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Lead On Thursday, leaders from the 27-member European Union gathered at the 16th-century Alden Biesen castle in Bilzen-Hoeselt, Belgium to address intensifying external pressure from U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, economic coercion linked to China, and hybrid threats from Russia. The meeting, called to recalibrate trade and diplomatic strategy, produced urgent calls for policy … Read more

Feb. 12, 2026 — Climate advocates, lawmakers and public-health activists gathered outside the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington on Wednesday to condemn the Trump administration’s plan to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding that underpins federal greenhouse gas regulations. Organizers said the move, announced by the White House press secretary and scheduled to be finalized … Read more

Lead On Feb. 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Rich Leon in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction preventing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from censuring Sen. Mark Kelly over the Arizona Democrat’s appearance in a November video advising service members about refusing unlawful orders. The order also bars, for now, any move to strip Kelly of … Read more

Lead: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that invitations to a traditionally bipartisan governors’ meeting at the White House on Feb. 20 were sent to governors from both parties, while naming two Democratic exceptions: Maryland’s Wes Moore and Colorado’s Jared Polis. That claim conflicted with the National Governors Association (NGA), which said the White House … Read more

Lead: The Nasdaq slipped in today’s session as shares of Applovin and Cisco moved lower, while a cluster of data-center stocks posted notable gains. Market participants cited sector rotation and macroeconomic newsflow as drivers. Live coverage tracked intraday swings and color from traders across U.S. exchanges. Key Takeaways The Nasdaq traded down on the day, … Read more

Investigators searching for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie, found a set of gloves along a roadway near her Tucson home as the inquiry entered its 12th day on Thursday. The FBI conducted an extensive search Wednesday along multiple roadways in the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson and continues to offer … Read more

Formula 1 is poised for renewed talks about changing the race start sequence after testing of the 2026 cars exposed complex procedures that are raising safety concerns, The Race has learned. Teams and drivers reported that getting consistent getaways requires juggling turbo spooling for roughly 10 seconds while managing battery charge limits, increasing the chance … Read more

Bayern Munich reached the DFB-Pokal semi-finals with a 2-0 home win over RB Leipzig, a result that arrived after a testing January for the Bavarian club and has palpably lifted spirits around the squad and supporters. The match was decided by a clear goalkeeper foul that led to a penalty, and Bayern controlled large portions … Read more

Lead Friends and loved ones launched a GoFundMe for the family of actor James Van Der Beek after his death on February 11, 2026; by 9:15 a.m. ET on February 12 the page had topped $1 million. Van Der Beek, 48, had been publicly battling Stage 3 colorectal cancer since 2023. The fundraiser names his … Read more

U.S. existing-home sales plunged 8.4% month over month in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported, marking the slowest pace since December 2023 and the steepest monthly drop since February 2022. Sales were 4.4% below January 2025 levels. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun described the … Read more

Lead: On Feb. 12, 2026, Anthropic announced a $20 million contribution to a new super PAC operation aimed at backing federal candidates who support stronger AI safety rules, setting up a political clash with super PACs tied to OpenAI leaders and investors ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The donation marks a major escalation in … Read more

Lead: Christie Woodard, 53, of Easton, Maryland, says she uses a low-dose GLP-1 medication to preserve a healthy weight after gastric bypass surgery and years of mobility-limiting obesity. In 2023 she ran a half-marathon in Las Cruces, N.M., as part of a goal to complete half-marathons in all 50 states; she has finished 34 states … Read more

Lead: In Milan on Thursday, Team USA announced that 32-year-old Connor Hellebuyck will start the men’s ice hockey opener at the 2026 Winter Olympics against Latvia. Head coach Mike Sullivan made the decision after the morning skate, citing confidence in a three-goalie group that also includes Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger. Hellebuyck arrives in the … Read more

Bangladesh held its first national election since the 2024 student-led uprising that forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina into exile; ballots closed and counting began with results expected on Friday. More than 2,000 candidates contested 350 parliamentary seats, while the Awami League — Hasina’s party — was barred from running. Voters, including a large cohort … Read more

Lead Federal and state officials convened at a Senate Homeland Security hearing after an intensified immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis followed the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Testimony on Wednesday featured Minnesota leaders — including Attorney General Keith Ellison and Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell — and senior immigration officials defending Operation Metro … Read more