A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four new crew members blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday, February 13, 2026, marking the start of a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch, which occurred at 5:15 a.m. EST, replaced four fliers who returned to Earth early last month due to a medical issue, according to CBS News (Source 1).
The Crew-12 mission included Commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway, European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. This launch occurred while NASA's Artemis II moon mission was on hold.
In other news, sex workers at Sheri's Ranch brothel in Pahrump, Nevada, are seeking to unionize, aiming to become the first in the U.S. to do so. A worker at the brothel, using the stage name Jupiter Jetson, stated, "We want the same things that any other worker wants. We want a safe and respectful workplace," according to CBS News (Source 2). The majority of the 74 sex workers at the brothel submitted a petition to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board last week under the name United Brothel Workers.
Meanwhile, the CIA released a new Mandarin-language recruitment video targeting Chinese military officers. The video depicts a fictional officer grappling with corruption within the People's Liberation Army and ultimately deciding to contact the American intelligence agency. CIA Director John Ratcliffe described China as the agency's top intelligence priority, according to CBS News (Source 3).
The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Italy, with competition beginning on February 4 and continuing through the closing ceremony on February 22. The Paralympics will follow in March. Venues in Italy are six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Norway currently leads the medal count, followed by the United States and Italy, according to CBS News (Source 4).
Finally, the House of Representatives voted this week to overturn President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada. The vote, which saw Republican defectors, is likely symbolic, as the measure faces challenges in the Senate and a potential veto from Trump, according to ABC News (Source 5). Analysts suggest the bipartisan opposition reflects growing concern about the levies as members approach the midterm elections.
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