From a record-breaking public health crisis in South Carolina to a stunning archaeological find in Mexico, here are the major developments you need to know this afternoon, alongside a look at how global politics is reshaping daily life from Havana to your local coffee shop.
A Minnesota pizza worker's audacious and poorly executed scheme to impersonate a federal officer and secure the release of Luigi Mangione, the man accused of assassinating a healthcare CEO, has resulted in his own arrest at a Brooklyn detention center.
Federal officials have issued provisional approval to relocate 30 beluga whales and four dolphins from the shuttered Ontario park to accredited U.S. aquariums, averting an immediate euthanasia threat pending final health and care plans.
As states finalize legislation before the 2026 elections, a conservative-leaning watchdog group highlights vulnerabilities in the voting system, pushing for reforms to curb foreign influence and clarify citizenship requirements for voters.
Sean Grayson receives maximum sentence for second-degree murder in the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black mother who had called 911 for help.
The Department of Homeland Security has significantly softened its initial characterization of the events leading to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by border agents, now describing the scene as involving 'several civilians' rather than a riot, raising questions about the justification for the use of deadly force.
Lawmakers are negotiating a short-term deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. The talks occur against the backdrop of heightened political pressure following recent violence in Minneapolis and a shift in the administration's enforcement rhetoric.
In a fiery address to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on local leaders nationwide to resist what he described as aggressive federal immigration enforcement, arguing such operations undermine public safety and constitutional rights.
A group of protesters in Lynwood, California, surrounded and harassed federal air marshals, incorrectly identifying them as immigration enforcement officers. The incident highlights the volatile climate surrounding immigration debates and the risks of misdirected activism.
Charles Broomfield, who once wore a '#1 Dad' lanyard, now faces murder charges after allegedly confessing to shooting his fiancée and her two teenage sons in their Grand Rapids home, while his own young child was spared.
Federal authorities have lodged an immigration detainer for a man charged with the brutal rape of an autistic teenager in Cathedral City, calling the case 'exceptionally heinous' and urging California officials to cooperate.
Nissan Motor Co. faced a 4.4% decline in global sales for 2025, with a sharper 6.7% drop in December, as weakness in key markets like China and Europe offset gains in North America.
German defense giant Rheinmetall has inked a significant, multi-year framework agreement to supply the Dutch armed forces with a range of hand grenades, deepening a strategic partnership that now spans artillery shells to infantry ordnance amid heightened European security concerns.
Tesla is discontinuing its flagship Model S sedan and Model X SUV, a strategic shift underscored by plummeting sales figures and Elon Musk's pivot toward robotics and autonomy.
Foreign women detained in Syria's Roj camp, linked to the Islamic State group, see a potential path to freedom following a government offensive that weakened their Kurdish guards. As political dynamics shift, their hopes for amnesty or repatriation collide with international reluctance and an uncertain future for the camps.
In a significant tactical shift, Islamist militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) utilized armed drones in a pre-dawn assault on a Nigerian military base in Borno state, resulting in multiple casualties. The attack underscores the growing sophistication of insurgent groups in the region's long-running conflict.
The European Union has taken the unprecedented step of designating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, triggering a sharp diplomatic crisis. Iran has denounced the move as illegal and politically motivated, vowing to respond.
Deutsche Bank and its asset manager DWS are in preliminary talks to acquire a significant minority stake in Fosun-owned Frankfurter Leben, signaling a strategic reversal a decade after exiting the sector.
Taiwan's economy surged 8.6% in 2025, its fastest growth since 2010, driven by a global AI boom and a landmark trade agreement with the United States. While analysts project a moderation in 2026, the island's pivotal role in the tech supply chain has delivered record profits for its leading firms.
Ethereum enters February 2026 under pressure, testing key support near $2,690 after a historically weak January. Analysts are divided on whether seasonal trends or shifting on-chain dynamics will dictate the month's direction.
