February 17, 2026
We are celebrating the lives of two men, who — though very different — were influential in their own ways. Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson and actor Robert Duvall both passed away this week.
🤍 Read their obituaries: Rev. Jesse Jackson & Robert Duvall
Happy New Year… again! If you’ve lost track of your 2026 resolutions, there is another opportunity for a fresh start: Lunar New Year begins today, ushering in the rare year of the Fire Horse. 🐴 Why this is no average year, according to the Chinese zodiac.
The moon and the sun are lining up to produce a rare “ring of fire” eclipse. But sky-watchers were recently reminded that the universe still holds spectacular mysteries beyond our reach when former President Barack Obama sparked a different kind of cosmic conversation. 🛸 Here’s what he said about the odds that there is extraterrestrial life.
Read on for more details on new accessories by Apple, the Stephen Colbert interview pulled from air, and how Pitbull intends to set a world record. Stay up-to-date on developing stories in the Particle app.
Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to reopen takeover talks with Paramount Skydance for the next seven days after getting a waiver from its preferred bidder, Netflix. This gives Paramount a final window to improve its offer, even as Warner’s board continues to back the Netflix deal. ➡️ What we know about Paramount’s bid
Accessories by Apple? The tech giant is reportedly working on new wearable devices, including glasses and a pendant. In the meantime, Apple is releasing iOS 26.4 in beta with major updates to podcasts and Apple Music. ➡️ Apple’s push to produce Siri-centered accessories ➡️ What to expect in iOS 26.4
Soon enough, you may be able to live forever... at least on your Meta accounts. A Meta patent describes AI personas that could continue posting after a user’s death. ➡️ More on how it works and what it means for our digital afterlife
Peace talks between representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. kicked off in Geneva today. Negotiators ended day one with no breakthroughs, so discussions will resume on Wednesday. ➡️ Why Ukraine’s Zelenskiy says Trump is putting pressure on him
Stephen Colbert said Monday that CBS lawyers told his team the interview he taped with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico could not air on broadcast TV and that he should not mention the decision on air. The Late Show released the interview on its YouTube channel instead. ➡️ Details on the FCC’s new equal-time guidance that led to this move
The White House rejected the latest offer from Democratic lawmakers for constraining federal immigration officers. The Department of Homeland Security will continue to go without funding until the two parties can reach an agreement. ➡️ How the DHS shutdown could impact your air travel
As we near the end of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Norway leads the medal count with 31 total, followed by Italy with 24, and the United States with 21. ➡️ It seems that athletes have made time for fun in the Olympic Village amid all the winter games…
Mister 305 wants to set a world record. Pitbull announced a very specific dress code for his BST Hyde Park show in July. Dale! ➡️ How Pitbull plans to set a Guinness World Record
Is there anything cuter than a tiny baby monkey? Yes — a tiny baby monkey who thinks a stuffed animal is his mother. ➡️ The viral story of a baby macaque named Punch