Fanatics Fest isn’t just returning for its third year in New York City with an extra day added to its festivities — it’s bringing back the Fanatics Games with an even bigger prize pool.

During last year’s sports fan festival at the Javits Center in Manhattan, Fanatics Fest introduced the Fanatics Games, bringing together some of the world’s top athletes and everyday fans for a head-to-head competition with a chance to win a $1 million grand prize as well as other massive prizes like an exotic car and rare trading card worth six figures.

“What made Fanatics Games special in year one was seeing fans and world-class athletes compete side by side under the same rules and feed off each other’s energy,” Lance Fensterman, CEO of Fanatics Events, said in a press release. 

“In 2026, we’re expanding that competition and giving more fans across the country a direct path to earn their spot. The stakes are higher, the format is sharper, and the games are only getting better.”

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The expanded format of Fanatics Games includes new nationwide qualifying opportunities for fans who wish to participate through an exclusive partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods.

The in-person qualifier option will be through visits at select DICK’S House of Sport locations across the country, including Knoxville, Tennessee (May 9), Kennesaw, Georgia (May 30), Houston, Texas (June 13), and Boston, Massachusetts (June 28). Fans will have the chance to compete in sport-specific challenges tied directly to how the 2026 Fanatics Games format will work at the festival from July 16-19.

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The top three performers at each event will earn a trip to New York to compete at the Javits Center alongside confirmed athletes like NFL legend Rob Gronkowski, NBA guard James Harden, and WWE superstars Cody Rhodes, Jay Uso, Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan, with more athletes expected to be confirmed in the coming months.

And fans who wish to participate and can’t make the in-person qualifiers will still be able to send in a video application like last year, showcasing their skills and sharing why they feel they deserve to compete.

But perhaps the biggest draw for the Fanatics Games is a rematch between reigning champion, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, and fan champion Matt Dennis, a Philadelphia teacher who wowed the Fanatics Fest crowd last year in the inaugural games. Dennish finished in third place, while UFC fighter Justin Gaethje finished second behind Brady.

Fanatics Games will bring together 50 everyday fans and a total group of 50 athletes, celebrities, and creators once more, and they plan on making the competition bigger, faster and more competitive than it was in 2025.

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Fanatics Fest continues to grow as the world’s top sports fan festival, drawing more than 125,000 fans last year to the Big Apple. With even bigger star-studded panels, live programming, autograph sessions and meet-and-greats, Fanatics expects to break that total once more as it continues to give fans opportunities of a lifetime.

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Mumbai: Metal stocks rallied more than 7% Wednesday as base metal prices firmed up and uncertainty over the applicability of US tariffs supported buying momentum. Analysts said investors can buy on dips as there is scope for further upside of up to 25% in the near term.

Lloyds Metals and Energy jumped 7.5% after Nomura initiated coverage on the stock with a ‘Buy’ rating. National Aluminium Company and Vedanta gained around 4.5% each. Hindustan Copper and Hindustan Zinc rose 4% and 3.6%, respectively.

“The uncertainty on the tariffs by the US, weakening of the dollar and the uptick in base metal prices like silver, copper and zinc, along with steel, led to the buying momentum in metal stocks,” said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst – Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.

Trivedi said investors reallocated funds from the IT pack to metal stocks since the latter has remained buoyant.

The Nifty Metal Index gained 2.7% while benchmark Nifty advanced 0.2% on Wednesday. All 15 stocks in the metals index ended higher.

Among base metals, silver climbed 4% to $90.6 on Wednesday while gold and copper rose around half a per cent each. Steel advanced 1.3%.

The recent implementation of safeguard duties on steel imports has successfully held back Chinese dumping, providing a much-needed boost to ferrous stocks such as Lloyds Metals, Vedanta, SAIL, and Tata Steel, said Om Ghawalkar, market analyst, Share.Market.“The overall sentiment for the sector remains positive, with a projected 15-20% rally supported by strong domestic steel demand and “green steel” policies introduced in Budget 2026,” said Ghawalkar.

In the last one month, the Nifty Metal Index jumped 8% while benchmark Nifty rose 1.7% in the same period. So far this year, the Nifty Metal Index surged 11% while benchmark Nifty fell 2.5%.

“Any fall in metal stocks is a buying opportunity and there is room for upside of 15- 25% in the near-term,” said Trivedi. Trivedi said Tata Steel, Nalco and SAIL are the top picks in the sector and are trading at reasonable valuations.

“JSW Steel and Hindalco are also expected to see stable performance,” he said. Technical indicators suggest a potential 20% upside with a long-term target of 15,000 as the metals index is currently breaking out of an ascending triangle pattern.

“If the index sustains levels above 12,400, it is likely to target 13,000, driven by robust infrastructure spending and the growing demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs),” said Ghawalkar. The strength is further confirmed by a MACD golden crossover, signalling that the current uptrend has significant staying power, he said.

Kolkata: Fairfax-backed IIFL Finance plans to raise $500-750 million (₹4,547-6,820 crore) in external commercial borrowings and dollar bonds in March, as part of its strategy to diversify the resource base and fund growth.

The gold-loan focussed non-bank lender is in talks with existing investors as well as banks from Singapore and Taiwan, Nirmal Jain, managing director, told ET.

“We are planning to raise $500-750 million by external commercial borrowing/dollar bonds in March to diversify our funding sources, reduce reliance on banks, and support business growth,” said Jain. He said the exercise is likely to be completed by the third week of March.

“The fundraising will be done through a combination of dollar-denominated loans and foreign currency social bonds,” said Jain. “Global banks which are our existing lenders as well as investors from countries like Singapore and Taiwan are showing interest.”
Deutsche Bank, Mizuho Bank, Export Development Canada, British International Investment (BII), and the US government’s development finance institution DFC are among global entities who took part in IIFL Finance’s global debt issues previously.

Incidentally, the Reserve Bank of India earlier this month raised limits under external borrowing, relaxed maturity norms, and removed cost caps. Eligible entities can now raise ECBs up to $1 billion in outstanding borrowings or 300% of net worth, based on the latest audited standalone balance sheets. The earlier borrowing cap was $750 million.
Indian companies raised a record $61 billion through ECBs in FY25, up from $48 billion in FY24. Besides dollar-denominated fundraising, IIFL Finance is also looking to grow the share of bond issuance in its liability profile. The lender launched a ₹2,000 crore retail bond issue on February 17 and is in the process of raising another ₹1,000 crore from institutional investors through private placement.

As search engines evolve with AI-driven features like Google’s AI Overviews and increased emphasis on user experience, online marketers in 2026 rely on sophisticated SEO tools to stay competitive. These platforms handle keyword research, content optimization, technical audits, backlink analysis, and AI visibility tracking, helping teams adapt to algorithm shifts and deliver measurable organic growth.

From comprehensive suites to specialized AI-powered solutions, the landscape has expanded rapidly. Marketers tested dozens of options in early 2026, with data from industry reviews, user feedback, and performance benchmarks highlighting the most effective tools. Here are the 10 best SEO tools marketers need this year, based on current capabilities, pricing, and real-world results as of February 2026.

1. **Semrush** — The all-in-one powerhouse remains dominant for marketers managing multiple channels. With over 55 tools covering keyword research, site audits, competitor analysis, PPC, and social media, Semrush excels in depth. Its AI Visibility Toolkit tracks performance in generative search platforms like ChatGPT and Google’s AI summaries, a critical feature in 2026. Pros include massive databases (27 billion keywords) and excellent learning resources via Semrush Academy. Pricing starts around $139/month for Pro plans, with enterprise options scaling higher.

2. **Ahrefs** — Known for its unmatched backlink index (over 35 trillion live links) and aggressive crawling, Ahrefs leads in competitor research, link-building opportunities, and content gap analysis. Marketers praise its Content Explorer for discovering high-performing topics and Site Explorer for strategic planning. The tool’s reliability and data accuracy make it essential for off-page SEO. Plans begin at approximately $99/month, with higher tiers unlocking advanced features.

3. **Surfer SEO** — Content optimization specialists favor Surfer for its data-driven approach to on-page SEO. It analyzes top-ranking pages to provide ideal word counts, keyword usage, structure, and semantic recommendations. In 2026, its AI enhancements streamline briefs and real-time editing. Widely used by agencies and content teams, Surfer delivers measurable ranking improvements. Pricing starts around $59/month.

4. **SE Ranking** — This versatile platform offers strong value with rank tracking, keyword research, site audits, and AI-powered insights. Its AI Overview Tracker monitors visibility in generative results, while automation features handle reporting and alerts. Trusted by over 1.5 million professionals, SE Ranking combines affordability with precision. Plans start at about $65/month.

5. **Screaming Frog SEO Spider** — The go-to desktop crawler for technical SEO audits. It identifies broken links, duplicate content, crawl errors, and on-page issues across large sites. Marketers use it for pre-launch checks, migration troubleshooting, and JavaScript rendering analysis. Affordable at around $259/year for paid licenses, with a free version for smaller sites.

6. **Google Search Console** — Free and indispensable for every marketer. It provides direct insights from Google on indexing, performance, mobile usability, Core Web Vitals, and AI Overview citations. Paired with Google Analytics 4, it forms the foundation for data-driven decisions. No cost makes it a must-have despite limited third-party features.

7. **Rank Math** — WordPress users rely on this plugin for on-page optimization, schema markup, XML sitemaps, and AI content suggestions. Its free version covers core needs, while Pro unlocks advanced analytics and automation. Highly rated for ease of use and integration.

8. **Nightwatch** — Focused on accurate rank tracking across traditional and AI search, Nightwatch offers location-specific monitoring, competitor visualization, and white-labeled reports. Ideal for agencies tracking multi-site performance.

9. **Clearscope** — Content optimization tool emphasizing semantic relevance and top-ranking page analysis. It generates detailed briefs and scores content for alignment with search intent, helping marketers create high-quality, competitive pieces.

10. **Gumloop** — Emerging for SEO automation workflows. It automates repetitive tasks like keyword clustering, report generation, and data pulls, saving time for strategic work. Popular among marketers building custom processes.

These tools address 2026’s key priorities: adapting to AI search visibility, optimizing for user experience, and scaling content efficiently. All-in-one platforms like Semrush and Ahrefs suit full-funnel teams, while specialized options like Surfer and Screaming Frog excel in targeted areas. Free tools from Google provide essential baselines.

Marketers should combine tools for maximum impact—using Search Console for raw data, Ahrefs or Semrush for competitive insights, and Surfer for content refinement. Testing and stacking solutions based on specific goals remains key to ROI in a dynamic landscape.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates admitted during a private town hall meeting with Gates Foundation staff on February 24, 2026, that he had two extramarital affairs with Russian women while married to ex-wife Melinda French Gates, describing the relationships as personal mistakes but insisting they did not involve victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network.

Gates, 70, expressed deep regret over his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the meetings a “huge mistake” that negatively impacted the foundation’s reputation and work. He apologized to employees for drawing them into scrutiny and reaffirmed that he “did nothing illicit” and “saw nothing illicit” during his interactions with Epstein.

“I did have affairs, one with a Russian bridge player who met me at bridge events, and one with a Russian nuclear physicist who I met through business activities,” Gates said, according to a recording reviewed by The Wall Street Journal and corroborated by multiple outlets including Reuters, AFP, and Forbes. He emphasized that Epstein later learned of the relationships but maintained the women were not connected to Epstein’s alleged abuse of underage girls.

The admissions came amid renewed attention following recent document releases by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Epstein’s case. Draft emails from Epstein in 2013 alleged Gates engaged in extramarital affairs and referenced other unsubstantiated claims, which Gates’ representatives have repeatedly called “absolutely absurd and completely false,” attributing them to Epstein’s attempts at leverage or extortion.

Gates told staff he met Epstein several times primarily to discuss philanthropy, never stayed overnight at Epstein’s properties, never visited his private island, and never spent time with Epstein’s victims. He described regretting every minute spent with Epstein and bringing foundation executives to some meetings.

A Gates Foundation spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Reuters on February 24 that Gates “took responsibility for his actions” during the town hall and addressed the Epstein ties directly. The spokesperson declined further comment beyond the apology and regret expressed.

The revelations follow Gates’ 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates, who cited his Epstein meetings among factors contributing to the marriage’s breakdown. Melinda had warned Bill against continued contact as early as 2013, according to prior reports. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

Gates has long maintained his Epstein interactions were limited to fundraising discussions for global health initiatives. He previously described the association as a “huge mistake” in interviews but had not publicly detailed the personal affairs until the town hall. The admissions align with 2023 reports that Epstein attempted to extort Gates over an alleged affair with a Russian bridge player, Mila Antonova, whom Gates met in 2010.

No criminal charges have been filed against Gates related to Epstein, and he has not been accused of participating in Epstein’s crimes. The U.S. Department of Justice documents released in early 2026, including photos with redacted faces and draft emails, renewed public speculation but contained no new evidence implicating Gates in wrongdoing.

Reactions to the town hall comments were swift. Philanthropy observers noted the foundation’s need to protect its mission-focused reputation amid donor scrutiny. Some critics questioned the timing of the disclosures, while supporters viewed Gates’ candor as accountability. The Gates Foundation, focused on global health, poverty reduction, and education, continues operations unaffected, with billions committed to initiatives like vaccine development and climate efforts.

Gates has stepped back from day-to-day Microsoft involvement since 2020 but remains one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and most influential philanthropists. His foundation has distributed hundreds of billions in grants since its inception.

The latest statements underscore Gates’ efforts to address lingering Epstein-related questions head-on while separating personal failings from any criminal conduct. As the foundation navigates its post-divorce structure and Gates continues public appearances, the admissions may close one chapter of scrutiny but highlight the lasting impact of his Epstein association.