Lunar New Year Celebrations, International Talks, and Tech Developments Dominate Headlines
BEIJING, GENEVA, LONDON - February 16, 2026 - Celebrations for the Lunar New Year, international diplomatic efforts, and developments in the technology sector dominated the news cycle on Tuesday. While people in Beijing ushered in the Year of the Horse with traditional festivities, diplomats in Geneva engaged in crucial talks regarding both the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Iran's nuclear program. Simultaneously, the tech world saw developments in AI regulation and copyright disputes.
In Beijing, the Lunar New Year was marked by traditional prayers, fireworks, and street fairs, according to ABC News. Thousands of people gathered at the former Temple of Earth to purchase snacks, toys, and trinkets. Sun Jing, who brought her parents to the capital for the holiday, noted the lively atmosphere, reminiscent of her childhood. The celebrations, which included the presence of 21st-century humanoid robots, followed the Year of the Snake.
Meanwhile, in Geneva, diplomatic efforts were underway on multiple fronts. The second round of talks between the United States and Iran, aimed at resolving disputes over Tehran's nuclear program, began in the Omani mission building, as reported by BBC World. US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters, expressed his belief that Iran wanted to reach a deal. Simultaneously, a third round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations took place in the Swiss city, brokered by the US, according to BBC World. These talks occurred a week before the fourth anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, expectations for a breakthrough remained low, as Moscow maintained its maximalist demands. Russia's strikes on Ukraine continued nightly, damaging the country's power grid.
The technology sector also saw significant developments. Chinese tech giant ByteDance pledged to curb its AI video-making tool, Seedance, following legal threats from Disney and complaints from other entertainment giants, as reported by BBC Technology. The app's latest version had generated numerous videos online, sparking concerns over copyright infringement. In London, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer pledged to crack down on "addictive elements" of social media, including AI chatbots, according to BBC Technology. Starmer stated the government would respond more quickly to close loopholes in laws designed to protect children online, following the "battle" with X over its AI assistant Grok. Government proposals also included measures requiring tech giants to preserve all data on a child's phone if they die.
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