The 79th British Academy Film Awards, honoring the best in cinema from 2025, take center stage Sunday, Feb. 22, at London’s Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre, with Scottish actor and “The Traitors” host Alan Cumming making his debut as master of ceremonies for the prestigious ceremony.

Cumming succeeds David Tennant, who helmed the event in 2024 and 2025. The multi-talented performer, known for roles in “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Spy Kids” and recent reality TV hosting, brings his signature wit and charisma to guide the evening, which celebrates British and international filmmaking amid a competitive awards season leading to the Oscars.

The red carpet arrivals and ceremony kick off with major nominees and attendees including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet, Rose Byrne, Jessie Buckley, Cillian Murphy, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone, Paul Mescal and many others confirmed to attend. The guest list features a mix of nominees and industry figures such as Ethan Hawke, Carey Mulligan, Yorgos Lanthimos, Stellan Skarsgård, Teyana Taylor and directors like Chloé Zhao, Ryan Coogler and Lynne Ramsay.

Seating arrangements at the Royal Festival Hall remain closely guarded until the event, with no official chart released in advance. Traditional BAFTA protocol places nominees and key presenters at prominent front tables, often grouping talent from the same films or shared projects. Past ceremonies have featured strategic placements for dramatic effect, such as rival leads or collaborators side-by-side, though specifics for 2026 — including potential proximity for DiCaprio, Chalamet, Byrne or Buckley — will emerge via live broadcasts, social media and post-event photos.

A highlight of the night includes musical performances: KPop Demon Hunters delivers the first non-U.S. live rendition of their record-breaking track “Golden,” performed by Jae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami (voices of HUNTR/X). Additionally, Jessie Ware provides a poignant cover of a Barbra Streisand classic during the In Memoriam segment, honoring industry figures lost in the past year.

Presenters form an impressive lineup spanning film and television: Aaron Pierre, Aimee Lou Wood, Alicia Vikander, Alia Bhatt, Bryan Cranston, Cillian Murphy, David Jonsson, Delroy Lindo, Emily Watson, Erin Doherty, Ethan Hawke, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Hannah Waddingham, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Kerry Washington, Little Simz, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Michael B. Jordan, Miles Caton, Milly Alcock, Minnie Driver, Monica Bellucci, Noah Jupe, Olivia Cooke, Patrick Dempsey, Regé-Jean Page, Riz Ahmed, Sadie Sink, Stellan Skarsgård, Stormzy and Warwick Davis. Many are nominees themselves, adding personal stakes to their stage appearances.

The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT) on BBC One in the U.K., with a live broadcast and on-demand streaming via BBC iPlayer for U.K. viewers. The show typically runs about two hours, edited from the full in-person event that starts earlier with arrivals and preliminaries.

In the United States, E! airs the ceremony at 8 p.m. ET/PT, marking the first time the BAFTAs broadcast on a major cable network there (previously streamed on BritBox). International audiences can check local broadcasters or streaming services, with BritBox available in select markets for live or on-demand access.

Nominations, announced in January, saw “One Battle After Another” lead with 14 nods, reflecting strong contention across categories like Best Film, Director and acting awards. The BAFTAs often influence Oscar momentum, with voter overlap among academy members.

As Hollywood’s elite descend on London for the Feb. 22 gala, the night promises glamour, surprises and tributes to cinematic achievement in a year of standout films.

A proposal to abolish property taxes in the state of Ohio could prompt a surge in other forms of taxation to offset the lost revenue if voters approve the measure, the state’s governor warned.

Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, spoke at a conference earlier this month and said that if the proposed constitutional amendment to ban property taxes reaches the ballot and is approved by voters, the state government may be forced to raise sales taxes to compensate for the impact on the state budget. 

The property tax initiative is in the signature-gathering phase, which will require certification before it’s officially on this fall’s ballot, and advocates view abolishing property taxes as a way of helping homeowners.

THESE STATES ARE CONSIDERING ELIMINATING PROPERTY TAXES FOR HOMEOWNERS

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine warned that abolishing property taxes would have a significant impact on the state’s finances. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

“Sales tax could go up to 17, 18, 19, 20%, sales tax in the state of Ohio on products that you buy,” DeWine said, according to a report by Cleveland.com. “So, it would be absolutely devastating.”

DeWine added that Ohio lawmakers may also have to consider hiking other taxes, such as the state’s income taxes, to plug the roughly $24 billion budget hole that would result with the elimination of property taxes.

The state of Ohio’s Office of Management and Budget authored a memo earlier this month that analyzed the proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate and ban property taxes, which noted that the $24 billion in annual property tax receipts is “equal to the total revenue from Ohio’s state income and sales taxes combined.”

“Eliminating property taxes would immediately destabilize local budgets and force deep cuts to essential services, reducing or eliminating funding for local law enforcement, first responders, and schools, delaying road and infrastructure repairs, and threatening services for seniors and people with disabilities,” the memo said.

Ohio’s budget office noted that about three-fifths of property tax revenue goes to supporting local school districts. If property taxes were eliminated, it could cause thousands of layoffs among school staffers, prompting larger class sizes and school closures along with program cuts.

ABBOTT UNVEILS 5-POINT PLAN TO OVERHAUL TEXAS PROPERTY TAXES, TARGETING RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS

Ohio’s property tax revenue amounts to $24 billion, equal to the combined revenue from sales and income taxes. (iStock)

Police, fire and EMS services are all heavily reliant on property tax revenues, and eliminating those funding streams could cause station closures – particularly in smaller communities – as well as reducing staffing and slower response times, the memo explained.

Libraries, parks, health and human services and support services for seniors would also face cuts or elimination that could affect the community’s quality of life. In particular, programs related to seniors, health, recovery and developmental disabilities losing funding could increase the strain on hospitals and state systems.

The Ohio budget office’s memo noted that the state already offers some property tax relief through a homestead exemption for seniors and residents with disabilities, as well as a tax credit for residential homeowners. 

MAJORITY OF CALIFORNIA VOTERS BACK BILLIONAIRE WEALTH TAX EVEN WHEN AWARE OF ECONOMIC RISKS, SURVEY SHOWS

Ohio exempts food from sales taxes, which could change if property taxes are eliminated. (Hollie Adams/Bloomberg )

It also discussed the issues with replacing the $24 billion in property tax revenue, noting that the nonpartisan Tax Foundation assessed that income tax rates would need to quadruple or more to 11% to 15% across the state to replace property taxes.

Ohio has a flat state income tax of 2.75% in the current tax year, which is the second-lowest rate of any state in the country. The personal income tax generated $10.5 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2025.

The budget office consulted with the Ohio Department of Taxation on replacing property taxes with state sales tax revenue and estimated it would require sales tax rates approaching 15% to 18%, a level that would be significantly higher than other states. 

A lower sales tax rate could cover the lost property tax revenue, though it would entail broadening the sales tax to apply to currently exempt items including food and healthcare, among other goods and services. Those changes would require legislative and, in some cases, constitutional changes, the budget office found.

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Ohio has a 5.75% sales tax, which ranks near the middle nationally for combined state and local sales tax rates. The sales tax generated $14 billion in fiscal year 2025.

Federal Reserve policymakers were mostly in agreement on the decision to leave interest rates unchanged despite two calling for cuts, though several signaled that rate hikes could be on deck if inflation remains elevated.

The minutes for the January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed’s monetary policy-setting panel, were released on Wednesday and showed that some policymakers were in favor of including language signaling the possibility of future rate hikes to tame stubborn inflation in the announcement.

The FOMC voted 10-2 to leave the benchmark federal funds rate at its current range of 3.5% to 3.75%, with Fed Governors Christopher Waller and Stephen Miran dissenting over concerns about the labor market. Inflation has remained elevated above the Fed’s 2% target, which has given others pause about further rate cuts.

“Several participants indicated that they would have supported a two-sided description of the Committee’s future interest rate decisions, reflecting the possibility that upward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate could be appropriate if inflation remains at above-target levels,” the FOMC minutes noted.

POWELL SAYS AMERICANS FORCED TO ‘ECONOMIZE’ AS STUBBORN INFLATION SQUEEZES HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said inflation would be closer to 2% but for the effects of tariffs. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

The minutes also noted several policymakers “commented that further downward adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate would likely be appropriate if inflation were to decline in line with their expectations.”

“Some participants commented that it would likely be appropriate to hold the policy rate steady for some time as the Committee carefully assesses incoming data, and a number of these participants judged that additional policy easing may not be warranted until there was clear indication that the progress of disinflation was firmly back on track,” the minutes said.

FED HOLDS INTEREST RATES STEADY, PAUSING RATE CUTS AMID ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY

Fed Governor Stephen Miran was one of two policymakers to dissent from the Fed’s decision to leave rates steady. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index, was elevated well above the central bank’s 2% long-run inflation target at the end of last year.

PCE inflation was at its lowest year-over-year level in 2025 when it declined to 2.2% in April, which was the lowest reading since September 2024. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was 2.6% in April 2025, the lowest level since June 2024.

FED’S MIRAN MAINTAINS CALL FOR AGGRESSIVE INTEREST RATE CUTS THIS YEAR

The Trump administration’s tariff announcements on “Liberation Day” in early April and the implementation of those import taxes contributed to a rise in inflation last year, which drove PCE higher.

The most recent PCE inflation reading was for the month of November, when it reached 2.8%, equaling its September reading, which was the highest level since October 2023. Core PCE was also 2.8% in November.

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Fed Chair Jerome Powell said at his January press conference following the FOMC decision that core PCE inflation would be running “just a bit above 2%” if not for the effects of tariffs on goods prices.

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Chrysler is recalling more than 80,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees in the U.S. after discovering that rear coil springs could detach while driving, creating a potential road hazard.

The recall covers 2021–2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021–2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L models. In total, 80,620 vehicles are affected, though regulators estimate about 0.5% may have the defect, according to a Jan. 29 notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“A rear coil spring that detaches from the vehicle while driving may create a road hazard to operators and occupants of other vehicles,” NHTSA said. “Road hazards to operators and occupants of other vehicles can cause vehicles to crash without prior warning and/or may result in injury to other road users.”

STELLANTIS ISSUES ‘DO NOT DRIVE’ WARNING FOR 225,000 VEHICLES OVER DANGEROUS AIR BAG ISSUE

Jeep Grand Cherokee Ls come off the line at the Stellantis Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack on June 10, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan.  (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The recall includes 29,139 Grand Cherokee vehicles built between June 30, 2021, and May 31, 2023, as well as approximately 51,481 Grand Cherokee L models produced between Dec. 5, 2020, and May 31, 2023, according to NHTSA.

Stellantis, Chrysler’s parent company, said the recall followed an internal investigation that found some rear coil springs may not have been properly installed.

“As a result, the rear coil spring could come out of position and potentially detach from the vehicle, which may create a road hazard for other motorists and could lead to a collision without prior warning,” Stellantis spokesperson told FOX Business.

JEEP TELLS OWNERS TO STOP CHARGING PLUG-IN HYBRID SUVS IMMEDIATELY OVER SERIOUS FIRE RISK CONCERNS

Raindrops are seen on the logo of a Jeep car in Kraków, Poland on Jan. 5, 2020.  (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The automaker said it is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to the issue. 

Dealers will inspect and repair affected vehicles free of charge.

Beyond the U.S., the recall impacts approximately 3,065 vehicles in Canada, 363 in Mexico and 1,238 vehicles in markets outside North America, according to Stellantis.

SOME JEEP PRODUCTION HOBBLED BY ALUMINUM SHORTAGE

The logo of Stellantis is pictured on the company’s building in Poissy, near Paris, France, on Feb. 26, 2025.  (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)

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The announcement comes as Stellantis recently urged owners of roughly 225,000 older Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles in the U.S. to stop driving them immediately if they have not addressed previously recalled Takata air bag inflators.

The warning applies to certain 2003–2016 models equipped with faulty inflators that can rupture in a crash.

Hilary Duff has added a second concert at Madison Square Garden due to overwhelming demand after her initial Aug. 5, 2026, date on “The Lucky Me Tour” sold out rapidly, with the new show set for Thursday, Aug. 6, at the iconic New York venue.

The announcement came Feb. 17, 2026, via Madison Square Garden’s official channels, including a Facebook post stating the extra performance was added “due to overwhelming demand.” The tour supports Duff’s upcoming album “Luck… or Something,” releasing Feb. 20, 2026, marking her return to large-scale touring after nearly two decades since her 2007 “Dignity” run.

Both MSG shows feature special guests La Roux and Jade LeMac, promising a high-energy pop spectacle with hits from Duff’s catalog — including “Come Clean,” “So Yesterday” and newer material — alongside her signature choreography and fan-favorite moments. The first show, originally announced as a single stop on the North American leg, sold out quickly following the tour’s broader reveal earlier in February, prompting the swift addition of the second night.

Ticket access begins with a venue presale Thursday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. ET using code SOCIAL, followed by an artist presale on Ticketmaster. General public tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster, the primary seller for the venue. Citi cardmembers had early access starting Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. through the Citi Entertainment program, while other presales rolled out in waves.

Resale platforms like StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek already list inventory for both dates, with prices varying based on demand — original Aug. 5 tickets started around $297 on resale before the sellout, though lower options may appear closer to showtime. Fans are advised to act fast during the general onsale, as high-demand arena stops like MSG often move quickly.

“The Lucky Me Tour” spans seven countries across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, kicking off June 22, 2026, at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. It includes major venues such as Los Angeles’ Kia Forum (now doubled to July 9 due to added demand), Red Rocks Amphitheatre, London’s O2 Arena (extra date added Sept. 15), Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre and more, wrapping in Mexico City on Feb. 12, 2027.

The MSG addition highlights Duff’s enduring popularity among millennials and Gen Z fans nostalgic for her Disney Channel and early-2000s pop era. The singer recently completed sold-out limited engagements at Las Vegas’ Voltaire at The Venetian Resort (Feb. 13-15 and May 22-24, 2026) and a special “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” intimate run earlier this year.

Duff teased the tour during her Vegas residency, bringing fans onstage for viral dance recreations and building anticipation ahead of the album drop. The full North American leg features arena and amphitheater stops, with support acts varying by market.

For those seeking tickets:

• Presale (venue): Feb. 19, 10 a.m. ET (code SOCIAL)
• Artist/general presale: Ongoing waves, check Ticketmaster
• Public onsale: Feb. 20, 10 a.m. ET via Ticketmaster
• Resale options: StubHub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek for immediate availability

Doors for both MSG shows open at 6 p.m. ET, with performances starting at 7 p.m. Fans should arrive early and check MSG’s policies on bags, prohibited items and entry requirements. The venue recommends purchasing through official channels to avoid scams.

As Duff prepares for her album release and tour launch, the added MSG date underscores strong fan demand for her long-awaited return to the stage.