Stay Informed, Stay Ahead

A significant number of councils in England have asked to delay their upcoming elections due in May, citing concerns about a major restructuring of local government. With the new 'unitary' councils set to replace existing district and county councils, the national government gave 63 councils the option to request postponements. Twenty-three councils have submitted requests, predominantly Labour-led, with a mix of Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaderships also seeking delays. The government is anticipated to approve these requests soon.

The BBC has uncovered a rift within the Taliban leadership regarding a recent internet shutdown in Afghanistan. Leaked audio reveals concerns of internal discord among the Taliban, challenging the absolute authority of their supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The split is between two factions: one adhering to Akhundzada's rigid Islamic vision, and another advocating for limited external engagement and female education.

President Donald Trump announced that the violence in Iran has ceased, claiming his administration received assurances of no further executions following the crackdown on protests. Despite this, Trump has not dismissed the possibility of military action. Human rights organizations indicate over 2,400 fatalities during the protests. As tensions rise, the UK and US reduce personnel at Qatar's Al-Udeid air base and recommend caution to their citizens. Several airlines reroute flights to avoid Iranian airspace.

Volvo is set to debut its latest electric SUV, the EX60, built on an innovative platform named HuginCore. This advanced system boasts enhanced computing capabilities and draws inspiration from Norse mythology.

A newly uncovered memoir of Shadrack Byfield, a British soldier famous for his resilience after losing an arm in the War of 1812, offers a nuanced view of his life, challenging the idealized narratives from children's books and documentaries.

In a recent event at SpaceX headquarters, Elon Musk and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth discussed their ambitions to bring to life the futuristic concepts of 'Star Trek'. Highlighting innovation and AI's role in defense, they seek to align today's advancements with the franchise's imaginative future.

Goldman Sachs is set to announce its fourth-quarter earnings with expectations of strong performance in trading and investing banking, amid favorable market conditions influenced by policy changes and strategic decisions.

Major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, are resisting President Donald Trump's directive to lower credit card interest rates to 10%. Bank executives argue that such a move would restrict credit access and harm the economy, setting the stage for a potential legal confrontation.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' that President Trump reached out to collaborate on capping credit card interest rates, a key issue she raised in her recent speech at the National Press Club.