Magnus Carlsen of Norway secured the 2026 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship on Sunday, February 15, 2026, after drawing the final game against Fabiano Caruana of the USA in Weissenhaus, Germany, according to Hacker News. The victory marked the first official FIDE-recognized Freestyle Chess World Championship.
The decisive moment of the match came in game three, where Carlsen won from a seemingly lost position, shifting the match in his favor, as reported by Hacker News. Entering the final game, Carlsen needed only a draw to secure the title, which he achieved in an equal endgame after Caruana missed opportunities to mount a comeback. Both finalists have qualified for the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship.
In other news, President Donald Trump held a campaign-style rally at Fort Bragg, an active Army base in North Carolina, on Friday, urging troops to vote for Republicans and criticizing Democrats, according to Time. Trump entered the base to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" and ended the event with the Village People's "Y.M.C.A." He shared the stage with Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman and Senate candidate, while touting his military spending plans and celebrating his restoration of the Fort Bragg name. "You have to vote for us," Trump told the troops Friday, highlighting his move to restore the Fort Bragg name after Congress directed the Pentagon to do so, according to Time.
Meanwhile, in Japan, a new leader has emerged. After a record-breaking election victory last week, the first woman to lead Japan after decades of rule by older men is now stronger than ever, having called a snap election and led her party to winning 316 of the 465 seats in the lower house of Japan's parliament, according to Time. She is keen to revise her country's pacifist constitution and rebuild its military. She favors big government and public spending to spur growth and is an unabashed conservative who prefers strict immigration controls. Japan has been struggling with a pervasive sense of stagnation and disillusionment, according to Time.
Elsewhere, the Lesotho Flying Doctor Service continues its vital work, providing medical care to isolated villages inaccessible by road. According to NPR News, residents of the isolated village of Mphooko rely on the LFDS for basic medical care. Dental therapist Senate Makhoali, according to NPR News, endures challenging flights to reach patients, highlighting the dedication of the service.
Finally, in the world of sports, Dutch speedskating enthusiasts were hoping for a strong performance from Femke Kok in the Olympic 500-meter women's speedskating competition in Milan, according to Time. Jutta Leerdam, who had already secured a gold medal in the 1000-meter race, was expected to finish second in the 500, which is Kok's strong suit, according to Time.
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