished Barcelona's high defensive line, with Nahuel Molina and Giuliano Simeone causing constant problems down the right and Lookman posing a threat on the opposite flank.Barcelona was without the injured Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, with Dani Olmo starting alongside Fermin Lopez in an attacking midfie...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Trump to visit China in April for summit with Xi Jinping

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Feb 13 (IANS) President Donald Trump said that he will visit China in April for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is expected to visit the United States later this year.“Yeah, I’ll be visiting President Xi in April. I look forward to it. He's coming here later in the year, and I look very much forward to it,” Trump told reporters at the White House.Trump described ties with Beijing as steady. “No, our relationship with China is very good right now,” he said in response to a question. “My relationship with President Xi is very good,” he added.Trump did not give details about the location or agenda of the April visit. He also did not specify when Xi’s US trip would take place, beyond saying it would happen later this year.The comments come as US-China ties remain def...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

US Senate battle over ICE tactics raises immigration concerns

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Feb 13 (IANS) A sharp political fight erupted in the US Senate over federal immigration enforcement tactics and civil liberties, in a debate closely watched by immigrant communities, including Indian visa holders and green card applicants.The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee examined “Operation Metro Surge,” a large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deployment in Minnesota.The operation followed protests and clashes between federal agents and demonstrators.Two US citizens — Renee Goode and Alex Preedy — were killed in separate encounters with federal agents. Their deaths dominated the hearing.Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul said the goal was “to restore public trust.” He said “in a free society filming government officials in public is...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Deal or ‘very traumatic’: Trump warns Iran

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Feb 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump warned Iran to reach a nuclear agreement quickly or face serious consequences, saying failure to make a deal would be “very traumatic.”“We have to make a deal otherwise it's going to be very traumatic, very traumatic,” Trump told reporters at the White House.“I don't want that to happen, but we have to make a deal,” he added. Asked about a timeline, Trump said the process should move fast.“I guess over the next month, something like that — shouldn't take, I mean, it should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly,” he said.Trump said if talks fail, the situation would escalate. “If they don't make a deal, then it'll be a different story,” he said.“If the deal isn't a very fair deal and a very good deal with Iran, then it's going to ...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Trump terminates Obama EPA climate rule

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Feb 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump announced what he called “the single largest deregulatory action in American history,” formally terminating the Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding that underpinned federal greenhouse gas regulations.“Under the process just completed by the EPA, we are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding,” Trump said, describing it as “a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and massively drove up prices for American consumers.”The 2009 finding had determined that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare, forming the legal basis for a range of emissions standards. Trump said the determination “had no basis in fact” and “had no basis in law.”“This a...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

CM Rekha Gupta to inaugurate Delhi Khel Mahakumbh today

INDIA, TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Friday, will inaugurate "Khelo Delhi – Delhi Khel Mahakumbh" on the lines of Khelo India to strengthen and promote a vibrant sports culture in the national capital.Earlier on Thursday, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood hosted an interactive dialogue regarding the upcoming Delhi Khel Mahakumbh. Expressing gratitude to the participants, he said that Delhi has no shortage of talent but what is required is the right platform and opportunity.Along with media representatives, more than 50 sports influencers from across India, Arjuna Awardees, fitness coaches, and sports personalities participated in the interaction.The Delhi government is organising competitions in seven major sports disciplines during the initial phase of the Maha...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

US Senate fails to advance DHS funding bill, partial govt shutdown looms

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Washington, Feb 13 (IANS) The US Senate failed to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), raising the prospect of a partial government shutdown as temporary funding for the department expires at the end of Friday.The procedural vote was 52-47, short of the 60 votes required to advance the bill, Xinhua news agency reported.The legislative stall came as the White House and congressional Democrats have been unable to reach an agreement on immigration enforcement regulations, following two fatal shootings by federal law enforcement officers in the city of Minneapolis."Democrats have been very clear: We will not support an extension of the status quo," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday.Democrats blocked the legislation after rejecting an offer from...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

BNP chairman says party set for ‘historic victory’ in Bangladesh’s national parliament election

TOP STORIES, WORLD

Dhaka, Feb 13 (IANS) Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman said that his party is set to secure a "historic victory" in the country's national parliament election, local media reported Friday.In a separate statement, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi extended greetings and congratulations to the people of the country, hailing the party's victory in securing a majority of seats in the election, Xinhua news agency reported.According to local media reports, preliminary vote counting results from constituencies across the country show that the BNP has secured more than half of the seats in the national parliament election held on Thursday.Meanwhile, serious allegations of rigging, use of money to influence voters and violent incidents emerged acro...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

Trump announces repeal of key finding underpinning US climate regulations

TOP STORIES, WORLD

New York, Feb 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump announced the revocation of a key 2009 climate determination that has served as the legal foundation for federal climate regulations, including rules on greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles and mandates supporting electric vehicle adoption.Trump and US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin unveiled the decision at the White House, describing it as the "single largest deregulatory action in US history.""We are officially terminating the so-called endangerment finding, a disastrous Obama-era policy that severely damaged the American auto industry and drove up prices for American consumers," Trump said at a news conference.The determination, known as the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, concluded that carbon...

Feb132026 by TheStateLineNo Comments

PMO’s new address ‘Seva Teerth’ to be inaugurated by PM Modi today

INDIA, TOP STORIES

New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is all set to relocate from the British-era building in South Block to its new address -- 'Seva Teerth', the newly constructed building at Kartavya Path, on Friday.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the complex -- Seva Teerth as well as Kartavya Bhavan-1 & 2.The inauguration will mark a transformative milestone in India’s administrative governance architecture as the Seva Teerth houses the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the National Security Council Secretariat and the Cabinet Secretariat.Inside the Kartavya Bhavan-1 & 2, several high-profile ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, Defence, Health & Family Welfare, Education, will operate.According to officials, PM Modi will first unveil the name of the...