Europe moves to shore up defenses amid US uncertainty

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Lead At the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas urged Europe to take a lead role in its own defense while continuing to rely on NATO’s trans‑Atlantic framework. She warned that Russia presents a strategic threat beyond the Donbas, citing cyberattacks, satellite disruption, undersea‑cable sabotage, energy coercion and a nuclear … Read more

Is XRP Headed to $1?

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Lead: XRP has fallen roughly 25% so far in 2026, raising fresh questions about whether the token can recover to previous levels or will slide further. The decline has coincided with a broader rotation of capital into AI-related assets and away from high-volatility crypto plays. Ripple’s payments integrations give XRP real-world use cases, but macro … Read more

Pentagon Brief Blacklist Sparks Alibaba-Led Tech Selloff

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Lead On 16 February 2026 a short-lived Pentagon posting that briefly listed some of China’s largest technology firms as aiding the military prompted an immediate market reaction in Hong Kong, with Alibaba shares falling more than 3%. The update appeared on the U.S. Federal Register and included Alibaba, BYD and Baidu, and two memory-chip makers, … Read more

RFK Jr. says ultraprocessed food manufacturers hijacked GRAS ‘loophole’

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Lead: On Feb. 15, 2026, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argued that a 67-year-old regulatory exemption known as GRAS has allowed food companies to introduce thousands of minimally reviewed ingredients into the U.S. food supply, contributing to a diet in which ultraprocessed items make up roughly half of what Americans eat … Read more

EU foreign policy chief criticises ‘fashionable euro-bashing’ by US

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Lead On 15 February 2026 at the Munich Security Conference, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected US assertions that Europe faces ‘civilisational erasure’, calling such lines of argument ‘fashionable euro-bashing’. Her remarks came amid tense transatlantic exchanges at the three-day gathering, where Ukraine, NATO burden-sharing and migration loomed large. Kallas also warned the US … Read more

Measles exposure at Philadelphia International Airport prompts vaccine advisory

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Philadelphia health officials on Monday alerted travelers after a confirmed measles case passed through Terminal E at Philadelphia International Airport on Thursday, February 12, 2026, between 1:35 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health asked anyone who was in the area during that window to check their vaccination status and monitor for … Read more

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5 Review

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Feb 16, 2026 Lead: Episode 5 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, titled “In the Name of the Mother,” aired on Feb 16, 2026 and centers on a brutal Trial of Seven that reshapes the season’s stakes. The installment intercuts present combat with a substantive flashback that reveals Dunk’s formative losses and moral code. … Read more

Iran Says Energy, Mining and Aircraft Deals on Table in Talks With U.S.

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Iran told negotiators and the press this week that potential energy, mining and aircraft contracts are being discussed alongside nuclear terms, as Geneva talks between Tehran and Washington resumed in mid-February 2026. Diplomats on both sides framed the negotiations as a test of whether sanctions relief can be traded for verifiable curbs on Iran’s nuclear … Read more

Seahawks hire Brian Fleury as offensive coordinator

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Lead The Seattle Seahawks have hired Brian Fleury, the San Francisco 49ers’ run-game coordinator and tight ends coach, as their next offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports confirmed Sunday. Head coach Mike Macdonald had emphasized a desire for continuity when replacing Klint Kubiak but ultimately chose an external candidate with deep ties to the Kyle … Read more

2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards — Winners and Highlights

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Lead On Sunday, March 2026, the Film Independent Spirit Awards were held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, where Train Dreams emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking best feature along with director and cinematography honors. The ceremony recognized independent film and television across gender-neutral acting categories and international entries from 18 countries. Other … Read more

Team Stars Prevails in Competitive Debut of New All‑Star Format

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Lead On Feb. 15, 2026 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Team Stars defeated Team Stripes 47-21 to win the final of the NBA’s revamped All‑Star mini‑tournament. Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards was named Most Valuable Player after a tying 3‑pointer in the opening round and eight points in the championship game. The three‑team format — … Read more

Selling Sunset’s Jason Oppenheim and Girlfriend Jessica Vargas Break Up

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Jason Oppenheim and girlfriend Jessica Vargas have ended their romantic relationship, sources tell TMZ. The split was reported on Feb. 15, 2026, with people close to the couple saying they separated about two weeks earlier while both were in Hawaii for a friend’s wedding. Despite the change in status, the pair remain on civil and … Read more

Intermittent fasting no better than typical weight loss diets, study finds

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Researchers leading a Cochrane-style review published on 16 February 2026 report that intermittent fasting yields no clear advantage over standard dietary advice for people with overweight or obesity. The analysis pooled randomized trials from 22 studies involving 1,995 adults across Europe, North America, China, Australia and South America and found average weight loss from fasting … Read more

Wunmi Mosaku Says She Can’t Celebrate Oscar Nomination Because of ICE Killings

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Lead Wunmi Mosaku — nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actress for Sinners — told The Sunday Times she has been unable to celebrate the nomination because of the recent killings of two U.S. citizens, Renée Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minnesota and the reported kidnapping of a five-year-old boy. … Read more