Actor James Van Der Beek, best known for his roles in "Dawson's Creek" and "Varsity Blues," died at the age of 48, according to a note posted on his Instagram page. The news, announced on February 11, 2026, was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues.
Van Der Beek's Instagram post stated that he "passed peacefully this morning" and that he "met his final days with courage, faith, and grace." The post also mentioned that there was "much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time," but requested privacy for the family during their grieving period. Van Der Beek was also known for his appearances at events such as the FOX Winter Press Day in Los Angeles.
In other news, the small Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge is reeling from a mass shooting at a local secondary school and home that left nine people dead and at least 25 wounded. The remote community, located 415 miles northeast of Vancouver, is struggling to comprehend the tragedy. According to The Guardian, the principal of Tumbler Ridge secondary school, Stacie Gruntman, immediately put the school in lockdown upon receiving reports of a shooter. "No words that capture the horror," the publication stated.
The community of just 2,500 people is described as close-knit, and residents expressed shock and disbelief. "I will know every victim," one resident stated, highlighting the devastating impact of the event.
Meanwhile, in Madagascar, Cyclone Gezani caused widespread devastation, killing at least 31 people. The cyclone made landfall on Tuesday, hitting the island's main port, Toamasina. The disaster management office reported "total chaos," with houses collapsing and neighborhoods plunged into darkness due to snapped power lines. "What happened is a disaster, nearly 75 of the city of Toamasina was destroyed," according to the country's military leader.
In Los Angeles, the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, testified in an ongoing trial examining the mental health effects of the social media platform. Mosseri, who has led Instagram for eight years, was questioned in court regarding whether the platform is intentionally addictive and harms young users. Lawyers for Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, have argued that the lead plaintiff in the case was negatively impacted by other factors in her life, not her use of Instagram.
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