India is pushing to expand its preferential trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc as part of efforts to scale up trade and investment ties with Latin America, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday, signalling a broader reset in economic engagement with the region, PTI reported. Speaking at Ficci’s India-Brazil Business Forum, Goyal said New Delhi is working to deepen market access and partnerships beyond the current limited framework of the India-Mercosur agreement.

“The Mercosur region is particularly important for us, and we are working to expand our India-Mercosur preferential trade agreement, to improve market access, to grow investments on both sides, to have technology partnerships, and to engage in sports, education, culture,” he said.The existing India-Mercosur PTA — signed with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay — came into effect on June 1, 2009 and presently covers only about 450 tariff lines. Both sides are exploring ways to broaden it into a more comprehensive arrangement.Goyal said trade momentum between India and Brazil has improved but remains below potential despite recent gains.“We have to be significantly more ambitious,” he said, noting that bilateral trade rose 25 per cent to over $15 billion in 2025. Brazil is India’s largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region.Highlighting expanding cooperation, the minister said engagement between the two countries now spans defence, energy, agriculture, agrochemicals, health, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, critical minerals and aviation sectors. He also invited Brazilian companies to step up investments in India.Goyal added that India is on track to overtake Germany within the next two years to become the world’s third-largest economy, driven by reforms in taxation, logistics, manufacturing and digital infrastructure, alongside measures to reduce compliance burdens and improve ease of doing business.“When we think of Brazil, we think of its rich natural resources, minerals like niobium, lithium and iron ore are vital for shaping the future of technology and global energy transition,” he said.“All of this comes together to make Brazil our strategic partner in global supply chains. Together, we have the potential to reshape global supply or value chains with resources innovation and a forward looking vision,” the minister added.India and Brazil also agreed to target annual bilateral trade of $20 billion within five years and signed a cooperation pact on critical minerals following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.Addressing the forum, Lula said trade expansion potential between the two economies remains significant.“That is a lot of growth, but it is still not much if we take into consideration Brazil’s and India’s size,” he said, adding that both countries are seeking stronger engagement beyond traditional markets such as Europe, the US, Japan and China.He said bilateral trade could eventually reach $30 billion.“We decided to change this because the potential, you know, of political, economic, cultural, scientific, technological integration between Brazil and India is something which is huge in its dimension,” Silva said.The Brazilian president said extending visa validity for business interns from five to ten years would support business collaboration and highlighted opportunities in bioenergy, noting Brazil’s expertise in ethanol and fuel technologies.“Brazil has at least 26 per cent of the world’s reserves of critical minerals…We want to attract the processing chain for this wealth…The agreement that we signed today with India goes in this direction,” he said.Silva added that Brazil aims to expand both exports to and imports from India while strengthening technology transfer and industrial cooperation.“We want to invest and consolidate our presence in India with the transfer of technology and personnel capacity building. With the agreement signed by Embraer with the Adani and Mahindra groups, these agreements are going to allow for the production of commercial and defense aircrafts here in India,” he said.Both sides identified clean energy, electric mobility, health, aerospace, semiconductors and digital innovation as sectors offering strong potential for deeper collaboration

Groundsmen cover the field in Colombo (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

NEW DELHI: Rain became the biggest talking point around the Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8 match in Colombo on Saturday, and a complete washout means it will shake up the race for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. With both teams seen as strong contenders, fans are wondering who benefits and who could be in trouble if no ball is bowled.

As the match is washed out, Pakistan and New Zealand will get one point each. On paper, that sounds fair, but it actually makes the group more complicated. Both teams would then have only two matches left to secure a top-two finish.For Pakistan, the equation is simple but tough. They still have to play England and Sri Lanka. If they win both games, they will reach five points, which should almost guarantee a semi-final spot. But if they lose even one match, things get risky. One win and one loss would leave them on three points, and then they would need other results to go their way. If they lose both games, Pakistan will be out of the tournament.New Zealand face a similar situation. A washout gives them a point, but they will also need wins in their remaining matches to stay in control. If they slip up, they too could be dragged into a tight points race.So who benefits from a washout? Teams like England and Sri Lanka could quietly benefit because it keeps the group open. If Pakistan and New Zealand drop points due to rain, other teams can catch up with wins and put pressure on the favourites.Who is in danger? Both Pakistan and New Zealand lose a chance to get ahead early. In short tournaments like the Super 8s, every point matters, and rain can change everything.

Abhishek Sharma during a practice session before an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium. (PTI)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: “Matlab Abhishek ki jagah khilau? (Should I play him instead of Abhishek?)”, “matlab Tilak ki jagah khilau? (You mean in place of Tilak?).”Suryakumar Yadav was shocked and broke into instant laughter when asked about the possibility of Sanju Samson replacing either Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma in India’s Playing XI for the T20 World Cup Super Eight clash against South Africa. Social media rumour mills were working overtime, connecting dots from Samson’s extended net session, but the Indian captain ruled that possibility out for the contest in Ahmedabad on February 22.

“It’s going well in power play. We’re making 50-40 runs. That’s normal cricket. Now we’ve played so well in bilateral. It happens – we have expectations, we also have expectations from ourselves. Expectation to make 220, 240, 250. But wickets are a little different here. The four wickets we have played on so far were a little different and challenging. Off-spinners were not bowling earlier but are now. So we have started preparation for that and hopefully we will tackle it as we start our Super Eight journey,” added Surya.India had an extended hit at the Narendra Modi Stadium on February 20 and Sanju’s extended grind wasn’t an anomaly. Every player in the squad trained for over four hours. Sanju also followed the routine, which involved swapping nets, exchanging partners, and using the training area near the main enclosure for skill-based work.

Abhishek Sharma (AP Photo)

Few eyebrows were raised when Abhishek batted for only around 20 minutes but the management isn’t panicking about the belligerent opener’s form or his tournament tally remaining at zero after three innings.“About Abhishek’s form, I worry for the people who are worried about Abhishek’s form, I worry about them. Why are they so worried about Abhishek’s form? But I think about those teams who are going to play against him. That he has not yet scored a run. You know the rest of the answers. When he scores a run, you have seen what happens. “It happens, it’s a team sport, it keeps going on. Now the team has a requirement that the boy should play with his identity. So he is trying to play. If it happens, then it’s fine, if it doesn’t, then we are there to cover. Last year he covered for us, now we will cover for him,” said Surya when asked about the concern surrounding the left-hander.

Suryakumar Yadav (ANI Photo)

Apart from the poor starts, the middle-overs period is where the opposition has managed to suck momentum out of India’s innings. The pair of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav have operated with a very cautious undertone. Much of the criticism has gone Tilak’s way with even calls for his removal from the Playing XI. Like it has been in Abhishek’s case, the thinktank will follow the same patient route and Surya asserted that India’s No.3 is batting as per the plan. The 23-year-old has accumulated 106 runs in four outings but the issue isn’t the runs; it’s the mediocre strike-rate of 120.45 which has put him in the firing line.“The team management has told him that he has to bat that way. If one wicket is down, then he is definitely, he can go and have his own game in the powerplay. But as soon as two wickets are down, then he has to take a little bit of backseat, get a partnership again, get to the 10th over and then we have enough firepower to continue and take on the bowling.“I am sure he must not be happy with how he is batting right now. He must be and he has practised a lot as well in the last 2-3 practice sessions. But I don’t have any concern regarding him. He has been delivering for India at No. 3 really well and I am very confident that he will do it better,” explained Surya, throwing weight behind the youngster.

Tilak Varma (ANI)

When India began the new T20I cycle under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Surya, flexibility and intent remained the keyword. As they got closer to the tournament, the flexibility, which didn’t apply to the openers, saw No.3 and No.4 get added to the list as Tilak and Surya were frozen for those positions. While the bilaterals got success, the sticky and tacky surfaces in the T20 World Cup has begged a pertinent question – do India need to revisit the entry points for its lower order featuring the likes of Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh? Surya seems open to the idea and hinted at promoting either Dube or Pandya if the team feels it’s necessary. The openers’ start and the match-ups will be the deciding factors for that call.“Except the openers, I think from 3 to 7 or 3 to 8 everyone has to be very flexible and that has been the message in the group, that if there is no wicket down till 8 or 9 overs, there might be a point where you might see Shivam Dubey walking in or even a Hardik walking in, if there is a proper match up. So everyone has to be very flexible, even I am flexible, I have said the same thing to everyone. So if we get into that situation, we will definitely have it and take that call,” said Surya.Under the unforgiving sun, Surya spent significant time with Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh during the team’s optional practice session. The three had a long chat under the umbrella after the left-handers finished their hit. Regular cheers erupted during the discussion as teammates aggressively cheered Kuldeep Yadav‘s every big hit. For the rest, it was time to put their feet up before the business end of the tournament begins.

The Ukrainian General Staff said on Saturday that Kyiv carried out a drone and missile strike deep inside Russian territory overnight, hitting an industrial site in the Udmurt Republic and a gas processing plant in Samara.According to Ukrainian authorities, the Votkinsk site in Udmurtia, located about 1,400 km from Ukraine, produces intercontinental and short-range ballistic missiles, including Iskander missiles used against Ukrainian targets. The strike injured 11 people, three of whom were hospitalized, local health minister Sergei Bagin said in a Telegram post, as reported by Reuters. “One of the republic’s facilities was attacked by drones. The strike caused injuries and damage,” regional head Alexander Brechalov said on Telegram.Unofficial Russian sources, including Telegram channels Astra and SHOT, reported that the attack targeted the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major state-owned defense enterprise. Residents described hearing at least three blasts and observing drones overhead. Video footage circulated online showed black smoke rising from industrial buildings and shattered windows.Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, said operations at the main airport in Izhevsk and other nearby airports were temporarily suspended early Saturday.The strike comes days after US-brokered peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv in Geneva ended with no breakthrough. Ukraine is marking nearly four years since the Russian invasion and the latest round of negotiations was described as largely unproductive, according to news agency AP. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 120 drones and one ballistic missile overnight targeting Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian forces intercepted 106 drones, while the missile and 13 drones hit 11 locations, causing damage and injuries.Oleh Kiper, governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region, said that civilian and energy infrastructure were damaged, including a secondary school and energy company warehouses. Two people were injured in the strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that tens of thousands of Odesa residents were left without heating and running water due to ongoing attacks and he called on Moscow to be held accountable.In a separate development, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that Ukrainian forces have used data from the messaging app Telegram for military purposes, endangering Russian troops. The FSB said it obtained “numerous reliable reports” of threats to service members, although no specific evidence was cited.Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a law allowing mobile operators to block internet services at the FSB’s request. Roskomnadzor, the communications regulator, also plans further restrictions on Telegram, which remains widely used by soldiers, prompting criticism from military bloggers.Since the start of the war, Russia has methodically restricted access to major platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Analysts said that these measures are aimed at controlling information flow and military communications amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The reduction of US reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 10 per cent is expected to significantly improve the competitiveness of labour-intensive sectors such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, engineering goods, textiles, and gems and jewellery in the American market, industry representatives said.The development follows a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down sweeping tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, dealing a setback to a key pillar of his economic agenda for a second term.In a 6–3 verdict authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court held that the tariffs imposed on multiple countries were illegal and that the president had exceeded his authority in introducing the levies.Subsequently, the US announced through a proclamation a temporary import surcharge of 10 per cent ad valorem on articles imported into the country for 150 days starting February 24.The sectors affected had earlier been subject to reciprocal tariffs of 25 per cent in the US market.The US remains a major export destination for these industries, and the tariff reduction is expected to provide a boost to outbound shipments, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said, PTI reported.A leather exporter said the move would make Indian products more competitive in the US market.However, Sahai noted that Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminium and certain automobile products continue to remain a constraint.“India should leverage this improved position to expand market share while pursuing trade negotiations for greater stability and sectoral relief,” he added.On whether India should reassess its trade negotiations with the US, Sahai said the proposed pact goes beyond tariff concessions on goods alone.“A trade agreement would help tariff concessions or exclusions, provide long-term predictability and prevent re-imposition through alternate US legal routes… However, both sides may recalibrate negotiations in light of the changed tariff environment,” he said.He added that the tariff ruling creates an opportunity to pursue a more balanced and rules-based trade framework instead of one driven by unilateral tariff actions.During 2021–25, the US remained India’s largest trading partner in goods. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India’s total exports, 6.22 per cent of imports and 10.73 per cent of overall bilateral trade.In 2024–25, India–US bilateral trade reached $186 billion, including $86.5 billion in exports and $45.3 billion in imports.

NEW DELHI: The seven laddoos that Neha (35) did not eat, perhaps, saved her life. The sweets, allegedly “prescribed” by an occultist who claimed he was curing Neha of dizziness, have claimed at least eight lives, police say. In one week, police have contacted at least 50 people who went to Kamrudin in Loni, Ghaziabad. The occultist is now at the centre of a widening serial-killer probe.

Three people were recently reported dead in Peeragarhi, allegedly poisoned. Kamruddin has also been linked to a 2014 murder and a double murder last year. Neha survived because her skeptical husband threw the supposedly “blessed” sweets in the trash and forbade her from eating them. Last Feb, Neha, who worked in a factory, started complaining of dizziness. The clinical tests she underwent did not show any problem. At this juncture, a family friend, Saleem, approached Neha and her husband and told them about Kamruddin’s “divine healing powers”. Neha went to Loni with her brother, unaware that they were stepping into the lair of a man who had allegedly caused at least eight deaths. The woman, from Sultanpur in Lucknow, said the occultist “diagnosed” her just by looking at her. “He didn’t ask for my medical reports. He just looked at me and did a jhaada (a supposed cleansing ritual). Then, he pulled out a piece of paper and drew the face of a woman and a man whose head was split open. He told me I had been fed the meat of pigs and chickens as a curse. He said an ‘utaar’ (cleansing) was the only way to save me.” The first “consultation” cost Neha Rs 2,000. Kamruddin gave her the seven ladoos, instructing her to eat one every day for a week, just like doctors prescribe medicines. “My husband did not allow me to eat them. The occultist had given me a bottle of water to keep drinking and an egg too. But I didn’t eat anything,” Neha said. At the next visit, the fee jumped to Rs 8,000. The occultist claimed a “spiritual surgery” was required. “He made me lie down and told me he would pull the curse out of my stomach. He used a white cloth, like a gamcha, and appeared to pull out blood-soaked threads and something that looked like rotting meat. The smell of dead meat was so strong I started puking. He told me the evil was leaving my body.” Kamruddin then made Neha run laps around the shrine inside his room. He also made her consume a cold drink. Neha survived. Several other victims were not so lucky, police say.

The Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to witness a high-voltage encounter as India lock horns with South Africa in Ahmedabad on February 22. The fixture carries added spice, as both sides were finalists in the previous edition, where India emerged victorious to lift the trophy.

This time around, the stakes feel just as high. Both teams have entered the Super 8 phase as strong title contenders and are widely tipped to go deep into the tournament once again. With a place in the knockout stage on the line and pride at stake, fans are expecting nothing less than a thriller when these two heavyweights collide at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

India have shown composure and depth in their campaign so far, while South Africa have displayed their trademark aggression and discipline. The rematch of the last final promises intensity, tactical battles, and moments of individual brilliance that could define the tournament’s trajectory.

Harbhajan Singh picks India’s playing XI for South Africa game

Team combination is likely to play a decisive role in Ahmedabad, a venue known for offering assistance to both batters and bowlers depending on conditions. With that in mind, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has shared his predicted playing XI for the crucial encounter.

Speaking on Star Sports, Harbhajan emphasized that India should avoid unnecessary changes. According to him, continuity has been one of India’s biggest strengths in the tournament. He believes the side that featured earlier against the USA was “absolutely correct” and should largely remain intact for the South Africa challenge.

The only alteration he foresees is the return of Axar Patel. Harbhajan highlighted Axar’s importance as vice-captain and as a dependable all-round option who can deliver regardless of whether a left-hander or right-hander is at the crease. His presence adds balance to the side, offering control in the middle overs and depth with the bat.

Harbhajan’s probable XI for the clash includes: Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakaravarthy.

It’s a line-up packed with firepower at the top, versatility in the middle order, and a bowling unit capable of defending or restricting totals on a big stage.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: India vs South Africa Super 8 Ticket Prices, Booking Details

Superstars set for a spectacle at Narendra Modi Stadium

There is no shortage of star power on either side. India will bank on the flair of Suryakumar Yadav, the fearless strokeplay of Abhishek Sharma, and the all-round influence of Hardik Pandya. With the ball, the lethal pace of Jasprit Bumrah and the control of Axar Patel could prove decisive.

South Africa, however, possess a formidable arsenal of their own. Captain Aiden Markram brings calm leadership and power-hitting ability, while Quinton de Kock can take the game away in the powerplay. Their bowling attack, featuring Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj, ensures they remain competitive in any situation.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Shaun Pollock names two key bowlers for India in the Super 8 game against South Africa

Pic of UFO downed by US fighter jet (Pic credit: MJ Schwab’s X account)

Unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, have captured the imagination of Americans for decades. And now UFOs and aliens are back in the news in America. While the interest in UFOs and UAP has been renewed in recent years as the US government probed numerous reports of seemingly supernatural aircraft, amid worries that enemies could be testing highly advanced technologies, what has made them hit headlines is President Trump ordering release of data on UFOs and aliens. In a post on social media platform earlier this week, President Trump said, “Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).” Trump said that he’s directing the Pentagon and other government agencies to identify and release files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs because of “tremendous interest.”Trump’s post came just days after former President Barack Obama spoke about UFOs and aliens in a podcast. “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them and they’re not being kept in… Area 51,” Obama told host Brian Tyler Cohen, referring to the top-secret US military facility in Nevada at the heart of many UFO conspiracy theories. “There’s no underground facility. Unless, there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.”

Commenting on Obama’s comments, Trump said, Obama gave reporters “classified information, he is not supposed to be doing that.” The President did not, however, specify what part of Obama’s remarks were classified, but claimed “he made a big mistake.” Obama, on his part, later clarified that he had not seen evidence that aliens “have made contact with us,” but said, “statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there.”

What is classified information on UFOs and Aliens

Trump on his part did not specify to the media whether classified documents would be released to the public, Trump added that the files should include “any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.” For his own beliefs about aliens, Trump, 79, said “I don’t know if they are real or not.”

What US government and Pentagon have said on UFOs

UFOs have been part of discussions of Congress for years, reportedly mostly due to bipartisan concerns about transparency and national security. Congress held a series of hearings from 2022 to 2024 as part of an investigation into UAPs and national security.In 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) confirmed that UAPs are real, but there’s no confirmation they stem from some extraterrestrial origin. An 18-page unclassified report submitted to Congress in June 2024 said that service members had made 485 reports of unidentified phenomena in the past year but 118 cases were found to be “prosaic objects such as various types of balloons, birds, and unmanned aerial systems.” The report was presented in an attempt to be more transparent and address potential national security questions, as Washington has taken up the charge to publicize and legitimize the study of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs. As a report in Axios says that the Pentagon has largely maintained that there is no evidence of alien technology nor any hidden programs within the government related to UAPs. In 2024, an unclassified Pentagon report mainly found that several of the sightings in the 1950s and ’60s were likely caused by tests of advanced US spy planes and other technology. The report added that there was no evidence of confirmed extraterrestrial activity related to UAPs.

Good ruling, bad ruling, the Don always finds a way to have the last sayPresidents usually have to wait for long years after leaving office — or die before getting airports and other landmarks named after them. Bill Clinton had to wait 11 years, Ronald Reagan nine. For Gerald Ford it took 22 years, according to an AP report. JFK was quickest — just one month after his assassination.But the present occupant of the White House has no time for such annoying niceties. Saved twice from assassins’ bullets by God to make America great again, Donald Trump wants everything pronto, here and now.

Not only does POTUS 47 want airports named after him, his family company is seeking to trademark the use of Trump name on airports and dozens of related things found there, from buses shuttling passengers to umbrellas and travel bags to flight suits.Claiming that the Trump name is the “most infringed trademark in the world,” the Trump Organization is asking for exclusive rights to use three names on airports — President Donald J. Trump International Airport, Donald J. Trump International Airport and DJT.For now it doesn’t plan on charging a fee — at least for a proposed renaming of the Palm Beach airport near his Mar-a-Lago, Florida home, but wouldn’t say whether it would do so at other airports or the merchandise sold there.The unprecedented move for a trade mark for the Trump name brought swift reactions with many criticising the idea and questioning the public mandate behind such a move.“‘Why not’…he feels he can do anything he wants…while the GOP Congress and SCOTUS have completely abdicated their constitutional duties,” wrote one frustrated EJW with a No Kings meme on X.But for once the friendly neighbourhood Supreme Court did a Trump on the Tariff King, with three conservative justices joining all three liberal justices, to rule that the president did not have the authority to impose tariffs under a 1977 emergency economic powers law.Yet insisting he can still do as he wishes, a defiant Trump decried the ruling as “terrible” and invoked a rarely used 1970s trade law that allows a president to invoke tariffs on countries with which the U.S. has a trade deficit, to impose a new across-the-board 10% tariff.“Those members of the Supreme Court who voted against our very acceptable and proper method of TARIFFS should be ashamed of themselves,” he posted on Truth Social naming two of his own appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.“Their decision was ridiculous, but now the adjustment process begins, and we will do everything possible to take in even more money than we were taking in before!”“In actuality, while I am sure they did not mean to do so, the Supreme Court’s decision today made a President’s ability to both regulate Trade, and impose TARIFFS, more powerful and crystal clear, rather than less,” he claimed in his own interpretation of the ruling.“KEEP CALM AND TARIFF ON,” posted the White House with ‘WomenForTrump’ exhorting, “Let the Tariffs begin Sir! ” with a picture of The Tariff King.Meanwhile, to show who is the boss in Washington, a large ‘Make America Safe Again’ Trump banner went up at justice department building in a striking symbol of president’s control over the supposedly independent top US law-enforcement agency.His picture is already splashed all over the White House, on multi-storey banners on the side of federal buildings, on annual passes to national parks on federal investment accounts, special visas and a discount drug program.After getting his name etched on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Institute of Peace, Trump now wants it on Washington Dulles International Airport and Penn Station in New York too.“While Trump has spent a lifetime promoting his personal brand, slapping his name on hotels, casinos, airplanes, even steaks, neckties and bottled water, what he is doing in his second term as president comes closer to building a cult of personality the likes of which has never been seen in American history,” suggested the New York Times.“Other presidents sought to cultivate their reputations, but none went as far as Trump has to create a mythologized, superhuman and omnipresent persona leading to idolatry,” it noted.Trump got the Commission of Fine Arts – which he has packed with allies, including his 26-year-old executive assistant – to vote unanimously to approve the design of “what will soon be the Greatest Ballroom ever built!”Even as a federal judge considers whether to halt the project – and outside architects and watchdogs groups say the nearly 90,000-square-foot building is too large, Commission Chair Rodney Mims Cook Jr. described it as “a facility that is desperately needed for over 150 years, and it’s beautiful.” Trump is sure to find a way to cross the next hurdle – approval of the National Capital Planning Commission.And in another bid to stay in spotlight, Trump directed federal agencies to begin releasing government files related to “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”Calling the matter “extremely interesting and important,” Trump ostensibly issued the release order to “help” his bête noire Barack Obama after he talked about aliens in a podcast.“They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in … Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the President of the United States,” said Obama.Obama “made a big mistake,” Trump told reporters even as his predecessor later clarified he was sharing a personal view not based on information he’d seen as president.“He took it out of classified information … He’s not supposed to be doing that,” said Trump, but he would ‘help’ by declassifying the files.— Maybe he will next depute his border czar there to deport the aliens to wherever they came from!(By arrangement with The American Bazaar, www.americanbazaaronline.com.)