Lead On 19 February 2026 Nature published a multi-institution study led by Axel Schmidt and Kerstin U. Ludwig that examines how human host factors shape long-term Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) persistence. The paper, received 16 July 2025 and accepted 12 February 2026 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10274-4), brings together genomic, single-cell and immunology expertise from centers in Japan, Germany, … Read more
Lead AMC Theatres has declined to participate in a planned national pre-show run of an AI-generated short after social media backlash. The short, Igor Alferov’s Thanksgiving Day, was announced as the winner of the inaugural Frame Forward AI Animated Film Festival and was slated for a two-week national exposure via Screenvision Media’s pre-show. AMC told … Read more
Lead The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) praised Secretary Collins’ decision in 2026 to halt the implementation of a Department of Veterans Affairs rule that would have allowed medication-driven changes to affect evaluation ratings for service-connected disabilities. The pause safeguards veterans’ benefits while federal officials review the concerns raised by veterans and advocates. DAV said the … Read more
Lead The National Governors Association (NGA) withdrew from an annual White House meeting this week after President Donald Trump declined to invite Democratic governors Jared Polis of Colorado and Wes Moore of Maryland, undercutting a rare bipartisan forum in Washington. The president is still expected to meet with governors at the White House on Friday, … Read more
Lead: Robin Vos, the long-serving Republican leader in the Wisconsin Assembly, announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the year, ending a 22-year legislative tenure and 14 years as speaker. The announcement came from the Assembly floor in Madison and caps a career defined by major policy wins for conservatives, hard-fought redistricting … Read more
Lead: In February 2026, NASA’s top official formally classified Boeing’s 2024 Starliner crewed flight as a “Type A” mishap and acknowledged agency mistakes in oversight and decision-making. The mission had docked successfully with the International Space Station in summer 2024, but severe thruster problems during approach left commander Butch Wilmore wrestling for control. After weeks … Read more
Lead The husband of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, has been barred from the Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington after at least two female staff members reported that he touched them inappropriately, according to people briefed on the case. One alleged incident, on the morning of Dec. 18, was captured on the … Read more
Lead: On Feb. 19, 2026, Bank of America Corp. confirmed it will deploy $25 billion of its own cash into private-credit transactions, marking a significant expansion of the bank’s direct-lending activity. The investments will be originated through the capital-markets arm inside its investment-banking unit, according to people familiar with the plans. The move places Bank … Read more
Trump warns Iran ‘bad things’ if no ‘meaningful’ nuclear deal, hints 10-day deadline 19 February 2026 — At the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington on Thursday, President Donald Trump warned Iran that “bad things” would follow unless Tehran agreed to a “meaningful” settlement on its nuclear program and appeared to set a roughly … Read more
The Seattle Seahawks were formally placed on the market Wednesday, beginning a process that is expected to deliver a fourth owner in the franchise’s more than 50-year history within roughly the next year. The sale follows the Paul G. Allen estate’s decision to list the team after a clause tied to Referendum 48 — which … Read more
As the 2025 NFL season recedes into memory, a handful of high-profile narratives dominate headlines — Myles Garrett’s single-season sack record and Matthew Stafford’s MVP campaign among them. Yet NFL Pro’s analytics also highlight lesser-heralded contributors who posted remarkably efficient seasons across positions. Between February 2025 and the close of the regular season, a mix … Read more
On Feb. 19, 2026, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told ministers at the International Energy Agency’s annual meeting in Paris that Washington may withdraw from the agency unless it stops promoting climate-driven policies. Wright characterized the IEA’s net-zero-by-2050 roadmap as unnecessary and called for a renewed emphasis on energy security. The statement, delivered at a … Read more
Lead Meta is refocusing its Horizon Worlds social platform almost entirely on mobile after a string of Reality Labs cuts that included roughly 10% staff reductions, three VR studio closures, and the end of new content for the Supernatural fitness app. Reality Labs VP Samantha Ryan said the company will explicitly separate its Quest VR … Read more
Lead: Walmart reported higher same-store sales for the quarter ended Jan. 31, driven in large part by shoppers from higher-income households, company leaders said on a Feb. earnings call. The retailer said households earning more than $100,000 accounted for the majority of its share gains, while consumers earning below $50,000 remain financially stretched. Executives flagged … Read more
Lead Two sisters, Caroline Sekar, 45, of San Francisco, and Liz Clabaugh, 52, of Boise, Idaho, were killed in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday at the end of a three-day backcountry skiing trek. The incident occurred on a trail in the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada and struck a close-knit group … Read more
