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At present’s prime tales
Funding for the Division of Homeland Safety ran out final week, triggering a 3rd partial authorities shutdown in three months. The company shut down after lawmakers failed to fulfill a Friday deadline to fund DHS and its workforce of over 260,000 individuals. The funding lapse factors to a higher subject: Congress’s constant failure to do its job on time. Take a look at these 5 issues you must know concerning the shutdown.
The Division of Homeland Safety signal is seen outdoors its headquarters on Feb. 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Alex Wong/Getty Photos
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Alex Wong/Getty Photos
- 🎧 The White Home and Democrats have been buying and selling gives, however a number of roadblocks stand in the way in which of an settlement, NPR’s Sam Gringlas tells Up First. Democrats say Republicans’ proposals to reform immigration enforcement techniques are inadequate. The GOP calls Democrats’ calls for, together with judicial warrants for some enforcement operations, unreasonable. Based mostly on how rapidly lawmakers left Washington, D.C., on Thursday for a weeklong recess, Gringlas concludes that either side stand removed from a deal. Individuals usually are not anticipated to note the impacts of the partial shutdown except it actually drags on.
As Russia’s warfare towards Ukraine nears its fourth anniversary, officers from each nations and the U.S. are set to fulfill in Geneva tomorrow. The officers will conduct one other spherical of negotiations targeted on ending the warfare.
- 🎧 The Kremlin claims it prefers diplomacy over battle, however insists that Russia’s victory is inevitable. NPR’s Charles Maynes says that Russia makes use of these speaking factors in its negotiations with the White Home, aiming to persuade the U.S. that Ukraine’s mission is hopeless. The Kremlin suggests that after the warfare is settled, the U.S. and Russia can resume enterprise, opening up main funding alternatives. Russia is demanding that Ukraine hand over territory. Ukraine counters Russia by arguing towards giving up territory that Russia hasn’t been in a position to declare through the warfare.
Over the weekend, the Winter Olympics noticed some wonderful performances by U.S. athletes, in addition to stumbles from high-profile names. U.S. velocity skater Jordan Stolz gained his second Olympic gold. In the meantime, others, comparable to U.S. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin, fell in need of a medal.
- 🎧 Determine skater Ilia Malinin, who fell repeatedly in his determine skating program on Friday, knowledgeable reporters that his preparation for the Olympics unraveled. Dr. Sahen Gupta, a sports activities efficiency psychologist on the College of Portsmouth, research this phenomenon, referred to as the “yips” or “twisties.” Gupta says that whereas athletes practice to deal with stress with strategies like meditation to quiet the mind, the distinctive Olympic stress can generally overwhelm this coaching. NPR’s Brian Mann says specialists have instructed him that athletes usually be taught from Olympic setbacks and return stronger.
Image present
Residents of the remoted village of Mphooko wave as a staff from the Lesotho Flying Physician Providers departs after a day treating sufferers within the village. Mphooko is inaccessible by highway, and depends on the LFDS for primary medical care.
Tommy Trenchard for NPR
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Tommy Trenchard for NPR
The Lesotho Flying Physician Service is a band of airborne well being employees who ship important medical care to remoted communities within the southern African nation. Lesotho, known as the Kingdom within the Sky, is the world’s solely nation totally above 4,593 ft. Its rugged terrain makes highway transport practically unattainable, leaving roughly 300,000 individuals with out dependable entry to well being care. For many years, the service was their lifeline till President Trump’s assist cuts in January 2025 all however severed it. After a tumultuous yr, the flying docs now purpose to bounce again stronger, extra environment friendly, and fewer reliant — with or with out U.S. assist. Check out these images exhibiting the work the docs do of their neighborhood.
Behind the story
by Frank Langfitt, NPR’s roving nationwide correspondent
Ice boat racer and sailor, Ray Gauthier, sails throughout the ice at Claiborne Touchdown, in Claiborne, Md., on Monday.
Wesley Lapointe for NPR
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Wesley Lapointe for NPR
As NPR covers the Winter Olympics in Italy, an obscure winter sport — ice boating — has loved a renaissance again dwelling through the latest deep freeze. The extended low temperatures froze rivers, lakes and bays, offering a few of the greatest ice boating situations in many years.
NPR’s Frank Langfitt joined ice boaters lately on the Chesapeake Bay and even skippered a vessel himself.
I am a sailor who lives in Annapolis. When ice started to cowl the bay, my social media feed lit up with movies of those sleek picket vessels gliding alongside sheer ice. I reached out by way of Fb to a gaggle of ice boaters on Maryland’s Jap Shore who have been offering free rides to scores of curious spectators. Even in case you have no real interest in crusing, ice boating is a revelation. The boats journey on three slim metallic blades, making a sail virtually frictionless. Which means ice boats can usually journey at greater than thrice the velocity of the wind. It is breathlessly thrilling and entertaining. I went out for half an hour with an ice boater. Even in a gentle breeze, we hit speeds of practically 30 mph. Because the wind dropped, I took an ice boat for a short sail and located it surprisingly easy. The boat has only one sail, and also you steer through the use of a picket tiller to show the entrance blade. Pay attention and be taught extra about my ice boating expertise. You can too learn my story and see images of individuals in motion out on the ice.
3 issues to know earlier than you go
On this picture from video supplied by NASA, a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Individuals Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev, approaches the Worldwide House Station for docking on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.
NASA/AP/NASA
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NASA/AP/NASA
- The 4 members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission docked on the Worldwide House Station on Saturday. The crew will spend eight months conducting experiments to organize for human exploration past Earth’s orbit.
- Former President Barack Obama responded to the racist AI video depicting him as an ape that Trump’s social media account posted earlier this month.
- Tons of of well-wishers welcomed the Buddhist monks with rose petals, conventional lion dances, and chants as they returned to their east Fort Value, Texas, temple after their 2,300-mile cross-country stroll for peace. (through KERA)
This article was edited by Yvonne Dennis and Suzanne Nuyen.
