Politics

This week’s question: Boxing fans watching a bout at Madison Square Garden gasped in surprise when a flurry of punches knocked off heavyweight Jarrell Miller’s toupee, revealing a large bald spot. In seven or fewer words, come up with a …

If you want to know where artificial intelligence is headed, visit a hospital,said Te-Ping Chen and Chao Deng in The Wall Street Journal. Health care has become “the proving ground for widespread AI adoption.” Among health systems, 27% are currently …

‘Vigil: A Novel’ by George Saunders George Saunders’ slim new novel is “a strikingly weird work of modernfiction,” said Ron Charles in The Washington Post. Like Lincoln in the Bardo, the author’s 2017 Booker Prize winner, Vigil concerns the liminal …

What happened The House of Representatives on Tuesday narrowly approved legislation to fund most of the federal government through Sept. 30 and the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 13. The $1.2 trillion package passed 217-214, with 21 Democrats joining …

CROSSWORD – February 13, 2026 (Image credit: Future) SUDOKU – February 13, 2026 (Image credit: Future)

High drama continues in Westminster, as Keir Starmer ordered the release of files relating to his government’s appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Mandelson was sacked from his US posting last September after emails emerged showing him continuing his …

Europe is eager to wean itself off its reliance on US technology in the face of an increasingly hostile Trump administration – one that commands the loyalty of most of Silicon Valley. France is preparing to phase out Zoom, Teams …

Sex doesn’t sell like it used to. That was the major takeaway from the latest Teens & Screens survey from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), looking into the viewing habits of 10- to 24-year-olds in the US. While it …

The decision to choose Sean Bean as the new host for the latest series of “Get Birding” was met with “a raised eyebrow or two”, said Gerard O’Donovan in The Telegraph. But the “Game of Thrones” star has been a …

The federal occupation of Minnesota has, in many ways, been a war of dueling cameras, with observers documenting Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions and masked government agents filming content for the White House to share. Beyond the government’s appetite for …

As Hollywood gears up for the March 15 Academy Awards ceremony, the film world continues to turn with February releases. Whether these five features will be part of next year’s Oscar conversation is anyone’s guess, but audiences reeling from a …

‘Send Help’ Directed by Sam Raimi (R) ★★★ “The most purely enjoyable Sam Raimi film in years,” Send Help is a horror-comedy that has “the potential to be timeless,” said Alison Foreman in IndieWire. A “rigorously committed” Rachel McAdams stars …

‘Want to make a difference? Donate your kidney.’ German Lopez at The New York Times “You should consider donating your kidney,” says German Lopez. In a “time that feels increasingly chaotic and out of control, helping people, directly and materially, …

The value of the U.S. dollar has been on a steady decline, but one person who doesn’t seem worried is President Donald Trump. On the contrary, Trump has been lauding the dollar’s fall as a positive thing for the U.S. …

What happened Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Monday that President Donald Trump ordered her to Atlanta last week for a controversial FBI raid to seize 2020 ballots and voter information from Fulton County. She also acknowledged, in a …

What happened The Justice Department has reportedly demoted conservative activist Ed Martin from his role as President Donald Trump’s “weaponization czar,” leading a working group to investigate and punish alleged cases of prosecutorial overreach against Trump and his allies. Martin …

What happened President Donald Trump said over the weekend he did not plan to completely tear down the Kennedy Center, but needed to close it down for two years for renovations so extensive that the steel structure will be “fully …

The deaths of six British people who had gone on holiday to Cape Verde have sparked a “bombshell legal move” against the TUI tourism group, said The Sun. UK law firm Irwin Mitchell says it has launched High Court proceedings …

The next seven days are “make or break” for avoiding conflict between Iran and the US, said Sky News international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn. “Fingers are on the trigger and one misstep could lead to repercussions which will be felt …

It may be time to hit the road in pursuit of scientific research. Millions of animals are struck by vehicles every year and killed as a result. These accidents have even pushed some species to extinction. While roadkill is never …

For those of a certain age it’s likely that your introduction to the work of Franco Zeffirelli was his adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet”, in my case watched on a rainy day in school when the dreamy scenes of Italy …

In Northern Ireland, where the Irish language is a proxy battleground between Unionists and Nationalists, dual-language signs have become a “key point of contention at Stormont”, said the BBC. In October, Belfast City Council approved a draft policy to promote …

Located around Yokohama train station, there is an “especially unique watering hole”, specifically designed for customers who are contemplating quitting their jobs, said Japan Today. At Tenshoku Sodan Bar, the bartenders are all trained counsellors, who offer impartial advice which …

At times, the simplest tasks, such as responding to emails, scheduling appointments and paying bills, can pile up. Then you suddenly have one tedious mountain of a to-do list. Tackling such monotonous tasks may seem unappealing, but a viral TikTok …

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration, and now he has found his latest target: Newsom has filed a civil rights complaint against Dr. Mehmet Oz, the head of the Centers for Medicare …

How many people has Trump pardoned? A year into his second term, President Trump has issued more than 1,700 acts of clemency—both pardons that fully erase federal convictions and commutations that lessen sentences. In his entire first term, he issued …

“When I first saw the photograph of Liam Conejo Ramos,” said Ka Vang in The Minnesota Star Tribune, “my breath caught.” The 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy, detained last week by federal immigration agents on his way home from school in suburban …

“So: Was it worth it?” asked Judson Berger in National Review. The long saga of President Trump’s fixation with owning Greenland appeared to end last week with a merciful whimper. In a rambling address to the World Economic Forum in …

Vilnius has exactly what you want in a major European city — preserved historic quarters, a vibrant food scene and spirited arts community — with the bonus of manageable crowds and a focus on sustainability. Explore the city’s heart Gediminas …

American presidents going back to Dwight Eisenhower have tried to dislodge the Communist regime in Cuba. None succeeded. President Donald Trump thinks he may have found the pathway by cutting off Havana’s access to oil. The U.S. president on Thursday …

Seeing our loved ones age is not always easy, and now there is the added threat of ever-increasing financial scams that they may fall victim to. While fraudsters can and do target people of any age, seniors tend to be …

‘How the world fell in love with climbing’ Josh Noble at the Financial Times That “climbing has piqued the interest of the world’s largest subscription streaming service is a sign of how big the pursuit has become,” says Josh Noble. …