Fact: Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min scored a late goal to secure a 2-1 victory over Luton Town in the Premier League, helping his team move into fourth place with 56 points.
Fact: Everton defender Seamus Coleman scored an own goal in stoppage time, leading to a 2-1 Premier League loss at Bournemouth.
Republicans in the Tennessee House and Senate are planning to offer businesses new tax help worth over billion. The Senate has passed a proposal that includes .56 billion in one-time refunds for potentially 100,000 businesses and 3 million in annual tax breaks. The House has presented a version that limits tax refunds to 0 million, requires public disclosure of businesses receiving refunds, and sets limits on suing. The debate is complicated by Tennessee’s financial situation and concerns that the state’s franchise tax may violate the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause.
Carlos Alcaraz felt frustrated and like a 13-year-old after his defeat by Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami Open quarter-finals.
– Kobbie Mainoo gives England a different profile of midfield player, impressing manager Gareth Southgate with his performance.
– Southgate also praised West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney for their performances.
– Injuries to first-team regulars have affected Southgate’s squad, but he sees the benefits of offering other players more game time.
Novak Djokovic has ended his partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic before the clay season.
Russia expressed skepticism about the United States’ claims that the Islamic State was behind a gun attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, which resulted in 137 deaths and 182 injuries. The attack, occurring just before a performance by the rock group Picnic, was the deadliest in Russia in two decades. Four men, including at least one Tajik, were detained on terrorism charges. Despite the Islamic State claiming responsibility and the U.S. believing this claim, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not linked the group to the attack, instead suggesting the attackers were trying to flee to Ukraine. The U.S. had warned Russia about an imminent attack earlier in the month. Russia questioned the U.S.’s assertion of Islamic State’s involvement, hinting at a potential diversion to cover for Kyiv. The U.S. maintains intelligence confirming Islamic State’s responsibility. Putin mentioned the detention of 11 individuals, including the suspected gunmen. Videos of the suspects’ interrogations appeared on social media, showing signs of mistreatment. Following the attack, France raised its terror alert to the highest level.
On February 24, the Ukraine crisis marked its two-year anniversary, with ongoing fighting and no sign of abating. The crisis has affected not only Ukraine but also its European neighbors, leading to uncertainty and a crumbling security architecture. The Munich Security Conference last month highlighted concerns about a lose-lose outcome. Both Russia and Ukraine, the parties to the conflict, appear unprepared or unwilling to stop fighting and enter negotiations. There have been efforts to encourage peace talks, including international peace conferences hosted by France and Malta, but without the participation of both conflicting parties, these efforts have seen limited success. Ambassador Li Hui, the Chinese special representative on Eurasian affairs, engaged in shuttle diplomacy, holding talks with officials in Moscow, Kiev, and several European capitals to bridge differences and promote peace. China, under President Xi Jinping, has advocated for respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, observing UN Charter principles, addressing legitimate security concerns, and supporting peaceful crisis resolution. China aims to promote a negotiated peace and encourages the international community to support peace efforts.
Scotland midfielder John McGinn described their 4-0 defeat by the Netherlands in a friendly as embarrassing and emphasized the need for the team to be more “streetwise” when falling behind. The match saw Scotland hitting the woodwork twice and missing several chances, with the Netherlands securing their win with late goals from Georginio Wijnaldum, Wout Weghorst, and Donyell Malen. This game was part of both teams’ preparations for the European Championship in Germany. Scotland captain Andy Robertson stressed the importance of not just qualifying for tournaments but competing in them, highlighting the team’s ambition to return to winning ways.