World
The Washington Post
2026-02-20 06:15
Trump has established a "Board of Peace" initiative with pledges totaling billions for what appears to be Gaza relief and Middle East peace efforts, including a personal $10 billion commitment. The initiative launches amid skepticism about accountability and notable absence of major world powers, while Trump uses the platform to issue threats against Iran. This represents Trump's attempt to create a parallel diplomatic framework outside traditional international institutions for Middle East peacemaking.
Business
Bloomberg
2026-02-20 06:00
Global stock markets declined while oil prices surged due to escalating geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran, with oil heading for its first weekly gain in three weeks. The market movements reflect investor flight to safety and concerns about potential supply disruptions in a region responsible for significant global oil production. This affects investors globally, energy consumers, and economies dependent on stable oil prices.
Nation
The Washington Post
2026-02-20 05:34
The Trump administration is assembling significant military forces in the region and considering initial limited strikes against Iran, apparently aimed at forcing Tehran into a nuclear agreement. This represents a major escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions with substantial military assets now positioned for potential action. The development affects global energy markets, Middle Eastern stability, and international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
Entertainment
The Guardian
2026-02-20 04:36
Full Article
Eric Dane, best known for playing "McSteamy" on Grey's Anatomy and Cal Jacobs in Euphoria, died at age 53 from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) less than a year after publicly disclosing his diagnosis. The actor became an advocate for ALS awareness after his diagnosis and continued working on Euphoria's third season from a wheelchair until his death. His passing highlights the brutal progression of this terminal neurodegenerative disease, which typically claims lives within 27 months of diagnosis, and affects the entertainment industry's ongoing production schedules and communities.
Sports
Slate Magazine
2026-02-20 04:34
Full Article
Alysa Liu won the United States' first Olympic gold medal in women's figure skating since 2006, ending a 20-year drought that saw American dominance fade after silver and bronze disappointments from legends like Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen. The 20-year-old's "carefree" and "joyous" performance to Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park" represents what analysts are calling a "healthier path" for women's skating powered by joy rather than fear. Her victory is particularly significant given the sport's recent struggles with mental health pressures and the decline of U.S. competitiveness in the women's discipline.
Nation
The New York Times
2026-02-20 04:29
Two sisters, along with a third woman who were all experienced skiers and Stanford alumni, died in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe after reportedly taking the most dangerous route during their backcountry trek. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the incident, suggesting possible negligence or violation of safety protocols. This tragedy highlights the risks of backcountry skiing even among skilled recreationists and raises questions about accountability in outdoor recreation accidents.
World
The Guardian
2026-02-20 04:19
Full Article
Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) was arrested in the UK on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegedly sharing confidential material with Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure as a UK trade envoy, marking the first royal arrest since 1647. The arrest has ignited intense political pressure in the United States, where lawmakers and Epstein survivors are demanding similar accountability for American figures connected to the sex trafficking network, criticizing the Trump administration and DOJ for inaction. This represents a watershed moment where the UK's willingness to prosecute royalty contrasts sharply with perceived US reluctance to investigate powerful domestic figures linked to Epstein.
Science
Space
2026-02-20 04:16
Full Article
NASA successfully completed the second wet dress rehearsal for its Artemis 2 mission on February 19, loading 730,000 gallons of supercold propellant into the Space Launch System rocket without the hydrogen leaks that plagued both the first Artemis 2 rehearsal and the Artemis 1 mission. This test brings NASA closer to launching four astronauts on humanity's first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since 1972, potentially as early as March 6-11. The successful seal replacement and fueling test are critical milestones for keeping the mission on schedule after previous delays threatened to derail the Artemis program's timeline.
World
AP News
2026-02-20 04:05
Full Article
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened the Workers' Party congress, the regime's most important political gathering held every five years, claiming significant economic progress and enhanced regional standing since 2021. Kim's strengthened position stems from deepened military and economic ties with Russia (including troop deployments to Ukraine) and China, alongside an expanded nuclear arsenal and modest economic recovery estimated at 10% growth over five years. The meeting is expected to set North Korea's policy direction through 2030 and may formalize Kim's teenage daughter as a potential successor, representing a fourth-generation dynastic transition.
Nation
The Washington Post
2026-02-20 04:01
Vietnam War veterans have filed a lawsuit to block President Trump's plan to build a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., arguing it would obstruct views of existing military cemeteries and memorials. The proposed monument represents Trump's effort to reshape federal architecture with monumental classical structures, but faces opposition from those who see it as inappropriate for a capital city meant to honor collective sacrifice rather than singular triumph. This legal challenge pits executive architectural ambitions against veterans' groups and preservation concerns in the nation's symbolic landscape.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB
2026-02-20 03:43
Full Article
Portland City Councilor Loretta Smith has proposed an ordinance allowing city councilors to openly carry firearms in City Hall after protesters disrupted a council meeting, with one protester being physically removed while holding a petition with 19,000 signatures calling to close Portland's ICE facility. The incident, which resulted in four arrests and forced the meeting online, highlights escalating tensions between elected officials and activists from the "Revoke the ICE Permit PDX" group who have been pressuring the council for months. Smith frames the proposal as self-defense against increasingly aggressive protests, while activists argue they're exercising First Amendment rights and that no actual threats were made.
AP News
2026-02-20 03:41
Full Article
The Democratic primary race for Texas' U.S. Senate seat between Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico has intensified after CBS pulled Talarico's scheduled Colbert interview from broadcast due to legal concerns about FCC equal-time rules under the Trump administration, though it was posted online and garnered 8 million YouTube views. Talarico raised $2.5 million in 24 hours following the controversy, creating momentum in what Democrats see as a rare opportunity to win a statewide Texas race for the first time since 1988. This March 3 primary is the first major contest of the 2026 midterms, with the winner facing either embattled GOP incumbent John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, or Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Science
Space
2026-02-20 03:27
Full Article
SpaceX successfully landed a Falcon 9 rocket booster in The Bahamas' Exuma Sound for only the second time ever, following a temporary suspension of operations after Starship debris fell on the islands in March 2025. The landing location enables new orbital trajectories for SpaceX missions, and The Bahamas' Civil Aviation Authority has now cleared the company to resume operations after completing an environmental assessment. This milestone involved a heavily-reused booster (26th flight) deploying Starlink satellites to join the nearly 9,700-satellite constellation.
Health
Yahoo
2026-02-20 02:45
Full Article
A New Jersey man suffering from severe, lingering neurological symptoms from Lyme disease has lost the use of his arms and shoulders, prompting his family to raise awareness about tick-borne illnesses. The case highlights a growing public health crisis as climate change creates warmer, more humid conditions in the Northeastern U.S., enabling tick populations to expand their range and increase Lyme disease transmission rates. This represents a concrete example of how rising global temperatures are already manifesting as serious health consequences, with the CDC documenting increased Lyme disease cases as ticks spread into previously unaffected areas.
Sports
Windy City Gridiron
2026-02-20 02:32
Full Article
The Chicago Bears are moving closer to potentially relocating their stadium to Hammond, Indiana, after the state's Senate Bill 27 passed committee with unanimous support, establishing a stadium authority to negotiate the deal. This development has blindsided Illinois officials, with a competing Illinois stadium bill hearing being canceled the same morning, creating urgency for Illinois to counter Indiana's aggressive offer. The potential move would be unprecedented for the 104-year-old franchise that has been synonymous with Chicago, affecting millions of fans, billions in economic activity, and the cultural identity of the city.
Business
The New York Times
2026-02-20 02:31
Blue Owl Capital, a major private credit asset manager, has halted redemptions at one of its retail-focused private credit funds, triggering a broader selloff in private equity shares and raising alarm about liquidity risks in the rapidly growing $1.7 trillion private credit market. This marks a significant stress test for an industry that has aggressively marketed illiquid alternative investments to everyday retail investors, not just institutional clients. The move is being characterized as a potential "canary in the coal mine" moment that could expose systemic vulnerabilities in private credit structures.
NPR
2026-02-20 02:19
Full Article
Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tennessee ratified their first union contract with a 96% approval vote, securing a 20% wage increase over five years, reduced healthcare premiums, and crucially, job security protections against plant closure. This marks a historic breakthrough for the UAW in the traditionally anti-union South, coming after two failed unionization attempts and nearly two years of negotiations. The victory provides the UAW with concrete recruiting ammunition as it attempts to organize other foreign automakers' plants across Southern states, where most U.S. auto manufacturing growth has occurred over the past three decades.
The Bulwark
2026-02-20 02:02
Full Article
President Trump and populist Democrats are converging on a bipartisan policy to ban "institutional investors" from owning single-family homes, blaming them for the housing affordability crisis. However, these large investors own only 0.5% of all single-family housing stock and have been net sellers for seven consecutive quarters while pivoting to building new housing instead. This scapegoating threatens to pass ineffective or counterproductive legislation that could worsen housing costs by reducing new construction rather than addressing the real, complex causes of unaffordability.
AP News
2026-02-20 01:36
Full Article
Tariffs paid by midsize U.S. companies tripled in the past year as President Trump increased average tariff rates from 2.6% to 13%, according to a JPMorganChase Institute study tracking businesses employing 48 million Americans. The research contradicts White House claims that foreign entities pay tariffs, showing U.S. companies are absorbing costs through higher prices, reduced employment, or lower profits, while the trade deficit paradoxically grew by $25.5 billion to $1.24 trillion despite tariffs aimed at reducing it. The findings have sparked fierce political tensions, with White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett calling for Federal Reserve researchers to be "disciplined" for publishing similar conclusions.
Science
NPR
2026-02-20 01:17
Full Article
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman publicly condemned both Boeing and NASA for the failed June 2024 Starliner crewed test flight, classifying it as a "Type A Mishap"—the highest failure category reserved for disasters like Challenger and Columbia. The mission saw two astronauts stranded on the ISS for 9 months after thruster failures prevented safe return, requiring a SpaceX rescue while exposing what Isaacman called organizational "decision making and leadership" failures more troubling than the hardware issues. This unprecedented public rebuke by a NASA chief of his own agency and a major contractor signals a dramatic shift in NASA's approach to commercial partnerships and accountability.
OutKick
2026-02-20 01:00
Full Article
A fossil hunter discovered a remarkably well-preserved mammoth or mastodon femur in a river near Ravenwood, Missouri, in a viral video that has circulated online. The find represents a significant paleontological specimen from the prehistoric megafauna that once roamed North America before human settlement. The discovery highlights both the accessibility of fossil finds in certain regions and raises questions about ownership, preservation, and the proper disposition of such scientifically valuable artifacts.
Technology
TechCrunch
2026-02-20 00:55
Full Article
Google released Gemini 3.1 Pro, a significantly upgraded LLM that achieved top scores on multiple independent benchmarks including APEX-Agents for real professional task performance, marking a substantial improvement over its November predecessor Gemini 3. This release intensifies the ongoing AI model competition among tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic, all racing to dominate the emerging market for agentic AI capable of multi-step reasoning and complex knowledge work. The model's strong performance on professional task benchmarks suggests AI is rapidly approaching competence levels that could directly substitute for human knowledge workers.
Health
Daily Mail
2026-02-20 00:41
Full Article
An oncology dietitian from Hackensack Meridian John Theurer Cancer Center highlights specific foods—particularly shiitake mushrooms and lentils—that contain compounds proven to activate immune defenses against cancer cells, emphasizing that consistent plant-based dietary patterns rather than single foods reduce cancer risk. The guidance reinforces growing scientific consensus around Mediterranean and Asian diets while warning against red meat consumption, which is classified as a probable carcinogen linked to colorectal and stomach cancers. This matters because it represents a shift toward integrating nutrition science into mainstream cancer prevention strategies, affecting millions seeking evidence-based dietary guidance.
Entertainment
The Hollywood Reporter
2026-02-20 00:36
Full Article
James Cameron has sent a letter to Senator Mike Lee opposing Netflix's potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing it would devastate the theatrical exhibition business and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs across the Hollywood ecosystem. The director warns that Netflix's streaming-first business model conflicts fundamentally with Warner Bros.' theatrical release strategy (approximately 15 films annually), and he doubts Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos' commitment to maintain a 45-day theatrical window. Cameron explicitly backs Paramount's competing bid, framing the Netflix deal as threatening both consumer choice and filmmaker opportunities while potentially triggering cascading failures across VFX companies, theaters, and production infrastructure.
Health
Nature
2026-02-19 23:42
New research published in Nature reveals mechanisms by which the human immune system controls persistent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, with particular focus on killer immune cells and their potential role in triggering multiple sclerosis (MS). This matters because EBV infects over 90% of the global population and remains dormant in the body, with growing evidence linking it to autoimmune diseases like MS. The research also introduces new methods for detecting EBV levels using standard genome sequencing, potentially affecting millions of MS patients and those at risk for EBV-related complications.
Entertainment
Deadline
2026-02-19 23:26
Full Article
Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall has died at 95, leaving behind a legendary career spanning iconic roles from The Godfather to Apocalypse Now. Billy Bob Thornton, who considered Duvall a surrogate father and mentor for decades, shared intimate stories about their relationship, revealing how Duvall's unfiltered personality and encouragement profoundly shaped his career, particularly influencing his Oscar-winning work on Sling Blade. The loss represents a significant moment in Hollywood history, marking the passing of one of cinema's most versatile and respected actors who maintained close relationships with multiple generations of filmmakers.
Sports
NBC News
2026-02-19 23:19
Full Article
The U.S. women's hockey team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win Olympic gold in Milan, with captain Hilary Knight scoring a crucial tying goal with two minutes left in regulation and Megan Keller netting the overtime winner. The victory was remarkable because the U.S., which had dominated throughout the tournament with five consecutive shutouts and 30 goals scored, found itself shut out and on the brink of upset until the final two minutes against a transformed Canadian defense. This marks the U.S.'s third Olympic gold in women's hockey and first since 2018, continuing the sport's narrative as a two-nation rivalry between the only countries to ever win Olympic gold since 1998.
Entertainment
The Hollywood Reporter
2026-02-19 23:12
Full Article
AMC Theatres reversed its decision to screen "Thanksgiving Day," an AI-generated short film that won the Frame Forward AI Animated Film Festival, following significant online backlash from audiences and creators. The film was set to receive a two-week nationwide theatrical run as part of Screenvision Media's pre-show advertising content across multiple theater chains. This marks a critical moment in AI content's attempted entry into mainstream theatrical exhibition, highlighting the entertainment industry's tension between technological innovation and concerns about AI displacing human creative labor.
Technology
samsung.com
2026-02-19 23:00
Samsung has launched an upgraded version of its Bixby voice assistant integrated into One UI 8.5, its latest Android interface update. This matters because it represents Samsung's renewed effort to compete in the AI assistant space against dominant players like Google Assistant, Siri, and increasingly capable generative AI chatbots. The update affects Samsung's global user base of hundreds of millions of Galaxy device owners who will have access to enhanced AI capabilities.
Entertainment
The Guardian
2026-02-19 22:54
Full Article
Actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested on Mardi Gras in New Orleans after allegedly assaulting two men—one dressed in drag, one identifying as queer—while repeatedly using homophobic slurs. The victim, Jeffrey Damnit, is calling for hate crime charges under Louisiana law, arguing that LaBeouf's celebrity status without serious consequences would signal acceptance of anti-LGBTQ+ violence. This incident represents LaBeouf's latest in a pattern of arrests involving alleged bigoted behavior, including a 2017 incident with racist remarks and a 2014 arrest involving homophobic slurs.
Technology
Blizzard News
2026-02-19 22:45
Full Article
Blizzard Entertainment released patch 3.1.1 for Diablo II: Resurrected, addressing multiple technical bugs including game crashes, UI errors, and platform-specific issues particularly affecting Nintendo Switch users. The patch fixes critical gameplay problems such as the inability to craft certain runewords in online non-ladder mode and corrects various visual and stability issues introduced in the "Reign of the Warlock" update. This matters to the active player base of this remastered 20+ year-old game, ensuring continued playability and competitive integrity across platforms.
Health
Nature
2026-02-19 22:01
Researchers have developed a blood test using plasma p-tau217 levels that can predict approximately when individuals will begin showing symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. This breakthrough offers a non-invasive, accessible method to forecast disease progression before cognitive decline becomes apparent. The development matters significantly for early intervention strategies, clinical trial design, and allowing at-risk individuals to plan for their future care needs.
Technology
Push Square
2026-02-19 22:00
Full Article
A severe memory component shortage driven by AI companies' massive demand for storage (with single Nvidia AI GPUs requiring 20TB SSDs and consuming ~20% of global NAND production) is threatening to delay Sony's PS6 beyond its intended 2027 release, potentially to 2028-2029 or later. Phison's CEO warns this crisis could persist for another decade, affecting all consumer electronics manufacturers who must compete for the remaining 80% of memory production capacity at inflated prices. Sony has secured components only through 2026, leaving its next-generation console roadmap in jeopardy along with production of smartphones, TVs, and PCs.
Sports
MMA Fighting
2026-02-19 22:00
Full Article
UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes publicly rebuked fighter Sean Strickland after he made sexist comments during UFC Houston media day, claiming nobody cares about women's MMA and that women have been "empowered too much to ruin society." Nunes, who plans to return from retirement to fight Kayla Harrison for the bantamweight title, responded that women fulfill traditional roles while also excelling as fighters, telling Strickland to "don't cry, man." The incident highlights ongoing tensions around women's legitimacy in MMA, particularly as the sport expands with Netflix entering the market through a Rousey-Carano superfight.
Health
AOL.com
2026-02-19 21:38
Full Article
A University of Bonn study found that adults with metabolic syndrome who ate a calorie-restricted oatmeal-only diet for just two days achieved a 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol that remained stable for six weeks, apparently due to beneficial changes in gut microbiota. The research suggests short-term, periodic oat-based dietary interventions could help manage cholesterol and prevent diabetes without medication, though nutritionists warn diabetics should be cautious due to oats' high carbohydrate content. This matters because it presents a potentially accessible, low-cost dietary intervention for the millions suffering from metabolic syndrome and elevated cholesterol.
Technology
supercarblondie.com
2026-02-19 21:28
Full Article
Apple is developing camera-equipped AirPods with AI capabilities that can visually perceive the wearer's environment, expected to launch as early as 2027, alongside smart glasses and an AI wearable pin. The low-resolution cameras won't be for photography but will feed visual data to Apple's AI systems to enhance spatial audio and provide contextual awareness. This represents Apple's strategic push to embed AI sensors across its wearable ecosystem, competing directly with Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses while leveraging its existing AirPods market dominance.
Sports
BBC
2026-02-19 21:00
Full Article
Eileen Gu, a 22-year-old Chinese-American freestyle skier and the most decorated female Olympic freestyle skier in history, continues to generate intense controversy for her 2019 decision to compete for China instead of the US. Her $23.1 million earnings (largely from Chinese endorsements and a reported $14 million in Beijing government payments) and recent defense of US athletes criticizing America—while remaining silent on China's human rights record—has reignited accusations of hypocrisy and opportunism. The story matters because it crystallizes tensions between the world's two superpowers through the lens of individual athletic choice, national identity, and the commercialization of Olympic sport.
Science
Space
2026-02-19 20:00
Full Article
Astronomers using the Hubble and Euclid space telescopes have discovered CDG-2, an extremely rare "dark galaxy" located 245 million light-years away in the Perseus cluster, where dark matter comprises 99% of its mass (compared to the typical 5:1 ratio). This galaxy was detected solely through identifying four globular star clusters, with most of its stars apparently stripped away by gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies, leaving behind only a faint glow and tightly-packed clusters resistant to gravitational interference. The discovery demonstrates a new detection method for finding nearly invisible galaxies and provides crucial insights into how dark matter can completely dominate galactic structures.