26/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 26, 2026

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Trump hails ‘golden age’

Takaichi under pressure over gifts TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was under pressure yesterday after it emerged she gave congratulatory gift catalogues to lawmakers from her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following its landslide election victory this month. More than 300 lawmakers were given the option to choose an item from the catalogue “as an expression of appreciation for their success at this very tough election”, Takaichi wrote in a post on X, saying that no taxpayer money was used. The revelation evokes a slush fund scandal that engulfed the LDP in 2023, sinking then-premier Fumio Kishida and fuelling voter anger that cost his successor Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition a majority in both houses of parliament last year. The news of the catalogues “could easily lead people to say: “Prime Minister Takaichi, you too?”, said Junya Ogawa, the leader of the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance. “This is a new development in which she will be strictly held accountable,” he wrote in a post on X. Takaichi told parliament yesterday that the cost of each gift, plus shipping costs and tax, was approximately ¥30,000 (RM740) per person and was paid for by political funds from an LDP branch in Nara which she heads. She said on X that she also hoped the lawmakers’ gifts “would be of use in their future work as legislators”. Japan’s political funding law stipulates that individuals cannot make donations to candidates for public office but donations can be made by political parties, including their local chapters. – AFP AI robot monk unveiled TOKYO: Japanese researchers have unveiled a robot monk powered by AI that they say can dispense spiritual advice. Trained on even the most esoteric Buddhist scriptures, the University of Kyoto says the machine can answer sensitive questions. In addition, “Buddharoid”, as the diminutive two-legged humanoid is known, can offer a sense of presence at religious sanctuaries in addition to voice communications. “In the future, it is conceivable that they may assist with or replace some of the religious rituals traditionally performed by human monks,” the university said. The robot is the latest offering from Seiji Kumagai, a professor at the university’s Institute for the Future of Human Society. Using AI models from OpenAI and others, he has worked with engineering firms to develop religious AI chatbots like Buddha Bot and a catechism bot. For his new creation, Kumagai installed his updated “BuddhaBotPlus” on a Chinese-made “Unitree G1” humanoid robot to create the AI robo-monk. In a media presentation at a temple on Tuesday, Kumagai presented the robot, as yet without a face, wearing a simple grey garment. As it sat on a chair, the humanoid gave advice to a young local journalist who confessed to thinking and worrying too much. “Buddhism teaches that it is important not to blindly follow one’s thoughts or rush headlong into things,” it said in a soothing baritone to the journalist from national broadcaster NHK. – AFP

exchanging shouted insults with several Democratic lawmakers. The 79-year-old Trump’s speech lasted approximately an hour and 47 minutes, breaking the record he set last year for the longest presidential address to Congress. While Trump said inflation is “plummeting”, prices for groceries, housing, insurance and utilities remain significantly higher than they were a few years ago. New data released on Friday showed the economy slowed more than expected last quarter while inflation accelerated. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 36% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy. Trump also did not offer clarity regarding his plans for Iran amid signs he is inching closer to a military conflict with Tehran. “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon.” – Reuters

his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, for high prices, but opinion polls show voters hold Trump responsible for not doing more to ease an affordability crisis. “Our nation is back ... bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” Trump said after taking the stage to cheers of “USA, USA” from fellow Republicans in Congress, with dozens of empty seats on the Democratic side a reminder that many lawmakers skipped the speech for anti-Trump rallies outside. The annual speech to Congress came at a fraught moment for Trump’s presidency, with polls showing a majority of Americans have soured on his performance, anxieties rising over Iran and his signature tariff policy foundering after the US Supreme Court struck down most of his import taxes. For much of the speech, Trump was uncharacteristically disciplined, mostly appearing to stick to his prepared remarks and eschewing his usual stream-of-consciousness digressions. But he flashed his combative side while discussing his immigration crackdown,

o President claims economic success

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump boasted in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that he had ushered in “the golden age of America”, seeking to project an aura of success despite sagging approval ratings and deepening voter frustration ahead of November’s midterm election. Heeding calls from Republican lawmakers worried they could lose their congressional majority later this year, Trump spent the first hour of his televised speech focused on the economy, saying he had slowed inflation, driven the stock market to record heights, signed sweeping tax cuts and lowered drug prices. But it was unclear whether his rosy assessment would assuage Americans’ anger about the cost of living. Trump sought to blame

Trump delivers his first State of the Union address of his second term.– AFPPIC

Democrats bet on centrism WASHINGTON: The rebuttal to Donald Trump’s State of the Union was delivered on Tuesday by a stalwart of the Democrats’ moderate wing, seen as a model for the centrism some bet is key to winning November’s midterm elections.

focused platform. Her selection to deliver the party’s formal rebuttal to Trump’s address to Congress was clearly aimed at putting forward an example for the rest of the party to follow. She also hit Trump on issues like the immigration crackdown, saying federal agents have “ripped nursing mothers away from their babies”, while saying the immigration system was “broken”. The primaries ahead of the midterms are likely to see some combative races between moderate and Democratic progressives. With Spanberger, the Democratic leadership was signalling a preference for persuasion and disciplined messaging over ideological confrontation. Party leaders view her as a communicator capable of reaching beyond the Democratic base at a time when cost-of-living pressures dominate public debate. – AFP

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger criticised the US president for his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein affair as well as alleged corruption, but mostly focused on cost-of-living issues centrists believe will have cross-party appeal. “Costs are too high in housing, healthcare, energy and child care,”Spanberger said in a staid, measured speech. “Americans deserve to know that their leaders are focused on addressing the problems that keep them up at night.” Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three term Congresswoman, successfully won back the Virginia governor’s mansion from Republicans last year with an affordability

Spanberger delivers the Democratic response to Trump’s speech. – GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFPPC