Arctic Initiative Launched, Olympic Medals Draw Criticism

NATO launched a new Arctic initiative on February 12, 2026, in response to concerns over security gaps in the region, particularly following threats from then-President Trump to take over Greenland. The move aims to address these concerns and smooth over relations, according to NPR.

The initiative was announced after President Trump's statements regarding Greenland, which prompted the Alliance to take action. The announcement was made on February 12, 2026, as reported by NPR.

In other news, the Olympic medals at this year's Winter Games in Milan have generated controversy due to reported defects and their price. Several athletes, including American skier Breezy Johnson, reported issues with their medals, such as detaching from their ribbons. Johnson, after earning her gold medal, warned other medalists, "Don't jump in them," according to NPR News.

Meanwhile, in the world of arts and culture, docmaker Grant Gee shifted his focus from rock musicians to jazz musician Bill Evans, and Berlin took notice. Gee's documentary, "Meeting People Is Easy," which followed Radiohead on a world tour, is considered a landmark, according to Variety.

In other news, a snapshot of a human brain, known as MMAcevedo, was captured on August 1, 2031, by researchers at the Uplift Laboratory at the University of New Mexico. This image, taken of neurology graduate Miguel Acevedo Álvarez, was the first to be captured with sufficient fidelity to be run in simulation on computer hardware, according to Hacker News.

Finally, the construction method of wattle-and-daub, which involves weaving sticks into a tapestry and then covering it with wet dirt, has been a mainstay for at least 6,000 years, predating mud bricks. Some buildings still have wattle-and-daub panels from 700 years ago, according to Works in Progress Magazine.