🗣 Supreme Court ruling on tariffs opens the door to Trump’s trade ‘nuclear options’ - analyst

🔶 The high court’s ruling that the president’s sweeping emergency tariffs are ‘illegal’ will makes his job “a lot more complicated,” but open the door to the many “nuclear options” he has available to him, says independent financial analyst Tom Luongo.

🔶 This includes “Section 338 under the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930,” which allows tariffs up to 50% against countries that discriminate against US commerce, Luongo explained.

🔶 Tariffs were actually the “nice way” of doing things for Trump, whose overarching goal has been “to remake American trade” as much as it has been to rebuild domestic manufacturing and consumption.

💬 “Anybody who thinks that Trump isn’t willing to go” to the next level – embargoes, quotas, etc. has “got another thing coming,” Luongo believes.

🔊 “The Supreme Court ruling…makes it much more difficult for him to remake trade policy,” but Trump “can play the same game in reverse, and he will,” including as far as challenging the can of worms the court opened of potential litigation demanding refunds for collected tariff revenues.

👉 Such a process would prove “hideously complex” thanks to the fact that the US has “an 18th century court system for a 21st century world,” Luongo says. “It’ll be tied up in the courts…They’ll outlive Trump in the courts.”

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🇺🇸✈️ US Military transport flights surge between Europe and Middle East – report

🔶 US military transport aircraft are shuttling between European bases and the Gulf Arab states, a French newspaper reports based on flight tracking data and satellite images.

🔶 The build-up comes amid expectations of a US attack on Iran.

🔶 Dozens of heavy transport aircraft, including C-17s, have been flying regular routes between the Middle East and the US air bases at Ramstein in Germany and RAF Lakenheath in the UK.

🔶 At least four E-3C Sentry airborne early warning aircraft also flew to the region on February 18 and 19.

📍 Last month, US President Donald Trump announced the deployment of a “massive armada” to the Middle East, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln – and warned Tehran of potential attacks if it refuses to end its nuclear energy program and dismantle its ballistic missile arsenal.

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⚡️Pakistan launches air strikes at Afghan border, officials confirm

Pakistan has carried out “intelligence based selective targeting of 7 terror camps & hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates” at the border region of Pakistan Afghan border.

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🇺🇸⚔️🇮🇷US masses unprecedented firepower near Iran as Trump issues warning

The US is amassing a massive military presence in the Middle East, with air power levels far exceeding those seen during Operation Midnight Hammer earlier last year.

According to reports, over 100 aerial refueling aircraft are now positioned across Europe and the region — double the number used during the June B2 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Fifteen of those tankers are currently stationed in the Azores, a key refueling point for long-range bombers.

"They better negotiate a fair deal. The people of Iran are a lot different than the leaders of Iran. It's a very, very sad situation," President Trump stated, adding that 32,000 people have been killed over a relatively short period.

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🚨US has parked an army at Iran's door

The US is positioning a monster military footprint right on Iran's doorstep. More than 50 fighter jets, heavy bombers, carrier strike groups and squadrons of tankers. And it's still growing.

This is the biggest American buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion — nearing Gulf War '91 scale.

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🇨🇳📡How China's satellite constellation reached the global level

📹The footage of Atlanta's congested airport, obtained from China's Jilin-1 satellite system, highlights the country's capacity to keep any point in the world under surveillance.

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🚨Nine C-17 military transport aircraft are heading to the Middle East

The transfer of weapons and military equipment to the region continues.

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🇬🇧Charles III grants access to Andrew's Epstein documents

King Charles has given the green light for police access to documents in their investigation into his brother, the former Prince Andrew and Epstein, the Observer reports.

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🚨🇺🇸🇷🇺 Witkoff promises good news on Ukraine settlement soon

"Hopefully you'll be hearing some good news in the coming weeks," US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview with Lara Trump on Fox News.

👉 He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has always remained honest during their meetings.

"He's never been anything other than straight with me," Witkoff added.

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🍕Pentagon pizza spike revives "Doughcon" index as Iran speculation grows

A sudden spike in pizza deliveries near the Pentagon is reviving an old Washington ritual: watching what staffers eat to predict what the government might do.

Data shows Domino's and Extreme Pizza both seeing surges of over 120% in business, pushing the informal "Doughcon" scale to level 4.

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👀🤝 Ukraine elections must come before possible Putin–Zelensky meeting – analyst

A personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin “would only act to legitimize Zelensky, and perhaps an election first would be more appropriate," US political analyst Earl Rasmussen tells Sputnik.

He recalls that Zelensky is “under huge pressure from multiple sides,” including the US, EU, and Ukrainian ultranationalists, and “there is a lot of money at stake as well for many."

💬 "There should be no admission to NATO nor similar security-related relationships” for Ukraine, which “should be neutral, as was agreed to when its independence was granted. No European or NATO troops should be on Ukrainian soil," the analyst concludes.

Axios earlier reported that Zelensky had tasked a Ukrainian delegation with raising the possibility of a meeting with Putin during the Geneva peace talks.

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🇬🇧⚔️ Boris Johnson demands UK send troops to Ukraine now

British boots on the ground—even in a non-combat role—would act as a "switch" in Vladimir Putin's head, a political signal and deterrent, the former UK prime minister said.

💬 "If we can have a plan for boots on the ground after the war, after Putin has condescended to have a ceasefire, then why not do it now?" Johnson stressed.

Now recall who sabotaged the first Russia–Ukraine peace talks already in 2022...

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🔸 Witkoff promises good news on Ukraine settlement soon

🔸 Pakistan launches air strikes at Afghan border, officials confirm

🔸 Boris Johnson demands UK send troops to Ukraine now

🔸 US has parked an army at Iran's door

🔸 Nine C-17 military transport aircraft are heading to the Middle East

🔸 US Military transport flights surge between Europe and Middle East – report

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❌🇺🇸💵 Supreme Court striking down Trump’s tariffs won’t affect US trade policy – analyst

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling that declared Donald Trump’s global imports tariffs unlawful was “largely predictable given the institutional constraints and political confrontation within the US,” Russian analyst Adam Abdulatipov tells Sputnik.

The analyst says he doesn’t rule out that “theoretically, the move could lead to a review of previously collected tariffs” and that “the possibility, mechanism, and scope of potential compensation will depend on further legal proceedings and law enforcement practice."

But it is “highly unlikely” that the Supreme Court’s decision will lead to “a substantial revision of US trade or economic policy,” according to Abdulatipov.

💬 “The primary channel of influence will be through increased legal and political uncertainty and heightened market volatility. At this stage, this is more of a factor for potential short-term fluctuations and increased market sensitivity, rather than a structural change in economic dynamics,” the analyst concludes.

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🇷🇺 Behind the lines: Russian drone operators train for victory

Watch Russian UAV units sharpen their skills in rear areas.

From theory and simulators to hands-on practice at training grounds—with special focus on FPV drones.

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🇪🇺 EU policy ‘largely based on genuine Russophobia’ – analyst

💬 "Look at EU countries’ actions related to conflicts involving other nations, like Israel, and compare this with their behavior towards Russia. Such a comparison is a simple litmus test for understanding the mindset of the European bureaucracy," Turkish political scientist Taha Ozhan stressed.

He underscored that Turkiye cannot be part of such a policy, as it has “centuries-old ties with the countries of the region, especially with Russia.”

When it comes to the possibility of Turkiye hosting Ukraine peace talks, it would be “quite reasonable to turn to Ankara for mediation because the radical position of the EU and the Biden administration has in fact severed diplomatic channels between the West and Russia,” Ozhan concluded.

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🇦🇫🇵🇰 Afghanistan vows measured response to Pakistan's airstrikes

📍 The Afghan Defense Ministry has strongly condemned Pakistani airstrikes on its territory, calling them a "violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty" and "gross breach of international law, good neighborly principles, and Islamic values."

It warned that "a necessary and thoughtful response to this act will be delivered at the appropriate time," the statement read.

Earlier, the Pakistan Air Force struck militant camps linked to the Pakistani Taliban and affiliated groups, according to Pakistani officials. Afghan authorities report 23 civilians killed.

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🇺🇸🇮🇷📑 Iran and US prepare for early March negotiations amid heightened tensions – report

👉 Iran expects indirect negotiations with the US to begin in early March, Reuters reports. A senior Iranian official confirmed that there is potential for an interim deal to be reached during these talks.

📍 Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that a "massive armada" was heading toward Iran, urging the Iranian government to negotiate a "fair and equitable" deal. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on February 8 that Iran remains firm on its right to enrich uranium, even if it risks war.

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

◻️ Russian Armed Forces hit equipment and manpower of the Azov* special forces brigade

◻️ Russian forces struck arms factories and energy infrastructure facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian army

◻️ Russian troops struck a Ukrainian supply depot and a drone storage site

◻️ Air defense superiority: 7 HIMARS multiple launch rockets and 326 drones shot down

◻️ Ukrainian losses: around 1,300 troops killed or wounded

*The Azov Brigade is designated as terrorist and banned in Russia

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

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💵 Supreme Court’s tariff ruling could cost US hundreds of billions of dollars in duty refunds - expert

The top court’s ruling that tariffs are ‘illegal’ “means that US importers will be refunded significant amounts of money,” up to “a few hundred billion” dollars, independent economist Alasdair Macleod told Sputnik.

💬 “Certainly import businesses in the United States will be repaid. I would guess that they will have claims against them from exporters from other countries because they will have charged those tariffs, if you like, on imports as well.”

For the White House, the timing -coming ahead of the 2026 midterms, could not have been worse. “This is not good for President Trump,” Macleod said.

Same goes for the US trade deficit, which Trump was trying to get a handle on, but “which now is being increased quite significantly by the loss of those tariff revenues,” the economist stressed.

💬 “It’s not a good look as far as foreigners exporting to America are concerned,” either. “It just creates huge uncertainty, extra uncertainty over the whole position,” Macleod summed up.

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🚨British trace found in General Alexeyev shooting — FSB

The assassination attempt on Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, Deputy Head of the Russian General Staff, was made by Ukrainian spies with Western help, said Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Drector Alexander Bortnikov.

🗣"We understand that the perpetrators are the Ukrainian special services, and behind them stand third countries," Bortnikov said.

💬"Ukrainian special services are operating under the guidance or supervision of Western intelligence agencies. We see the British trace primarily here," he added.

His key statements:

🔶One suspect fled to Ukraine and most culprits and ringleaders have been identified

🔶The FSB investigation continues and further details will be made public if available

🔶Russia will never forget or forgive the assassination attempt on the general

🔶Alexeyev was shot three times in the back at a block of flats in Moscow on the morning of February 6. He fought back against his attacker despite serious injuries, and was later hospitalized.

🔶A criminal case has been launched into attempted murder and illegal firearms trafficking.

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