INTERNACIONAL
Trump to speak at NATO Summit amid warming relations with alliance’s leaders
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President Donald Trump is set to take the main stage on the second day of the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands — offering a surprisingly cordial tone toward the alliance he has long criticized.
The president is scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and other world leaders before holding a press conference.
Trump also said he will «probably» greet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending the summit amid his ongoing push for Ukraine to join NATO.
In text messages shared by Trump, Rutte congratulated him for «making Europe pay in a big way» through a new 5% defense spending target — and for brokering an end to the recent conflict between Israel and Iran.
TRUMP HEADS TO NATO SUMMIT AS EUROPE AGREES TO HEED HIS DEFENSE SPENDING DEMANDS
Trump departs for the NATO Summit where world leaders will come to an agreement to boost their defense spending to 5% of GDP. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
«Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action on Iran. That was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do,» Rutte wrote as Trump flew toward the summit. «It makes us all safer.»
Israel and Iran entered into a U.S.-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday that almost fell apart — though Israel called off its counterattack at Trump’s urging.
«You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening,» Rutte added, referencing the new agreement for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
NATO allies first agreed in 2006 to spend 2% of GDP on defense — a goal many failed to meet for years. Now, after Trump’s repeated calls for Europe to «pull its weight,» the alliance has approved a more ambitious 5% target, with an exception for Spain, which has long struggled to meet even the original benchmark.
The new figure breaks down into 3.5% for core defense spending, and 1.5% for related infrastructure, including cyberwarfare and intelligence. NATO ambassadors agreed on the compromise text Sunday.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE UPCOMING NATO SUMMIT: TRUMP, SPENDING, UKRAINE, IRAN
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte congratulated Trump on the Iran ceasefire and convincing Europe to increase its defense spending ( Nicolas Tucat/Reuters)
For most allies, the target marks a significant leap. Poland currently leads all member states with 4.1% of GDP going toward defense. The U.S. stands at 3.4%.
Trump said he doesn’t believe the U.S. needs to reach the full 5% threshold — a position backed by Rutte.
«The United States is already spending almost 3.5% on core defense, and no doubt they are close to spending the 1.5% on defense-related items,» Rutte said. «Countries like Estonia and Poland are very close. For many others, it will still be a long road ahead, but it’s really important that we do this.»
Trump also said he will «probably» greet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is attending the summit amid his ongoing push for Ukraine to join NATO. (Christian Hartmann/Reuters)
He also called on defense industries «on both sides of the Atlantic» to ramp up production.
«It is simply unthinkable that Russia, with an economy 25 times smaller than NATO’s, should be able to outproduce and outgun us,» Rutte said Tuesday. He urged Europe: «Make your defenses so strong that no one dares to attack you.»
Despite the progress, Trump cast fresh doubt on whether the U.S. would abide by NATO’s cornerstone mutual defense clause — Article 5 — which obligates members to defend one another in the event of an attack.
«It depends on your definition,» Trump said when asked if he would honor the commitment. «There’s numerous definitions of Article 5, you know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends. I’ve become friends with many of those leaders, and I’m committed to helping them.»
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Still, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker sought to reassure allies, telling reporters, «The United States isn’t going anywhere.»
Rutte echoed that message, telling partners to «stop worrying so much» and focus on strengthening their own defenses.
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Democratic lawmakers in one major blue state are facing backlash over their latest attempt to blunt federal immigration enforcement through a new bill crafted around a vulgar acronym.
The F—ICE Act, with the acronym spelled out in practice, is officially the «Fight Unlawful Conduct and Keep Individuals and Communities Empowered Act» and would permit civil action for violations of the U.S. Constitution related to immigration enforcement. The measure was introduced after a clash between a federal agent and a democratic socialist councilman.
Tensions between local and state officials and DHS had soared this month after federal authorities reportedly detained nearly a dozen people on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail in Jersey City. Jake Ephros, a Democratic Socialist councilman who went to the scene, was rebuffed by a federal agent who told him, «I don’t need a warrant, bro.»
Assembs. Ravi Bhalla and Katie Brennan, two Democrats from neighboring Hoboken, crafted the F—ICE Act in response to the incident. Bhalla also announced several other bills seeking to restrict New Jersey’s cooperation with the federal government, according to the Hudson County View.
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New Jerseyans protest ICE. (Charly Triballeau/Getty Images)
Bhalla said that when he was mayor of neighboring Hoboken, his first move was to enact a sanctuary city ordinance. The city is famously home to Frank Sinatra and sits across the Hudson River from Midtown Manhattan.
«ICE has no place in our communities,» he said in a statement. «Now, the stakes are even higher, and it is incumbent on all of us to use the power we have to keep our residents safe.»
Brennan cited Ephros’ run-in with ICE in comments to People, adding that she cannot «sit back and do nothing while they violate people’s constitutional rights.»
«These bills strengthen local protections and make sure these agents of chaos face accountability. We have to use the full force of our state government to protect the people of New Jersey.»
Brennan told NJ Advance Media that while critics have voiced concern about her acting «unbecoming» and «unladylike,» she said it was fellow Hoboken Democrat state Sen. Raj Mukherji who came up with the acronym.
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New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Mukherji has said ICE has sown «seeds of chaos» nationwide.
Not all lawmakers were on board, including some from the state’s more conservative, rural northwest.
«So, they’re doing acronyms now,» said Assemb. Michael Inganamort, R-Chester.
«This sort of radicalism is the inevitable result of an unchecked, 25-year Democratic Majority. It’s what our Republican Minority stands against and why elections matter,» Inganamort said in a statement on X.
Assemb. Dawn Fantasia, R-Sussex, said the bill’s title is «wild» but the premise is «wilder.»
«[I] don’t have the text yet, but if it means what it sounds like, that’s illegal entry followed by a state-created pathway to sue over enforcement,» she said.
«If I was a bettin’ woman, I’d guess NJ taxpayers will be footing the legal bill.»
«Katie and Ravi need their mouths washed out with soap,» quipped conservative commentator Matt Rooney of «Save Jersey.»
Assemb. Paul Kanitra, R-Point Pleasant Beach, suggested the state should deal with the F—ICE Act the same way it deals with people who submit applications for off-color tags.
«Much like the state DMV has to turn down and in some cases even repossess license plates that are deemed vulgar, this should suffer the same fate,» Kanitra said.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill could not immediately be reached for comment.
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In one of her first acts in Trenton, Sherrill signed Executive Order 12, which restricts ICE activities on state property and creates a portal for residents to report immigration enforcement in their areas.
«I take seriously my responsibility to keep New Jersey residents safe and, as a Navy veteran and former federal prosecutor, my commitment to upholding the Constitution will never waver. This executive order will prohibit ICE from using state property to launch operations,» Sherrill said in a statement at the time.
homeland security,mikie sherrill,bills,new jersey,sanctuary cities
INTERNACIONAL
Tras la muerte de «El Mencho», quiénes son los posibles sucesores en la cúpula del Cártel Jalisco de México
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Peter Mandelson, a former British ambassador to the United States who was fired from his post after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein emerged, was arrested in England on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, authorities said.
London’s Metropolitan Police said «officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office» at an address in north London and has been taken to a police station to be interviewed.
Police did not name Mandelson, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case has previously been identified as Mandelson.
Mandelson was fired from his diplomatic post in September after materials were publicized revealing his links to Epstein.
AS EPSTEIN-LINKED APPOINTMENT SPARKS BACKLASH, UK PM STARMER FACES PARTY REVOLT AMID RESIGNATION CALLS
Peter Mandelson is seen outside his home in northwest London, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (James Manning/PA via AP)
Documents cited by Fox News Digital report Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction on sex offenses involving minors, and that Epstein transferred about $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 to accounts connected to Mandelson or his husband.
Police opened a criminal probe when more details emerged in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department last month.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, talks with Britain’s ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador’s residence in Washington, on Feb. 26, 2025. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
Police are investigating Mandelson over documents suggesting he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face any allegations of sexual misconduct.
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Mandelson’s arrest comes four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, younger brother of Britain’s King Charles, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaves Aylsham Police Station in a vehicle, following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office in Aylsham, Britain, Feb. 19, 2026. His arrest came after the U.S. Justice Department released more records tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (Reuters/Phil Noble)
This is a developing news story check back for updates.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
united kingdom,world politics,crime world,world
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