‘Save this country’: Robert De Niro's passionate speech prior to Trump's State of the Union address

Copyright AP Photo

By David Mouriquand

Published on 25/02/2026 - EURONEWS

The Oscar winning actor shared his prediction that Donald Trump “will never leave” office and that it is up to Americans to “get rid of him”.

As Donald Trump delivered his nearly two-hour State of the Union address, which came as his poll numbers on the economy plummet ahead of the 2026 midterms, Oscar winner Robert De Niro gave an emotional speech in which he urged people to “resist” Trump and his administration.

De Niro, a longtime and fervent Trump critic, appeared on MS NOW to speak about the current US president, sharing his prediction that Trump “will never leave” office and that it is up to Americans to “get rid of him”.

“He will never leave. We have to make him leave,” said the actor. “He jokes now about nationalizing the elections. He’s not joking. We’ve seen enough already.”

When asked whether he thinks that Trump will leave in three years, as per the Constitution which stipulates that no individual can be elected more than two terms as president, the 82-year-old screen legend replied: “He ain’t leaving. No way. Let’s not kid ourselves. He will not leave. It’s up to us to get rid of him.”

He continued: “The story is our country, and Trump is destroying it, and who knows what his reasons are, but it’s sick, it’s fucked up. We have to save this country.”

The actor said with his voice cracking: “All I know is people have to have to resist, resist, resist. There’s no easy way. It’s not going to come to you easy. You know, there’s a time when you know in your own life and your own survival, you better do this. You better jump and run through the fire because if you don’t run through the fire, you’re not getting out, and that’s what we have to do.”

De Niro previously referred to Trump as “sadistic” and a “clown,” while the president has repeatedly blasted De Niro, stating that he “suffers from an incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome” - the oft-trotted out pseudo-scientific pejorative / Orwellian Newspeak weaponised by those who want to silence critics of Trump’s actions and policy positions.

Last October, De Niro encouraged the country to “keep fighting” during the No Kings protests, saying: “There’s no other way to face a bully. You have to face him and fight it out”.

Trump at the 2026 State of the Union address AP Photo

Related

• ‘Filmmaking is political’: Raoul Peck on ‘Orwell: 2+2=5’, Donald Trump, and the dangers of AI

Prior to Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found that six in 10 American think that Trump has become erratic as he ages, with 61 per cent of respondents (89 per cent of Democrats, 30 per cent of Republicans and 64 per cent of independents) saying they would describe Trump as having "become erratic with age."

The poll also showed that most Americans think the US’ political leadership is too old, with 79 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement that "elected officials in Washington, D.C., are too old to represent most Americans."

The average age in the US Senate is 64, and 58 in the US House of Representatives.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said the poll results were examples of "fake and desperate narratives."

However, according to another recent poll by Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos, only 39 per cent of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling the job of president.

Mexico travel: Your rights during civil unrest explained after cartel boss killing sparked violence

Copyright Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

By Dianne Apen-Sadler

Published on 25/02/2026 - EURONEWS

While the situation in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara appears to have returned to normal, many travellers have faced disruption over the past few days. Here’s what you need to know about your rights in cases of civil unrest.

The killing of a cartel boss sparked violence in parts of Mexico earlier this week causing travel disruption in popular tourist destinations including Puerto Vallarta.

While the situation has now returned to normal, the cancellation of all international flights from the resort city on Sunday 22 February meant that many tourists were left stranded. Others still may be looking to shorten their stay despite travel alerts being lifted.

To understand your rights, we spoke to InsureMyTrip CEO Suzanne Morrow about the situation in Mexico.

The importance of how travel insurance classifies an event

Broadly speaking, travel insurance is meant to cover expenses incurred during unexpected events, like if you fall sick while abroad or if bad weather ruins your trip.

Your policy will list inclusions and exclusions in the fine print, and so your first port of call when something goes wrong when abroad should be your insurance provider.

According to Morrow, the situation in Mexico most likely falls under civil unrest, meaning “public disturbances, riots, rebellion against a government or civil authority involving acts of violence, damage, or injury to others”.

“It is not automatically considered terrorism unless the US government formally declares it an act of terrorism under specific definitions outlined in insurance policies,” Morrow told Euronews.

“That distinction matters because coverage can differ depending on how an event is officially classified.

“Most comprehensive travel insurance policies treat civil unrest differently than terrorism, and in many cases, civil unrest is not a covered reason to cancel a trip before you leave.”

Leaving a trip early due to civil unrest

Unfortunately, standard policies do not typically cover your choice to leave early out of concern or fear alone (but again, you will need to check your individual travel insurance agreement).

“Trip interruption benefits require a covered reason (which will be defined in a policy),” Morrow added.

“Civil unrest alone may not qualify unless it directly prevents you from reaching your destination or causes you to lose the majority of your trip. This is where coverage varies significantly by plan.”

Having said that, Morrow notes that you may be covered if you paid for a plan with an Interruption for Any Reason benefit. The optional benefit can be used to reimburse a percentage – usually up to 75% – of your unused prepaid non-refundable trip cost.

Interruption for Any Reason benefits are time sensitive, and will need to have been purchased soon after your initial trip payment or deposit. There may also be rules around how long after departure you have to wait to use this benefit.

Missing flights due to civil unrest: Are you covered?

“If flights are delayed, cancelled, or grounded unexpectedly causing you to lose a portion of your trip, certain comprehensive travel insurance plans may offer coverage,” Morrow said.

Benefits that may be in your policy include travel delay, which covers meals, hotel stays and transportation; political or security evacuation; and emergency assistance benefits.

These all depend on your specific policy, when you bought your insurance, how the event is officially classified, and whether the issue directly impacts a trip.

According to Morrow, in this situation your first call should always be the airline as you may also be entitled to a refund depending on Department of Transportation rules.

The current situation in Mexico

The US Embassy in Mexico stopped urging its citizens to shelter in place on Tuesday 24 February, while in the UK, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has said that “services appear to be resuming operations, although you should continue to follow local security advice”.

Operator Pacific Airports Group has said that Guadalajara Airport is operating 96% of its scheduled flights, while Puerto Vallarta Airport is operating at 95%.

Many airlines, including United, American Airlines and Delta, are waiving change fees, although the dates covered vary from carrier to carrier.

It should be noted that even prior to the events on 22 February, the US had level 4 do not travel advisories for several states in Mexico, while the UK has advised against all but essential travel in some areas.

It is vital you check these alerts prior to booking a trip as they may render your travel insurance invalid.

“Insurance companies look at whether something is considered a ‘known peril’. If unrest or advisories were already in place before the policy was bought, that can affect eligibility for cancellation coverage,” Morrow said.

“That said, if you’re already in Mexico and the situation escalates unexpectedly, some benefits may apply, but others may specifically be excluded if there were level 4 warnings prior to your arrival into the country.”

French actors slam 'systematic plundering' of voices and images by AI tools

Ahead of the 51st César Awards on Thursday, France's biggest film awards, 4,000 French actors and filmmakers have condemned "systematic plundering" of their work by artificial intelligence tools, which reproduce their voices or images.


Issued on: 25/02/2026 - RFI

French actors and filmmakers have condemned the use of their voices and images by AI tools. © Vertigo3d / iStock / Getty Images

"We are facing a profound change in our profession since the advent of artificial intelligence [AI]. This tool, which is extraordinarily valuable for certain professions, is also a devouring hydra for artists like us," wrote the signatories in a text published by Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday.

They include actors Swann Arlaud, Gérard Jugnot, Karine Viard, Franck Dubosc and José Garcia, Léa Drucker and Élodie Bouchez.

"The cloning of actors' voices without their permission is becoming commonplace," the open letter continues, adding that "not a week goes by without an artist warning about the brutal competition that AI is putting on their work".

"Sometimes hundreds of less established artists, who often cannot afford to turn down a contract, surrender their rights to AI, despite the risks to their image and their future."

"This systematic plundering is not a fantasy, it is happening here and now. It is unbearable and it is happening right before our eyes," they warn, calling for a "legal framework" so that "AI can coexist with the work of artists and respect for copyright and related rights".

Dubbing industry under threat

There has been a surge in initiatives within the profession over the last few months in response to the threat posed by AI to the industry, and the flood of content that reproduces artists and their voices almost perfectly.

At the end of January, eight French actors specialising in dubbing sent formal notices to two American companies that had cloned their voices without their consent.

Actors recently took to the streets in Paris and launched a collective called Touche pas ma VF ("hands off my VF" – for Version française).

It's calling for "dubbing created by humans for humans", and has launched a petition that has garnered nearly 250,000 signatures.

Europe's voice actors call for tougher regulation of AI technology

In early 2025, the dubbing world was shocked by an excerpt from the Sylvester Stallone film Armor in which the voice of Alain Dorval, the actor who had long dubbed Stallone, was modelled by AI.

Not only was the result deemed poor by the industry, but the actor had died in February 2024, raising ethical questions.

"AI is taking away artists' jobs. Can we do without artists in society? " actress Brigitte Lecordier told RFI at the time. "AI does not create. It reproduces a mediocre version of what has already been done."

The debate extends beyond France. Last week, Chinese software Seedance 2.0 was accused by major Hollywood studios of "massive" copyright infringements after releasing an AI-generated video showing a fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

(with AFP)

What Is Shaping Artificial Intelligence Governance Policies In Southeast Asia? – Analysis

February 25, 2026 
 ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute
By Kristina Fong


The rapid proliferation of AI and the greater awareness of its capabilities and risks over the past few years have catalysed attempts to make AI development and deployment safer. In line with this, countries in Southeast Asia, as well as ASEAN as a whole, have made significant efforts to formulate guardrails around AI. For ASEAN, the release of the ASEAN Guide on AI Ethics and Governance[1] (ASEAN AI Guide) in February 2024, followed by a supplementary guide specifically for Generative AI[2] a year later, provided a set of holistic frameworks for the responsible design, deployment and usage of AI systems.

Besides ASEAN-wide guidance, individual ASEAN Member States (AMS) have also taken steps to strengthen their own safeguards to help ensure safe and ethical AI developments at a measured pace. Although the AMS may have taken different approaches to AI governance in their respective jurisdictions, there is an emerging utilisation of an umbrella soft law supported by hard law baseline regulations. Moreover, certain pertinent aspects of international governance benchmarks are also setting the foundation for their implementation, such as the EU’s risk-based approach leveraged in the EU AI Act.
Getting Your Ducks in a Row

Prior to the release of the ASEAN AI Guide, we conducted an assessment of AI policies in ASEAN Member States (AMS). In addition to that, we also explored if the regulatory building blocks required to better manage AI developments, such as Personal Data Protection (PDP) and Cybersecurity legislation, were in place.[3] Before the ASEAN AI Guide, six out of ten AMS had some form of AI strategy in place, while four had not crafted such policies as yet, the latter being Brunei, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar. By the end of 2025, however, Brunei had released the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and Ethics Guide for Brunei Darussalam (2025), under the Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry, and gazetted its Personal Data Protection Order 2025. Notably, Brunei cited the ASEAN AI Guide as a key piece of guidance in the formation of its own AI governance strategy.[4]

Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, meanwhile, continue to develop their own national AI strategies, guided in the interim by their respective digital economy national strategies such as the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework (2021-2035) and the Laos Digital Economy Strategy (2021-2030). In these documents, AI-related initiatives such as studying and fostering the use of AI technologies are outlined, albeit without much detail. For Timor-Leste, ASEAN’s newest member state, Timor Digital 2032 (2023-2032) under TIC[5] Timor, is the main strategic document for the digital economy. However, it does not explicitly mention AI but rather, encompasses digital and ICT developments to facilitate economic, e-government, health, education and agriculture initiatives, which could include AI technologies. That said, prior to embarking on any AI-specific plans, Timor-Leste will need to bolster its overall digital development; it scores low on digital availability, access and adoption. As of 2023, it was estimated by UNCTAD that only 34 per cent of the population used the internet, with the next lowest in ASEAN being Myanmar at 58.5 per cent.


However, the more pressing issue is that Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor-Leste have yet to implement Personal Data Protection Laws. Moreover, cybersecurity enforcement also remains weak. Lao PDR employs the Law on Electronic Data Protection No. 25/NA[6] which pertains to data in digital form. The absence of an overarching national strategy on AI may put these countries in less competitive positions compared to their ASEAN peers. Without robust implementation of baseline regulations on AI, countries are posited more precariously amid the rapidity of technological developments.
The Evolving Role of Data-Protection Authorities (DPAs)

The role of DPAs has become more important in the context of the evolving model of AI development management and enforcement. In particular, the proposed use of DPAs as the best placed institution to act as a central body to coordinate AI policy compliance and enforcement, is gaining traction. Leading the way is the European Union (EU) with their EU AI Act. In the attempt to formulate the most optimal enforcement mechanism, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has encouraged the appointment of national DPAs as Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs).[7] G7 Privacy officials support the idea, citing their familiarity gained in the development of guidelines and policy documents, the experience garnered in assessing AI technology impacts on its stakeholders, as well as the actions taken in this area following governance breaches at data source.[8]

In Asia, DPAs have been central to shaping key policy documents. In South Korea, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) released generative AI (genAI) guidelines in August 2025. In Singapore, the Model AI Governance Framework, as well as the updated version that incorporates genAI, and subsequently the AI Verify tool – the world’s first AI governance testing framework and toolkit – were jointly produced by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC).[9] These are prime examples of how DPAs have shaped public policy. However, the capabilities of DPAs across Southeast Asia are very diverse. As such, the use of DPAs as central market surveillance authorities may be viable for some, but not others. For the latter, existing DPA capacities will need to be bolstered to become effective regulatory bodies. This may need human capital enhancements and capital investments before it can be considered an ideal option as an MSA.

For countries with established DPA capabilities and who are keen to pursue this model of AI governance enforcement, capacity building will need to focus on the additional skills and knowledge to effectively monitor the entire AI system supply chain and not only the input level of data governance. Both the EU and the G7 have recognised this aspect to be integral for this model to work. The other integral aspect cited is the need to have a seamless coordination mechanism amongst the MSA and other regulatory bodies tasked with the supervision of the AI ecosystem. These bodies could include those involved in competition matters and consumer protection. In Southeast Asia, countries with more established AI ecosystems (Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand)[10] and regulatory coordination mechanisms in place would be better placed to implement this model.
Cherry Picking What’s Best for ASEAN

The AI governance risk frameworks around the region have largely been developed to be voluntary in nature – such as those in Brunei, Malaysia[11] and Singapore – but some countries are moving ahead with the establishment of more formal AI laws. In December 2025, Vietnam became the first country in Southeast Asia to make a concrete move on this with the promulgation of the AI Law which is to take effect in a phrased approach, from March 2026 over four years. The AI Law was passed along with updated laws on intellectual property (IP) and cybersecurity, which include revisions pertaining to AI-specific incidents.[12] Detailed enforcement mechanisms and other specifics will be more formally established during the implementation phases. The establishment of a regulatory infrastructure and the appointment of regulatory authorities are set for 2026.[13]


Whilst Vietnam has referenced the risk-based approach (emphasising safeguards in the risk-return trade-off) of the EU and the innovation-led approaches (emphasising technological development in the risk-return trade-off) taken by South Korea and Japan in the development of their own AI legislation,[14] it is important to also note that international guidance has not been merely taken ‘off the shelf’, but rather, customised to reflect domestic priorities and institutional capacities. Vietnam has adopted a risk-based approach in classifying risks, much like the EU AI Act; the number of risk categories has however been reduced. In particular, Vietnam’s AI risk classifications only apply to AI systems deemed lawful. In the EU AI Act, prohibited AI systems are included in the formal risk framework as Unacceptable Risks. Apart from that, the EU’s risk classification framework focuses on the use of the AI system and the risks therein,[15] whereas Vietnam’s approach looks at risks from the angle of impact.[16]Thailand is also targeting the creation of an AI Law. A drafting process initiated in 2023 experienced a quiet period of two years with limited traction. The Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) later explained that the reason for this was attributed to the need for the draft AI Law, which had originally used the EU AI Act as a template, to be refined to suit local circumstances,[17] much like in the case for Vietnam.

In this draft Law, the risk-based approach helps articulate what compliance requirements are needed for high-risk AI applications and systems. However, the draft Law proposes to leave it to sectoral bodies to determine which activities are high risk in their respective areas. This is based on the notion that sectoral bodies would have better understanding of these activities and could more accurately discern the level of risks they present to society. The cost of risk mis-classification could stifle economic activities as well as create undue compliance costs for affected business activities. To note, this sectoral approach has also been taken by Indonesia which is also proposing a soft AI Law or framework.[18] Some of the sectors identified include finance, education and healthcare. For Thailand, the timeline for passing the law is still unclear, although ETDA is revising the consolidated Draft Principles after a public consultation process in 2025.[19] For Indonesia, the AI framework is expected to be signed off as Presidential regulations in early 2026.

The EU’s risk-based approach to AI legislation seems to be the most adapted form of international guidance so far. The innovation-centric angle preferred by South Korea and Japan has also been cited as having some influence over the approaches taken by the AMS. International guidance is also important in limiting the risk of digital fragmentation. International alignment is important for digital integration, and to leverage upon the porous technology that AI is. Most of the principles underlying AI governance frameworks in the region take guidance from international AI governance frameworks such as the OECD AI Principles, EU’s Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, as well as ISO standards in this area. Thus, some form of regional alignment does occur when it comes to AI ethics and governance; regional documents are also quite consistent across the board. The proposed Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) which is expected to have a chapter on emerging issues including AI, will also help to streamline the operational standards[20] and best practices, and limit the risk of fragmentation.
Geopolitical Pressures Remain

Although China has its own set of AI governance principles in the form of the Interim Measures for the Management of Generative Artificial Intelligence Services,[21] as well as a strategy to socialise their vision for global AI governance in the form of the Global AI Governance Initiative (GAIGI),[22] these have not gained much traction compared to other international frameworks mentioned earlier. This could perhaps be due to the differences in their approach to governance and defining principles,[23] or the gravitation of countries in the region to multi-stakeholder models, wary as they are of being caught up in geopolitical wranglings. Quite notably, in America’s AI Action Plan[24] released in July 2025, there is a stated objective to ‘Counter Chinese Influence in International Governance Bodies’, which is as clear as it gets with respect to the US stance regarding this matter.


That said, China does noticeably take a more aggressive position in that of the AI stack[25] (or AI software and hardware infrastructure) in Southeast Asia.[26] Apart from physical foundations such as data centres, Chinese Large Language Models (LLMs) are open-source, as well as more competitively-priced compared to close market competitors, allowing more access and customisation for system deployers.[27] As at end-2025, Chinese models accounted for around 30 per cent of the global share in usage, marking a rapid rise from only 13 per cent at the start of 2025.[28] Thus, the influence of China in this space cannot be overlooked and the current trend may act as a catalyst for greater interest in China’s AI governance in the future. Although the economic benefits may be the prevalent concern, the potential acceleration in this trend is bound to accentuate geopolitical complexities. In May 2025, Malaysia announced that the country’s sovereign full-stack AI ecosystem utilised China’s DeepSeek LLM.[29]Most recently in October, Malaysia signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade[30] (ART) with the US. In the ART, specific terms discourage Malaysia from forging preferential economic cooperation with ‘a country that jeopardises essential US interests’, failing which would send US reciprocal tariffs on Malaysia back to 24 per cent (now negotiated down to 19 per cent). Thus, Southeast Asian countries with strong ties to both superpowers will once again be saddled with difficult choices.

Southeast Asian countries remain at different levels of AI policy implementation and enforcement. Though there may be various approaches across countries, by and large, there exists a similar basis and understanding of AI governance principles. As the governance ecosystem continues to evolve, international best practices aligned with ASEAN objectives will be adopted through customisation for local AMS conditions. However, the regulatory catch-up dynamic will be put to the test; technological developments will be largely operationalised before safeguarding frameworks can be institutionalised. There are also high risks of existing safeguarding regulations becoming outdated amid the rapid dynamism of this space.


For endnotes, please refer to the original pdf document.

Kristina Fong is Lead Researcher (Economic Affairs) of the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Source: This article was published by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute

The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), an autonomous organization established by an Act of Parliament in 1968, was renamed ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute in August 2015. Its aims are: To be a leading research centre and think tank dedicated to the study of socio-political, security, and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia and its wider geostrategic and economic environment. To stimulate research and debate within scholarly circles, enhance public awareness of the region, and facilitate the search for viable solutions to the varied problems confronting the region. To serve as a centre for international, regional and local scholars and other researchers to do research on the region and publish and publicize their findings. To achieve these aims, the Institute conducts a range of research programmes; holds conferences, workshops, lectures and seminars; publishes briefs, research journals and books; and generally provides a range of research support facilities, including a large library collection.

Louvre set for fresh start as leadership change follows string of scandals

After months of scandal and scrutiny, the Louvre is preparing for new leadership as France moves to restore confidence in its most visited museum, as the museum president resigns.


Issued on: 25/02/2026 - RFI

France's President Emmanuel Macron talks to Director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, at the museum in Paris on 28 January 2025. Des Cars resigned from her position on Tuesday, 24 January 2026 in the wake of a high profile jewellry heist in late 2025. AFP - BERTRAND GUAY

France’s world famous Louvre museum is poised for a leadership shake-up after the resignation of its president Laurence des Cars on Tuesday, with a new chief expected to be appointed swiftly, in a bid to restore confidence following months of turbulence.

Christophe Leribault – the current head of the Palace of Versailles – is widely expected to take over the role, according to a source within the French executive.

His appointment is due to be announced by the Council of Ministers, with a mandate focused on securing and modernising the institution, as well as delivering the ambitious “Louvre – New Renaissance” overhaul.

The move comes at a delicate moment for the world’s most visited museum, which has been grappling with a string of high-profile incidents that have exposed weaknesses but also prompted renewed momentum for reform.

Months of pressure

Des Cars formally stepped down after submitting her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who accepted it while praising what he described as a responsible decision at a time when the museum needs “calm” and a fresh push to carry out major security projects.

Her departure follows sustained pressure linked to an audacious October robbery in which French crown jewels worth around €88 million were stolen in broad daylight. The jewels have yet to be recovered, although four suspects remain in custody and investigations are ongoing.

Initially, Macron had declined an earlier offer by des Cars to resign shortly after the break-in. But as further issues emerged – including reports of systemic security failings, a ticket fraud scandal, and even a water leak in a gallery housing the Mona Lisa – the pressure became harder to withstand.

Parliamentary inquiries and audits have painted a sobering picture. Lawmakers have pointed to “systemic failures” after dozens of hearings, while France’s Court of Auditors criticised the museum for prioritising high-profile projects over essential security investment, despite earlier warnings dating back to 2017.

Des Cars herself acknowledged shortcomings in later interviews, conceding that structural weaknesses had remained and that concerns were justified. Even so, Macron thanked her for her commitment and recognised her expertise, underlining that her tenure was not without achievement.

Rebuilding confidence

Attention is now turning to what comes next – and to the challenge awaiting Leribault, should his appointment be confirmed. His mission is expected to centre on restoring trust, strengthening security infrastructure, and successfully delivering the Louvre’s long-term renovation strategy.

The museum, housed in a former royal palace and home to masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, welcomes around nine million visitors each year. Its global stature means that any disruption resonates far beyond France – making stability a top priority.

Despite the recent setbacks, there are signs of a reset already under way. Emergency measures have been introduced since the robbery, including upgrades to security systems, while multiple investigations – from the culture ministry, parliament and the Senate – are expected to produce detailed recommendations in the coming months.

(With newswires)

Measuring The Expansion Of The Universe With Cosmic Fireworks

High-resolution image taken with the Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham in Arizona, USA, displaying the two lens galaxies in a warm tone, and the five lensed copies of SN Winny in blue. CREDIT: SN Winny Research Group

February 25, 2026

By Eurasia Review

That the universe is expanding has been known for almost a hundred years now, but how fast? The exact rate of that expansion remains hotly debated, even challenging the standard model of cosmology. A research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) and the Max Planck Institutes MPA and MPE has now imaged and modelled an exceptionally rare supernova that could provide a new, independent way to measure how fast the universe is expanding.

The supernova is a rare superluminous stellar explosion, 10 billion lightyears away, and far brighter than typical supernovae. It is also special in another way: the single supernova appears five times in the night sky, like cosmic fireworks, due to a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing.

Two foreground galaxies bend the supernova’s light as it travels toward Earth, forcing it to take different paths. Because these paths have slightly different lengths, the light arrives at different times. By measuring the time delays between the multiple copies of the supernova, researchers can determine the universe’s present-day expansion rate, known as the Hubble constant.

Sherry Suyu, Associate Professor of Observational Cosmology at TUM and Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, explains: “We nicknamed this supernova SN Winny, inspired by its official designation SN 2025wny. It is an extremely rare event that could play a key role in improving our understanding of the cosmos. The chance of finding a superluminous supernova perfectly aligned with a suitable gravitational lens is lower than one in a million. We spent six years searching for such an event by compiling a list of promising gravitational lenses, and in August 2025, SN Winny matched exactly with one of them.”

High-resolution color image of unique supernova

Because gravitationally lensed supernovae are so rare, only a handful of such measurements have been attempted to date. Their accuracy depends strongly on how well one can determine the masses of the galaxies acting as a lens, because these masses control how strongly the supernova’s light is bent. To measure those masses, the team members from MPE and LMU obtained images with the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona, USA, using its two 8.4-meter diameter mirrors and an adaptive optics system that corrects for atmospheric blurring. The result is the first high-resolution color image of this system published to date. 

The observations reveal the two foreground lens galaxies in the center and five bluish copies of the supernova – reminiscent of a firework exploding. This is quite unusual, since galaxy-scale lens systems normally produce only two or four copies. Using the positions of all five copies, Allan Schweinfurth (TUM) and Leon Ecker (LMU), junior researchers in the team, built the first model of the lens mass distribution.  

“Until now, most lensed supernovae were magnified by massive galaxy clusters, whose mass distributions are complex and hard to model,“ says Allan Schweinfurth. “SN Winny, however, is lensed by just two individual galaxies. We find overall smooth and regular light and mass distributions for these galaxies, suggesting that they have not yet collided in the past despite their close apparent proximity. The overall simplicity of the system offers an exciting opportunity to measure the universe’s expansion rate with high accuracy.”

Two methods, two very different results

So far, scientists have mostly relied on two methods to measure the Hubble constant, but these methods yield conflicting results. This puzzle is known as the Hubble tension.

The first is the local method, which measures distances to galaxies one step at a time, much like climbing a ladder, where each step depends on the previous one; hence, it is referred to as the cosmic distance ladder. It uses objects with well-known brightness to estimate distances and then compares those distances with how fast galaxies are moving away. Because this method involves many calibration steps, even small errors can accumulate and affect the final result.

The second method looks much farther back in time. It studies the cosmic microwave background, the faint afterglow of the Big Bang, and uses models of the early universe to calculate today’s expansion rate. This approach is highly precise, but it relies heavily on assumptions about how the universe evolved, and these assumptions are still subject to debate.

A new, one-step approach to Hubble constant

A third, independent method now enters the picture: using a gravitationally lensed supernova. Stefan Taubenberger, a leading member of Professor Suyu’s team and first author of the supernova-identification study, explains that by measuring the time delays between the multiple copies of the supernova and knowing the mass distribution of the lensing galaxy, scientists can directly calculate the Hubble constant: “Unlike the cosmic distance ladder, this is a one-step method, with fewer and completely different sources of systematic uncertainties.”

Astronomers worldwide are currently observing SN Winny in detail using both ground-based and space-based telescopes. Their results will provide crucial new insights and help clarify the long-standing Hubble tension.

 

Tokyo Bay’s Night Lights Reveal Hidden Boundaries Between Species

February 25, 2026 

By Eurasia Review

A key characteristic of modern human society is rapid urbanization, a process that can reshape natural environments and disrupt the habitats of many organisms. One widespread byproduct of urbanization is artificial light at night (ALAN), which has become one of the most pervasive human-made environmental disturbances. ALAN can affect animals by changing their physiology, behavior, and geographic distribution. In particular, it disrupts natural day–night cycles, circadian rhythms, predator–prey interactions, and reproduction across a wide range of species.

Coastal ecosystems are especially vulnerable to artificial nighttime lighting and intense human activity. Many studies have shown that crustaceans and other intertidal organisms are particularly sensitive to changes in light conditions, and that even small changes in nighttime light levels can profoundly affect their behavior and physiology. However, despite much research, exactly how ALAN-induced disturbances shape ecological and genetic patterns in closely related species remains unexplored.

To address this gap, Assistant Professor Daiki Sato from the Institute for Advanced Academic Research/Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Japan, examined how ALAN disturbances relate to genetic and ecological differentiation in two closely related isopods,Ligia laticarpa and L. furcata, across Tokyo Bay. Isopods are a diverse family of crustaceans, including both land-dwelling and aquatic species. “The coastal isopods of the genus Ligia provide a promising case study for examining how urban lighting influences genetic patterns,” explains Dr. Sato. “They live in narrow intertidal zones, often on artificial structures such as seawalls and concrete blocks, where nighttime lighting can be intense. This makes them particularly exposed to human disturbance.” The findings of the study were published in the journal PNAS Nexus

Tokyo Bay is one of the most heavily urbanized and brightly lit coastal regions in the world, providing a natural setting to explore these effects. Dr. Sato combined genomic, environmental, and experimental approaches to examine the influence of ALAN and human activity on the genetic and ecological differentiation of these two isopod species.

Genetic analyses revealed a clear ecological boundary between the two species, consistent with patterns of urban illumination. L. laticarpa was most common along the brightly lit inner-bay shorelines, while L. furcata dominated the darker outer-bay areas. Individual genetic profiles showed no evidence of recent interbreeding between the two species, indicating that they remain genetically distinct. However, examination of genetic patterns at the population level showed signs that an additional Ligia species coexists at some inner-bay sites. The signature of genetic admixture correlated with ship-traffic density, consistent with sporadic human-mediated translocation and subsequent spread. Together, these results indicate that urban environmental gradients and transport-driven movements jointly influence coastal species distributions.

Dr. Sato also conducted statistical analyses of 28 years of environmental data, showing that nighttime light, salinity, and vegetation cover were the major factors driving this partition. Notably, laboratory tests showed that long-term ALAN exposure reduced growth and activity levels in L. furcata but had limited effects on L. laticarpa.

“Together, these findings highlight ALAN as a potent yet underappreciated driver of ecological partitioning in coastal systems, demonstrating how human disturbances shape evolutionary processes,” remarks Dr. Sato. “Rather than viewing artificial light and other anthropogenic stressors solely as degradative forces, this work shows that some species can persist, diverge, and potentially adapt within human-altered systems.”

Overall, this research, alongside previous studies, suggests that recognizing human-mediated dynamics in coastal systems can help inform more ecologically sensitive urban planning, in which factors such as lighting can be adjusted to support, rather than undermine, biodiversity.