Rio Tinto is increasing its stake in Nemaska Lithium, a Canadian lithium miner, signaling a strategic move to secure resources for the burgeoning electric vehicle battery market. This investment highlights the ongoing competition among industry leaders to control the supply chain of critical materials, with implications for the future of sustainable transportation and global resource control.

Rio Tinto is increasing its stake in Nemaska Lithium, a Canadian lithium miner, signaling a strategic move to secure resources for the burgeoning electric vehicle battery market. This investment highlights the ongoing competition among industry leaders to control the supply chain of critical materials, with implications for the future of sustainable transportation and global resource control.

Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, and SanDisk saw significant pre-market gains, fueling a 0.3% rise in S&P 500 futures as investors responded to buying opportunities. This positive movement reflects a shift in market sentiment, with specific technology stocks leading the charge.

Nvidia, Palo Alto Networks, and SanDisk saw significant pre-market gains, fueling a 0.3% rise in S&P 500 futures as investors responded to buying opportunities. This positive movement reflects a shift in market sentiment, with specific technology stocks leading the charge.

California schools and cities face severe budget shortfalls due to settlements from historical sexual abuse cases, leading to infrastructure failures and potential insolvency. This financial strain highlights the long-term societal consequences of past misconduct, forcing difficult decisions about resource allocation and public services.

California schools and cities face severe budget shortfalls due to settlements from historical sexual abuse cases, leading to infrastructure failures and potential insolvency. This financial strain highlights the long-term societal consequences of past misconduct, forcing difficult decisions about resource allocation and public services.

An Indian AI lab has launched new open-source large language models, including models with advanced architectures to reduce computing costs, aiming to compete with larger global AI systems. This initiative reflects India's strategy to develop AI tailored to local needs and reduce dependence on foreign technology, potentially reshaping the AI landscape. The models offer improved capabilities, such as longer context windows for complex tasks, and are trained from scratch, showcasing a significant advancement in the field.

An Indian AI lab has launched new open-source large language models, including models with advanced architectures to reduce computing costs, aiming to compete with larger global AI systems. This initiative reflects India's strategy to develop AI tailored to local needs and reduce dependence on foreign technology, potentially reshaping the AI landscape. The models offer improved capabilities, such as longer context windows for complex tasks, and are trained from scratch, showcasing a significant advancement in the field.

Heron Power, led by a former Tesla executive, secured $140 million in funding to accelerate the deployment of solid-state transformers, a technology poised to revolutionize power distribution for data centers and the grid. This rapid investment reflects the growing demand for advanced power solutions, with the company aiming to meet customer requests for over 40 gigawatts of these innovative transformers.

Heron Power, led by a former Tesla executive, secured $140 million in funding to accelerate the deployment of solid-state transformers, a technology poised to revolutionize power distribution for data centers and the grid. This rapid investment reflects the growing demand for advanced power solutions, with the company aiming to meet customer requests for over 40 gigawatts of these innovative transformers.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are underway, highlighted by a silver medal win for the U.S. men's cross-country ski team and the unexpected appearance of a dog during the women's qualification round. The games feature various competitions, including curling, ice hockey, and skiing events, with the U.S. women's ice hockey team vying for a medal, and American athletes like Nick Goepper showcasing their talents.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are underway, highlighted by a silver medal win for the U.S. men's cross-country ski team and the unexpected appearance of a dog during the women's qualification round. The games feature various competitions, including curling, ice hockey, and skiing events, with the U.S. women's ice hockey team vying for a medal, and American athletes like Nick Goepper showcasing their talents.

Drawing from multiple news sources, a man is on trial in Austria for gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died of hypothermia on a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner. Prosecutors allege the experienced climber, identified as Thomas P, made critical errors and abandoned his girlfriend near the summit in stormy conditions, while his defense claims the death was a tragic accident, sparking debate about criminal liability in mountain sports.

Drawing from multiple news sources, a man is on trial in Austria for gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died of hypothermia on a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner. Prosecutors allege the experienced climber, identified as Thomas P, made critical errors and abandoned his girlfriend near the summit in stormy conditions, while his defense claims the death was a tragic accident, sparking debate about criminal liability in mountain sports.

Multiple news sources report that illegal and dangerous skin lightening creams, containing harmful ingredients like hydroquinone and mercury, are being sold in UK butchers, specialist food shops, and online, according to a warning from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). These products, which can cause skin damage and other health complications, are driven by societal pressures like colorism, as highlighted by the CTSI and the BBC, with one individual sharing their experience of using such products.

Multiple news sources report that illegal and dangerous skin lightening creams, containing harmful ingredients like hydroquinone and mercury, are being sold in UK butchers, specialist food shops, and online, according to a warning from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). These products, which can cause skin damage and other health complications, are driven by societal pressures like colorism, as highlighted by the CTSI and the BBC, with one individual sharing their experience of using such products.

Drawing from multiple news sources, actor Jonathan Roumie, known for his role in "The Chosen," is promoting the Hallow prayer app's 40-day Lent challenge, themed "The Return," to help believers find peace and resilience amidst increasing cultural noise. Roumie emphasizes the importance of meditation and prayer during Lent, a period of reflection leading up to Easter, as a way to connect with God and counter the distractions of modern life.

Drawing from multiple news sources, actor Jonathan Roumie, known for his role in "The Chosen," is promoting the Hallow prayer app's 40-day Lent challenge, themed "The Return," to help believers find peace and resilience amidst increasing cultural noise. Roumie emphasizes the importance of meditation and prayer during Lent, a period of reflection leading up to Easter, as a way to connect with God and counter the distractions of modern life.

This news bulletin from February 18th, 2026, compiled from multiple sources, highlights key events across Europe and the world, including the Spring Festival gala featuring advanced humanoid robots in China, disputes involving the US ambassador in Belgium, and discussions around EU trade deals and Eurobonds. Other stories include the honoring of Rita Lee at the Rio Carnival and Germany's Rose Monday floats satirizing world leaders.

This news bulletin from February 18th, 2026, compiled from multiple sources, highlights key events across Europe and the world, including the Spring Festival gala featuring advanced humanoid robots in China, disputes involving the US ambassador in Belgium, and discussions around EU trade deals and Eurobonds. Other stories include the honoring of Rita Lee at the Rio Carnival and Germany's Rose Monday floats satirizing world leaders.

Drawing from multiple news sources, research reveals that the "zero knowledge" security claims made by popular password managers like Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass are not always accurate, especially when account recovery features or shared vaults are enabled. Despite widespread adoption and the promise of impenetrable encryption, vulnerabilities exist that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive user data, challenging the security assurances provided by these services.

Drawing from multiple news sources, research reveals that the "zero knowledge" security claims made by popular password managers like Bitwarden, Dashlane, and LastPass are not always accurate, especially when account recovery features or shared vaults are enabled. Despite widespread adoption and the promise of impenetrable encryption, vulnerabilities exist that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive user data, challenging the security assurances provided by these services.

Smart rings, a growing trend in wearable technology, offer a discreet way to track health and activity, with the Oura Ring 4 leading the market. Multiple sources highlight the increasing affordability and competition in this space, with brands like Samsung, Ultrahuman, and Ringconn challenging the original Oura Ring, which is also facing legal challenges. The market is evolving with new features, updated prices, and the addition of new products like the Leep smart ring.

Smart rings, a growing trend in wearable technology, offer a discreet way to track health and activity, with the Oura Ring 4 leading the market. Multiple sources highlight the increasing affordability and competition in this space, with brands like Samsung, Ultrahuman, and Ringconn challenging the original Oura Ring, which is also facing legal challenges. The market is evolving with new features, updated prices, and the addition of new products like the Leep smart ring.