California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Medicaid Funding Restrictions Targeting Planned Parenthood 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
U.S.–Russia Peace Talks Stall as Kremlin Rejects Key Proposals 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Trump Pardons Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández in Controversial Move 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Senators Warn Trump Against Unauthorized Venezuela Strike, Vow War Powers Push 
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has welcomed a major deal with Air India for Airbus jets and aircraft by Rolls Royce. The deal is expected to boost jobs and exports from the United Kingdom.
Sunak has welcomed a major deal with Air India to buy 250 jets from Airbus as well as a 40-body A350 aircraft powered by Rolls Royce engines that are produced and assembled in Derby. The British department for business and trade said the deal would create 450 manufacturing jobs and bring in over $122 million of investment to Wales, where Airbus manufactures wings.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Sunak and finance minister Jeremy Hunt are considering a deal that would end the wave of strikes among the country’s public sector workers backdating next year’s pay rise. Sunak and Hunt are considering giving the staff of the National Health Service and other key workers a lump-sum payment by backdating next year’s pay award that takes effect from April, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The British Department of Health and Social Care said health minister Steve Barclay has held discussions with healthcare unions regarding what is affordable and fair for the 2023-24 pay review body process including wider concerns on pay, conditions, and workload.
“We want to strike the right balance between what is fair for public sector workers and what the taxpayer – ordinary people across the UK – can afford,” the department said in a statement.
An increase in public sector pay by five percent for 2023-24 has a “low risk” of protracting high private sector pay growth, six percent would worsen inflation, and seven percent would “pose a significant risk” and potentially result in higher interest rates, according to the Financial Times.
On the same day, the British government said it plans to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with a national moment of silence as the country continues to show solidarity with Kyiv following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit this month.
Sunak will be leading a one-minute silence on February 24, encouraging citizens and organizations across the country to take part.
