LIVE: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – Premier League
blinking-dotLive MatchLive Match, Follow the build-up, analysis and live text commentary of the game as Spurs host Arsenal for a crucial North London derby. Published On 22 Feb 202622 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Trump tariff chaos: What does 15% levy mean for trade deals the US signed?
The United States Supreme Court’s ruling, which declared Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs unlawful, has injected uncertainty into global trade yet again, as the US president imposed a new 15 percent tariff on Saturday. Weeks after his inauguration in January 2025, Trump imposed tariffs against foes and allies using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), unleashing a trade war that rattled global trade. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list But on Friday, in a 6-3 decision, the top court agreed that Trump exceeded his authority by invoking the 1977 law, which was designed to allow US presidents to respond to specific national emergencies. The court said tariffs are a form of taxation, and under Article I of the Constitution, the power to tax belongs exclusively to Congress. The court’s ruling, however, does not apply to Trump’s tariffs on steel, aluminium, lumber and automotives since these were imposed under a different law – Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Following the verdict, a furious Trump called the Supreme Court judges “fools and lapdogs” who are “very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution”. He immediately signed an executive order under Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974 to impose a blanket 10 percent tariff on all countries the US trades with, starting on February 24. On Saturday, he raised the tariff to 15 percent, the highest rate allowed under this trade law. So, what is this new trade law that Trump has used to impose tariffs? What does this mean for trade deals the US has already signed with countries around the world? Advertisement Here’s what we know: What is the new trade law Trump is using? Under US law, Section 122 of the US Trade Act of 1974 empowers the president to impose tariffs of up to 15 percent to address “large and serious balance-of-payments deficits”. Tariffs can be imposed under this law only for 150 days unless the US Congress agrees to extend it. Trump is the first president to use this law to impose tariffs. In a statement on Friday, the White House said some goods, such as certain agricultural products like beef, tomatoes, natural resources and fertilisers that cannot be grown or produced in the US, aerospace products, among others, will not be subject to the temporary levy. Shantanu Singh, an international trade lawyer, noted that since this is the first time this legal authority has been used by any US president, it could likely be litigated. “But the government has considerable leeway to determine this as trade deficits can form part of balance-of-payments deficits,” he told Al Jazeera. Trump has justified the tariffs as a way to balance the US’s trade deficits of more than $900bn. What happens to the trade deals? Several countries had signed trade deals to cushion themselves from Trump’s punishing tariffs last year. The United Kingdom, India and the European Union, among others, had entered into deals to lower tariffs on their exports to the US. But the ongoing tariff spectacle has thrown the future of those trade deals into doubt. Will they be charged the new 15 percent tariff or the agreed rate signed in the trade deals? Will India be tariffed at 18 percent, as per the trade deal, or 15 percent as announced by Trump on Saturday? Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said some of these trade agreements will stand. “The trade deals, because they are international, will likely remain in place,” Singh, the international trade lawyer, said. However, after the Supreme Court’s ruling, he said, the big incentive for doing trade deals with the Trump administration, which was to get a lower reciprocal tariff rate before competitors, has vanished. “That reduces the incentive for trade partners to comply with their part of the deal for the time being,” he said. Here is a look at some of the trade agreements and what their future looks like. United Kingdom The UK was one of the first to sign a trade deal with the US last May after being hit by 5 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium exports, as well as a 25 percent tariff on cars and auto parts. Under their agreement, the US agreed that there would be zero tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the UK, and for other goods, it was set at 10 percent. Last December, the two nations also agreed to zero tariffs on pharmaceuticals and medical products. Advertisement After Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that the ruling does “little to clear the murky waters for business”. On Friday, a spokesperson told the media that the British government was “working with the US” to understand more about how the court’s ruling will affect the UK. The court ruling will not impact the UK’s deal on steel, aluminium and pharmaceutical exports. But Bain said the new 15 percent global tariff rate, which has been imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act 1974, “will be bad for trade, bad for US consumers and businesses and weaken global economic growth”. China Trump had imposed one of the highest tariffs on China, and the world’s two largest economies were engaged in a trade war. At one point, they had slapped reciprocal tariffs exceeding 100 percent on some goods. The two countries have yet to sign a trade deal, but they agreed to lower the tariffs as part of a trade truce. After several rounds of trade talks and a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in October, the two countries agreed to a one-year truce with a 10 percent baseline tariff. Trump also slashed the so-called fentanyl tariff to 10 percent. The Supreme Court ruling will lift tariffs imposed on chemicals used in fentanyl. However, tariffs on other Chinese exports, such as electric vehicles, aluminium and steel, will remain. Following the court’s ruling, Chinese Embassy spokesperson in
Iran-US tensions: What would blocking Strait of Hormuz mean for oil, LNG?
Whenever tensions rise between Iran and the United States, one narrow waterway moves to the centre of global attention – the Strait of Hormuz. The world’s largest warship, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, is heading to the Gulf, joining one of the largest US military build-ups in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. This time, Iran is in Washington’s crosshairs. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list This month, Tehran signalled how it might respond to an attack when it announced the temporary closure of sections of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway linking the Gulf to open seas. Iranian authorities carried out live-fire military drills in the corridor, through which about 20 percent of global oil supplies are shipped. The move marked a rare suspension of activity in parts of the strait. It served as a pointed warning about the economic consequences if Washington proceeds with its threats to strike Iran, highlighting how quickly a regional confrontation could spill into global markets. Where is the Strait of Hormuz? The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint. The curved waterway lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. It is roughly 50km (31 miles) wide at its entrance and exit and narrows to about 33km (20 miles) at its tightest point. It forms the only maritime link between the Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Despite its narrow width, the channel accommodates the world’s largest crude carriers. Major Middle Eastern oil and gas exporters rely on it to move supplies to international markets while importing nations depend on its uninterrupted operation. How much oil and gas pass through the strait? According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 20 million barrels of oil transited through the Strait of Hormuz each day in 2024. That equates to nearly $500bn in annual energy trade, underlining the waterway’s central role in the global economy. Advertisement The crude passing through the strait originates from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Any prolonged disruption would rattle producers and the economies that depend on their exports. The strait also plays a critical role in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade. In 2024, roughly a fifth of global LNG shipments moved through the corridor with Qatar accounting for the vast majority of those volumes, according to EIA data. Where does it all go? The strait handles LNG flows in both directions. Kuwait and the UAE import supplies sourced outside the Gulf, including shipments from the US and West Africa. The EIA estimated that in 2024, 84 percent of crude oil and condensate shipments transiting the strait headed to Asian markets. A similar pattern appears in the gas trade with 83 percent of LNG volumes moving through the Strait of Hormuz destined for Asia. China, India, Japan and South Korea accounted for a combined 69 percent intake of all crude oil and condensate flows through the strait last year. Their factories, transport networks and power grids depend on uninterrupted Gulf energy. A rocket is fired during a military exercise by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and navy in the Strait of Hormuz on February 17, 2026 [Handout/SepahNews via AFP] What are Iran’s options? Under international law, states may exercise sovereignty up to 12 nautical miles (22km) from their coastlines. At its narrowest stretch, the Strait of Hormuz and its designated shipping lanes fall entirely within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. That legal reality gives Tehran geographic leverage. About 3,000 vessels transit the strait each month. If Iran tried to obstruct traffic, one of the most effective tactics would involve deploying naval mines using fast attack boats and submarines. Tehran’s fleet includes fast boats equipped with antiship missiles, alongside surface vessels, semisubmersible craft and submarines designed for asymmetric warfare. Iran’s parliament last year approved a motion to close the Strait of Hormuz. Any final decision rests with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Regional dynamics could further complicate the situation. In Yemen, the Houthi group, which maintains close ties with Iran, could again try to disrupt traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, another vital maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to global trade routes. Shipping through that corridor suffered significant disruptions after Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023. The Houthis, who control northwestern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, recently organised a mass rally under the slogan Steadfast and Ready for the Next Round, signalling readiness for a potential confrontation with domestic or foreign adversaries. Advertisement Any coordinated pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Strait would amplify risks for global shipping, energy markets and international trade. Impact on global oil prices Colby Connelly, head of Middle East content at Energy Intelligence, told Al Jazeera from the UAE that a full or partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz would have a “major impact on oil prices in the near term”, depending on how long the strait remains contested. “There are no other major sources of supply that can make up for what comes from the Gulf, especially given the consideration that around 70 percent of OPEC+ spare production capacity sits in the Gulf,” Connelly said, referring to the group of oil-producing countries that collectively sets production volumes. Saudi Arabia relies heavily on the strait to export its crude, shipping roughly 5.5 million barrels per day through the corridor – more than any other country in the region, according to EIA data. Iran’s oil exports, about 90 percent of which go to China, averaged roughly 1.7 million barrels per day in the first half of 2025, according to the EIA. “Saudi Arabia and the UAE both have limited pipeline capacity that can allow exports to continue via the Red Sea coast and Fujairah,” a UAE port on the Gulf of Oman, Connelly warned. While some Gulf producers hold substantial volumes in overseas storage that could cushion supply shocks, Connelly noted that buffers may
Two soldiers killed during military operation in Pakistan’s northwest: Army
An explosive-laden motorcycle rammed vehicle in security forces convoy, military says. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 2 mins info Published On 21 Feb 202621 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, have been killed during a military operation when a fighter driving an explosive-laden motorcycle rammed a security convoy vehicle in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province near the border with Afghanistan, according to the country’s army. The deadly clash took place on Saturday in KP’s Bannu district, with the Pakistani military saying at least five armed fighters, including one it described as “a suicide bomber” were also killed during the operation. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The military said that the bomber was stopped by the leading security team, preventing his attempt to attack civilians and law enforcement personnel and averting “a major catastrophe”. The army referred to the fighters as “khawarij” – the term it uses for banned groups, including the Pakistan Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban administration in Kabul of providing refuge to the TTP, a banned Pakistani group separate from but linked to the Afghan Taliban, though Kabul has denied the allegations. The two countries had previously clashed in a brief border conflict in October last year. “Pakistan will not exercise any restrain and operations would continue against the perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act for justified retribution against khwarij, irrespective of their location,” the statement said. “Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment to safeguarding our nation at all costs,” it said. Advertisement Repeated attacks Bannu has long been a frequent flashpoint for armed violence, with repeated attacks on security forces and police checkpoints in recent years. Security officials have reported strikes on police installations, suicide bombings and armed assaults in the district, part of a broader surge in armed rebel group activity across KP after the TTP ended a ceasefire with the government in late 2022. Earlier this week, two bomb attacks and a gun battle between police and rebel fighters killed more than a dozen people in the province. One child and 11 security personnel were killed in an attack in Bajaur district, the Pakistani military said, while seven others, including women and children, were injured in the incident. Adblock test (Why?)
Russian attack on Kharkiv kills two, Ukraine hits missile plant
Kharkiv regional administration head, Oleh Syniehubov, reported that 175 ‘combat clashes’ were recorded over the past 24 hours. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 3 mins info Published On 21 Feb 202621 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share A Russian attack on the Kharkiv region killed two police officers Saturday during an evacuation in the village of Seredniy Burlyk, as Moscow and Kyiv continue trading attacks. The head of Kharkiv’s regional administration, Oleh Syniehubov, reported that the city and 10 populated areas had been subjected to Russian attacks over the past 24 hours. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list In Seredniy Burlyk, five people were also wounded by shelling. “Over the past 24 hours, 175 combat clashes were recorded. On the South-Slobozhansky direction, the enemy four times stormed the positions of our units in the areas of the populated settlements of Staritsa, Lyman, Vovchansky Khutory, and Krugle,” Syniehubov wrote. Moreover, three people were injured, including a woman, after a Russian air strike targeted one of the private sectors of Sumy, the National Police of Sumy Oblast reported. According to the police, the Russian attack destroyed two residential buildings and damaged at least 10 neighbouring houses and a gas pipe. It added that three people who were injured included two children aged five and 17, as well as a 70-year-old woman who was hospitalised. Attack on an industrial site Ukrainian drones targeted an industrial site in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, injuring 11 people, three of whom were hospitalised, according to the local health minister, Sergei Bagin, who issued an update on Telegram. The head of the Udmurt Republic, Alexander Brechalov, also wrote in a Telegram post that “one of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones”, adding that injuries and damage were reported. Advertisement Brechalov did not elaborate on what the targeted facility was responsible for. However, an unofficial Russian Telegram channel, ASTRA, reported after analysing footage from residents that the strike targeted the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major state defence enterprise. The Votkinsk factory produces Iskander ballistic missiles, which are often used against Ukraine, as well as nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s military confirmed the attack on the Votkinsk factory and said in a post on Facebook that a “fire was recorded on the territory of the object. The results are getting real.” The army added that its troops hit a Russian gas processing plant in the Samara region, which caused a fire. Separately, Russia’s TASS state news agency reported that Ukrainian drones were attempting to attack production facilities in Almetyevsk in Russia’s Tatarstan region, citing the head of the city as saying that defence systems were operating. Russia’s RIA news agency also reported, citing the defence ministry, that Moscow’s forces took control of the village of Karpivka in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine. Adblock test (Why?)
India vs South Africa: T20 World Cup Super Eights – teams, start, lineups
Who: India vs South AfricaWhat: T20 World Cup Super EightsWhere: Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, IndiaWhen: Sunday, February 22, at 7pm (13:30 GMT)How to follow: We’ll have all the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 10:30 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream. Defending champions and tournament co-hosts India begin their Super Eights phase on Sunday against the team they defeated in the 2024 final, South Africa. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Both sides stormed through the group stage of the 2026 edition and look heavy favourites to at least reach the semifinals, with the Indians clear favourites to lift the trophy once again. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the most mouth-watering match-up of two of the heavy contenders for the crown so far at the tournament. India gunning for South Africa’s top order India’s bowlers will target early wickets against South Africa, said bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday. “We know that their top order gives them that momentum, with Quinton (de Kock) and Aiden (Markram) up front in good form and hitting the ball very well,” said the former South Africa quick bowler Morkel. “We will definitely put our best foot forward to try and get those early wickets.” How did India reach the T20 World Cup Super Eights? India stormed their group to claim top spot with four wins from four. A slightly nervous start against USA was followed by a thumping 93-run win against Namibia. The game everyone had their eyes on was the latest pairing with rivals Pakistan, which resulted in a 61-run win, while the final game saw the Netherlands fall only 17 runs short of their 194 target. Advertisement How did South Africa reach the T20 World Cup Super Eights? South Africa opened their tournament with a 57-run win against Canada, but needed a Super Over to confirm their win against Afghanistan in their second match. New Zealand were given a thumping by the Proteas, who claimed a seven-wicket win to confirm their passage to the Super Eights with a game to spare, before completing the group with a six-wicket win against the UAE. India expect Abhishek to return to form soon While Markram’s South Africa have looked strong in all departments, tournament favourites India have not enjoyed batting consistency, with opener Abhishek Sharma out of form. Morkel, though, predicts he will be back among the runs soon. Morkel said the left-hander, who has recorded three consecutive ducks, was just one innings away from getting back in the zone. “Absolutely no discussion in our team group about that,” said Morkel about Abhishek’s failure to score in any of the matches yet. “He is a world-class player. We are going to a very important phase of the World Cup now and I am sure he is going to deliver. “I am pretty sure he is hitting the ball in the nets. “It is just a matter of getting the start and getting the innings going.” Can South Africa be the team to stop India at the T20 World Cup? Morkel acknowledged South Africa have been one of the form teams of the T20 World Cup so far. “They are a team that’s full of confidence,” said Morkel. “They have got guys at the top who are in form. In terms of weaknesses, there aren’t many.” South Africa have also shown guts when needed, coming out victorious after two nerve-shredding super overs against Afghanistan. “For us it comes down, on the day, to how well we execute with the bat and the ball,” said Morkel of defending champions India. “It’s going to be world-class players against each other. It is going to be a mouth-watering thing.” South Africa’s De Kock says handling pressure key in India clash Who “deals with the pressure better” will decide the India-South Africa Super Eights match, said Quinton de Kock on Saturday. The two unbeaten teams are familiar foes, and Markram’s South Africa toured India late last year, losing 3-1 in a T20 series. “I think that’s what’s going to make for quite a good game, because we’ve played against each other quite a bit over the last two months,” said South Africa opener De Kock. “And to be honest, the teams haven’t really changed much. “So, I think it’s more when you’re out there on the pressure side, who deals with the pressure better and wins the small moments in the game.” Advertisement While South Africa looked strong in all departments in the group phase, the batting of the defending champions, India, has been inconsistent. Opener Abhishek Sharma has recorded three consecutive ducks, but De Kock did not read too much into it. “He’s the number one T20 batsman in the world at the moment, according to the rankings, so he must keep doing what he’s doing,” said de Kock of the 25-year-old Abhishek. “He’s obviously quite young; he’s bound to fail. So I’m sure at some point he’s going to play an important knock.” (Al Jazeera) What is India’s record in T20 World Cup cricket? Not only are India the defending champions after their victory against South Africa at the 2024 edition, but they are also the joint-record winners of the T20 World Cup. The Indian side won their inaugural event in 2007, beating Pakistan in the final, but that made for a long wait for their second win at the last edition. England and the West Indies have both also recorded two tournament wins. What is South Africa’s record in T20 World Cup cricket? South Africa still await their first T20 World Cup title. In fact, the wait goes on for the Proteas to lift any trophy at a major ICC tournament. Their seven-run defeat at the hands of India in the 2024 edition was their first appearance in a final of either a T20 World Cup or a 50-over Cricket World Cup. South Africa make surprise wholesale T20 changes for future tour South Africa have named a much-changed squad that
Trump tariffs live: US Supreme Court rules against sweeping global tariffs
blinking-dotLive updatesLive updates, Supreme Court says Trump did not have authority to impose tariffs under law meant for national emergencies. Published On 20 Feb 202620 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Residents in northern Lebanon terrified their buildings will collapse
NewsFeed Residents say they’re scared for their own homes after a building collapse killed at least 15 people in northern Lebanon earlier this month. Al Jazeera’s Justin Salhani visited a Tripoli neighbourhood that’s been condemned because its buildings may also fall down. Published On 20 Feb 202620 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
A fragile freedom for Venezuela’s released political prisoners
A ‘revolving door’ for prisoners? For Armas, the joy of his homecoming has been dulled by the fear of continued persecution. The trouble largely began after he served as an organiser for Venezuela’s opposition during the contested 2024 presidential election. Protesters had denounced the vote as rigged after Maduro’s government failed to provide the official results of the election. The opposition, meanwhile, published evidence suggesting its candidate had won by a considerable margin. That prompted a sweeping government crackdown on dissenters. In December 2024, Armas was arrested. He said he was taken to a house where he was blindfolded, tied to a chair for days and suffocated with a plastic bag. Later, he shared a dingy cell with dozens of other prisoners – and rats. Once he was transferred to El Helicoide, his friends and family had no contact with him for 10 months. His release, however, has not meant freedom. The day he stepped out of prison, he celebrated by joining a motorcycle parade with Juan Pablo Guanipa, a prominent politician who had also been freed. Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa, right, and political activist Jesus Armas ride on the backs of motorbikes after their release [Cristian Hernandez/AP Photo] There was a feeling of energy and optimism, Armas recalled, as they visited the families of other political prisoners. But within hours, Guanipa was abducted by masked individuals. No one knew where he had been taken. “I couldn’t sleep because I was scared,” he said. His first night home was spent lying in bed, checking for news about Guanipa. “I had all this adrenaline, all these mixed emotions. I was happy because I was with my parents, but there was also fear.” Officials accused Guanipa of breaching the rules of his release, although it is not clear what those limits were. He was held incommunicado for hours before being fitted with an electronic ankle monitor and placed under house arrest. Only after the passage of the amnesty bill on Thursday was Guanipa released from house arrest, according to a statement from his brother Tomas Guanipa. Still, Guanipa himself warned that the amnesty law would not end the government’s oppressive tactics. He highlighted its exclusions and loopholes. “What was approved today in the legislative palace is no amnesty,” Guanipa wrote on social media after his second release in less than two weeks. “It is a flawed document intended to blackmail many innocent Venezuelans and excludes several brothers and sisters who remain unjustly behind bars.” For Tineo, cases of re-arrest like Guanipa’s show that Venezuela is not sincere about ending government repression. “As long as judicial restrictions remain in place for those released and the ‘revolving door’ practice continues – new detentions following releases – it can’t be said that there is an end to the policy of persecution,” she said. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump praises ‘magnificent’ B-2 bombers that struck Iran in 2025
NewsFeed Speaking at the inaugural “Board of Peace” meeting, Donald Trump praised the “magnificent” B-2 bombers that “totally decimated the nuclear potential” of Iran last summer, saying they helped bring peace to the Middle East for the first time in 3,000 years. Published On 19 Feb 202619 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)