Veteran civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, one of the most influential Black political figures in modern American history, died on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, prompting an outpouring of tributes from political leaders and activists across the globe. He was 84. While the exact cause of death has not been officially confirmed, Jackson had been living for several years with progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological condition that affects movement and speech. Jackson rose to national p

The tragic death of actress Pratyusha, one of the most debated incidents in Telugu cinema history, has finally reached legal closure after 23 years. The Supreme Court delivered its long awaited verdict, ruling out allegations of rape and murder while upholding the conviction of Siddharth Reddy for abetment of suicide. The judgment marks the end of a prolonged legal battle that has remained a topic of public discussion since 2002. Pratyusha, who was just 20 years old at the time, was

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday warned that Russia is expected to continue launching large-scale strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, citing fresh intelligence assessments. The warning comes amid ongoing hostilities in the Ukraine war, now approaching its fourth year, and underscores growing concerns in Kyiv about the resilience of the country’s power grid during continued missile and drone attacks. Speaking about the latest intelligence findings, Zelensky

Apple announced on Monday that it plans to introduce a new integrated video podcast experience within Apple Podcasts later this spring, marking a significant step as video consumption continues to reshape the global podcast industry. The update is designed to give listeners and viewers greater flexibility while providing creators with expanded tools to distribute and monetize their content more effectively. The company’s move comes amid strong growth in video podcast viewership. According

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to begin a three-day visit to India on Tuesday, with high-level discussions expected to focus on artificial intelligence cooperation and a potential multibillion-dollar agreement involving Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets. The visit underscores the growing India-France relations and reflects both countries’ efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership across defence, technology, and economic sectors. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte

President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to those responsible for the alleged kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, stating that federal authorities will pursue the “most severe” penalties if she is harmed. The 84-year-old mother of television host Savannah Guthrie was reported abducted from her residence on February 1, 2026, triggering a nationwide law enforcement response and heightened public concern. In remarks during a recent interview, Trump said the perpetrators would face extrem

Eligible U.S. taxpayers will be able to deduct up to $10,000 in auto loan interest for the 2025 tax year under a temporary tax provision created through President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but financial analysts say the actual benefit for most car buyers will be far smaller than the headline figure suggests. While the deduction may appear generous at first glance, typical loan structures and interest payments mean that most borrowers are unlikely to approach the maximum all

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Russia has dismissed recent U.S. threats of tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, while stating it is exploring ways to assist the Caribbean nation amid a deepening fuel shortage. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the government seeks “constructive dialogue” with the United States regarding Cuba’s critical energy needs but stressed that public disputes over the matter are being avoided. He highlighted that Russia’s current trade with Cuba is limited, reducing the likelihood o

The Arctic, once considered remote and largely inaccessible, is emerging as a key area of global strategic interest. China has formally included its “Polar Silk Road” initiative within its broader Belt and Road strategy, signaling an expansion of influence in a region historically dominated by Arctic nations. By calling itself a “near-Arctic state,” Beijing is asserting that its economic and strategic interests extend well beyond its geographical borders, prompting concern from other glo

Microsoft’s head of artificial intelligence, Mustafa Suleyman, has triggered intense debate after warning that artificial intelligence could replace most white-collar jobs in the near future. Speaking about the accelerating pace of technological change, Suleyman said automation will not be limited to coders or IT professionals, but could extend to lawyers, accountants, project managers, marketers and other knowledge workers who spend most of their time working on computers. According to him, t

The city of Seattle has reached a $29 million settlement with the family of Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student from India, who was tragically killed in 2023 when a speeding police officer struck her. Kandula, a master's student at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, was hit by Officer Kevin Dave, who was driving at 74 mph (119 km/h) in a 25-mph (40 km/h) zone while responding to a drug overdose call. Though Dave had his emergency lights

US President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss a range of strategic issues, with the Iran nuclear deal emerging as a central topic of conversation. The meeting, held amid heightened regional tensions, underscored ongoing diplomatic efforts and disagreements surrounding Tehran’s nuclear programme and its broader military capabilities. Following the talks, Trump took to Truth Social to reiterate his administration’s position on nego

Amtrak will begin a significant phase of rail infrastructure work on Feb. 15 as crews transfer train operations from the aging Portal Bridge to the newly constructed Portal North Bridge across the Hackensack River, a month-long effort expected to disrupt regular service for thousands of daily commuters in northern New Jersey and New York City. The transition, commonly referred to as a cutover, is designed to prepare the new span to handle active rail traffic and marks a key step in a broader

A federal judge has sentenced a major fentanyl trafficker to life in prison, concluding a sweeping two-year investigation that dismantled one of the most significant drug distribution networks operating in West Texas. Authorities said the sentence marks the final conviction in Operation Top Shelf, a coordinated law enforcement effort that resulted in dozens of arrests and hundreds of years in combined prison time for those involved. Kurtney Bernard Jones, 38, known by the alias “K

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that tariff threats played a decisive role in resolving several international conflicts during his tenure, claiming that economic pressure through trade measures helped prevent violence and bring rival nations to the negotiating table. In an interview with Fox Business, Trump asserted that at least six of what he described as eight wars were settled after he warned countries that they would face higher tariffs if hostilities continued. Among