A 47-year-old woman faces a hate speech trial in Austria for publishing inflammatory comments on X (formerly Twitter), admitting to 'pointed' formulations.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi explained on X (formerly Twitter) that she distributed catalog gifts to all LDP House of Representatives members after the last general election, stating it was a token of appreciation and for political activities.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi seemingly responded on Twitter to a message from US envoy Steve Witkoff, stating that Donald Trump wonders why Iran still hasn't capitulated.

Former Bengals offensive tackle Willie Anderson shared in a video via Twitter/X that he's set to undergo a kidney transplant in early March.

London Mayor Khan Under Fire As BBC Exposes Scale Of Grooming Gangs Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix News, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing renewed criticism after a major BBC investigation found that vulnerable girls as young as 14 are being lured into forced sex by gangs operating across the capital. The investigation, based on weeks of reporting and interviews with dozens of people, including five survivors of gang-based violence, concluded that exploitation by organised groups is rife in parts of London. Some victims told the BBC they were raped by multiple men as “payment” for unpaid drug debts run up by gangs that controlled them. Others said they had been groomed solely for sex. The investigation also found that girls were often drawn into criminal activity such as drug dealing, weapons trading, and phone theft before being sexually exploited. One Metropolitan Police officer described young girls and women as the “lowest rung” within gang hierarchies, saying they were groomed and exploited “for everything.” Public debate over grooming gangs in the U.K. has often focused on northern towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale. A government-commissioned report last year found that in Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire, there was evidence of “disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds amongst suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation.” Further investigations have found the same in other towns and cities, including Telford, Oxford, Derby, Birmingham, Halifax, Peterborough, and countless others. Last year, Khan said there was no “indication of […] grooming gangs” of the type seen in Rotherham operating in London. Following the BBC findings, a spokesperson for the mayor said he wanted to support police to tackle “all child sexual exploitation in the capital, including grooming gangs.” Survivors told the broadcaster how exploitation often targeted girls from broken homes or troubled backgrounds. “I didn’t feel like I was groomed or exploited. I didn’t think I was a victim. It’s taken me a while to realise I was used and manipulated,” one victim told the BBC. Another survivor, Milly, said she was 15 when she was passed between different men. “I was getting passed around different men every night – sometimes 10 or 15 a month,” she said, describing how she was plied with drink and drugs before being taken into bedrooms by different men. “I don’t remember their names really. It sounds horrible, but I just know they were Asian. Sometimes they just said, ‘Oh, you’re a nice, young White girl,'” she added. A third victim, Ruth, said: “They didn’t want anything but sex. I was low and they gave me expensive things so I felt wanted and then slept with them. It felt like I had multiple boyfriends giving me attention.” Detective Sergeant John Knox, head of the Metropolitan Police child exploitation team in Lambeth and Southwark, said girls inside gangs “cannot say no to sex.” “Within that gang world, the girls are at the lowest rung and they have to do as they’re told. And that includes sexually,” he said, adding that if a girl cannot refuse, “she’s being raped and that’s how we look at it as the police.” Knox estimates at least 60 children in his south London area are currently being exploited by gangs, some as young as 13. The BBC findings prompted sharp criticism from political opponents. BREAKING: Susan Hall lashes out at Sadiq Khan over his reluctance to launch a grooming gangs inquiry 🔴#dailyexpress #sadiqkhan #groominggangs pic.twitter.com/YryxmEIN5X January 29, 2026 Susan Hall, leader of the Conservatives in the London Assembly, said the report was “shocking” and accused the mayor of dismissing concerns. Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy wrote that the mayor had claimed there were no rape gangs in London and that “everyone knew that was nonsense.” Last month, Hall pressed the mayor on whether grooming gangs were operating in London and called for funding for a dedicated inquiry. She accused Khan of previously dismissing her concerns, telling him, “I asked if we had grooming gangs in London. You dismissed my question by saying you didn’t know what I meant. I have to tell you, the rape victims knew exactly what I was talking about.” Hall urged the mayor to apologize to victims who, she said, felt their experiences had been downplayed. Khan refused to concede the point, replying during the exchange that the issue was too serious to “play party politics.” Previously, he argued that the “specific type of systemic cases” seen in some northern towns were not the same as the more “complex” patterns of exploitation in London, refusing to acknowledge that the phenomenon of Asian grooming gangs raping White girls as seen across many U.K. cities was not prevalent on the London scene. In October, the Metropolitan Police announced it will re-examine at least 1,200 child sexual exploitation cases following a national review, and previously confirmed it was reviewing 9,000 cases spanning 15 years. An independent inquiry into grooming gangs chaired by Baroness Longfield is expected to begin later this year, with the Home Office stating it will have full powers to compel evidence and conduct local investigations. Read more here... Tyler Durden Fri, 02/20/2026 - 11:00

Just When You Thought Obama's Tower Of Doom Couldn't Get Any More Ugly... Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, Barack Obama’s infamous Presidential Center in Chicago, already slammed as a dystopian “prison-like” monstrosity, has just received a bizarre new update that’s ignited widespread mockery online. The addition of disjointed words from one of Obama’s speeches has been dubbed “headache-inducing,” amplifying the backlash against this $830 million behemoth that’s overrun budgets, displaced locals, and turned a public park into a narcissistic shrine. As construction drags on toward a June 2026 opening, the former president’s ego-driven tweaks have only fueled the fire, with X users unleashing savage roasts and memes comparing the structure to everything from a Soviet-era bunker to a “concrete porta potty.” The latest fiasco stems from Obama’s decision to etch excerpts from his 2015 Selma speech onto the building’s facade. But instead of inspiring awe, the disjointed lettering has sparked hilarity and disgust. They somehow managed to make the Obama presidential library even uglier. My gosh. ? pic.twitter.com/lmZnyJ4FSs February 17, 2026 One X user highlighted how the words appear chopped and unreadable, calling it a “headache-inducing” mess that perfectly encapsulates the project’s overall failure. I's indistinguishable from L's and T's. E's indistinguishable from F's. Multiple words get disjointed–not just on one plane but two. pic.twitter.com/hohr6Whusy February 17, 2026 what don’t you understand about YOU ARE AMERICA https://t.co/kmHawlABHO February 16, 2026 Fixed it for Obama. pic.twitter.com/BJU5eA6vIx February 18, 2026 This is what the text should read… pic.twitter.com/YaZ2iSJQuY February 18, 2026 pic.twitter.com/N60Kwjw9Q5 February 18, 2026 As we previously reported, the Obama Presidential Center has ballooned to nearly $1 billion in costs, resembling a “Tower of Doom” that’s sucking the life out of Chicago’s South Side. Locals have decried it as a “totalitarian command center dropped straight out of 1984,” with property values skyrocketing and forcing out longtime residents. Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor warned that such developments “displace the very people they say they want to improve it for,” as rents for two-bedroom apartments jumped from $800 to over $1,800 per month. The project’s DEI-focused hiring of diverse contractors has backfired spectacularly, leading to lawsuits over “racial discrimination” and claims of poor performance, proving once again that woke policies lead to broke outcomes. President Trump didn’t hold back when mocking the stalled eyesore. “He needs help,” Trump quipped, noting how the library-museum hybrid is “not too pretty” and has “run out of money” despite Obama’s insistence on DEI builders. Trump contrasted this with his own push for classical architecture, like the grand Arch near Arlington Memorial Bridge, symbolizing a return to American greatness. The center’s foundation is now scrambling with only $116 million in reserves against $230 million in remaining costs, not including staff salaries. Scheduled tours have started, but critics question who’d visit this overpriced ode to Obama’s ego amid Chicago’s economic woes. Obama’s defenders claim it’ll be an “economic catalyst” for the black community, but the reality is displacement and fiscal chaos. This project exemplifies the hypocrisy of elite liberals: preaching equity while building vast ego towers that burden the working class. In the end, as Trump restores beauty and dignity to American landmarks, Obama’s legacy crumbles under the weight of its own pretension— a fitting monument to an era of division and decline. Your support is crucial in helping us defeat mass censorship. Please consider donating via Locals or check out our unique merch. Follow us on X @ModernityNews. Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 15:40

Kevin Durant addresses allegations that he used a burner account on X to criticize teammates, calling the controversy “Twitter nonsense.”

“I know you’ve got to ask these questions, but I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Rockets star Kevin Durant said at Wednesday’s practice.

NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo has publicly recognized the talent of high school basketball player Kon Knueppel, expressing his admiration for the young athlete's skills.

Watch Latest Trans Horror: Dad In Dress Kills Ex-Wife, Child, Self At School Hockey Game For the second time in a week, a transgender person has exploded in a display of spectacular, bloody violence. The latest incident unfolded on Monday in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where a 56-year-old man reportedly wearing a dress shot four of his family members and a family friend at a high school hockey game. Police say Robert Robert Dorgan (aka Roberta Esposito) killed the mother of his children and one of their kids before taking his own life. Dorgan's son was reportedly playing in the game that was underway his murderous rage unfolded. Video captured Pawtucket's Dennis M. Lynch Arena as it transitioned from spectator event to deadly madness. As some 15 shots ring out in progressively more rapid sequence, players and fans gradually grasp the reality of what is happening -- first ducking for safety and then fleeing the arena any way they can. After a several-second delay, one final shot can be heard: apparently fired by Dorgan into his own head:  🚨 BREAKING UPDATE: A man kiIIed his wife and shot at least two of his children at a hockey game in Rhode Island, per Fox News This is absolutely HORRIFIC The shooter is deceased along with his wife, but the kids are reportedly hospitalized. Pray for these kids tonight 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/hdVTwxbd9D February 16, 2026 Police say a bystander intervened to stop Dorgan's attack. That hero was able to disarm Dorgan, but the trans shooter had a second firearm in reserve, which he retrieved and used to kill himself. "[The bystander] interjected in this scene, and that's probably what led to a swift end of this tragic event," said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves. In this alternate video, Dorgan can be seen descending the arena steps before opening fire and then being engaged by the bystander:  Closer slow‑motion footage of the Rhode Island ice hockey shooting. My gratitude goes out to the brave men who tried to stop the shooter. pic.twitter.com/ts4UuVO35g February 17, 2026 Citing court documents, WPRI reported that Dorgan's gender confusion figured in a series of domestic discord spanning years:  In early 2020, Dorgan went to the North Providence Police Department and reported he had recently undergone gender-reassignment surgery and that his father-in-law wanted him out of their North Providence home because of it. Dorgan told police that his father-in-law, who shares the same surname, threatened to “have him murdered by an Asian street gang if he did not move out of the residence,” according to court documents. Dorgan, who said he had lived at the home for seven years, told police that the father-in-law told him, "there's no goddam [sic] way a tranny is going to stay in my house.”   ... Around the same time, Dorgan’s then-wife Rhonda Dorgan filed for divorce. Under grounds for divorce, Rhonda initially wrote, “gender reassignment surgery, narcissistic + personality disorder traits.” Those reasons were then crossed out and replaced with “irreconcilable differences which have caused the immediate breakdown of the marriage.” In the aftermath of Monday's shooting, a visibly shaken adult woman leaving the Pawtucket Police Deparment told reporters, "My father was the shooter. He shot my family, and he's dead now...He has mental health issues...He's sick. He's very sick."   Sorry, fellas -- "Roberta" is off the dating market and rumored to be in an eternal relationship with Satan (X/@VerdadEsPoder via NY Post) A high-volume X account named "Roberta Dorgano" has been widely speculated as belonging to Robert Dorgan, and features a profile photo that seemingly matches other images of the shooter. The same account shows right-wing and potentially antisemitic leanings. Many posts seemingly support the effort to declassify the Epstein files, and others showing appreciation for libertarian-minded Rep. Thomas Massie, who has led that campaign. In a post responding to a video of Rep Jamie Raskin struggling to answer a question about Democrats' relative prior disinterest in the Epstein files, the account replied "(((raskin)))," using a triple-parentheses punctuation that's often used on social media to highlight the fact that a given individual is Jewish. Other posts and reposts imply an interest in decreasing illegal immigration, but one has the account replying "fu loser" to a post by border czar Tom Homan. Others show interest in possible voting-machine abuse that disadvantaged President Trump. The account once replied "handcuffs anyone?" to a post about the intelligence community's promotion of the Russiagate hoax.   On Monday, Pawtucket's Dennis M. Lynch Arena was hosting a Senior Night event featuring five hockey teams: a Coventry-Johnston co-op squad, St. Raphael Academy, Providence Country Day School, North Providence and North Smithfield. Dorgan's son was reportedly a senior on the North Providence team. Another player, Silas Core of the Coventry High Knotty Oakers, told WCVB that he and his teammates sought refuge in a locker room: "We barricaded the locker room with our bodies. We were all pressing up against it, and everybody was worried about our parents and everybody."   The fact that he didn’t just decide he was a woman, he decided he was a Latina woman https://t.co/WZrldAamwt pic.twitter.com/afIh6Z7aw3 February 17, 2026 On Saturday, the account ominously warned against the consequences of ridiculing transgender people: "keep bashing us. but do not wonder why we Go BERSERK."  keep bashing us. but do not wonder why we Go BERSERK February 15, 2026 The reason they go berserk is because transgenderism is a clear and undeniable mental illness often coupled with narcissism and elements of sociopathy.  Studies show that up to 50% of all transgenders have been prescribed psychotropic medications at least once while 75% receive some form of psychotherapy.  Around 80% of trans patients have been diagnosed with secondary disorders and a high rate of narcissism. There have been no significant studies beyond the 2011 Swedish cohort study on transgender criminality and no significant studies on their likelihood of violence.  This is largely due to the political stigma attached to any objective analysis that might paint transgenderism in a negative light.  Just as the progressive media often tries to hide the trans identity of criminal suspects, the psychological community is also politically motivated to hide the unhinged nature of gender dysphoria. This lack of serious investigation needs to change before trans perpetrated killings become an epidemic.    Despite Dorgan's frothing social media frenzy to defend transgenders as mentally sound and peaceful, he only ended up proving the critics correct.     The latest trans-inflicted bloodshed quickly followed a mass shooting in remote Tumbler Ridge, Canada. There, an 18-year-old biological man in a dress killed his mother and half-brother at home before slaughtering five students and an education assistant at a secondary school where he was formerly a student. Media outlets and Wikipedia have described the shooter as female. Speaking to reporters, officials called him a "gunperson."  The violent episodes come as a sea change is underway where gender-transitions are concerned -- and specifically, those administered on children. In a recent legal landmark, a New York jury found a psychologist and a surgeon liable for malpractice after they convinced a 16-year-old girl to lop off her breasts. It was the first medical malpractice case involving a de-transitioner to reach a verdict. Soon after, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons broke ranks with other medical organizations, recommending that member physicians refrain from performing gender transition surgeries on anyone under age 19. While it's only right that this turning away from insanity starts with children, Monday's carnage seemingly shows a need for a broader rethinking of transgenderism across all ages.   Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 09:00

Russia Flexing Arctic Nuclear Muscle Along Finnish Border, Defense Minister Warns Arctic security is now central to Europe’s stability, Finland’s defense minister has said, warning that Russia is rebuilding Cold War–style military infrastructure along Finland’s border while fortifying its nuclear stronghold in the High North. He also made clear his view that United States military might is very much needed, at least in the short term. Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said Moscow is doubling down on its Arctic posture: "Russia has most of their biggest strategic capabilities in nuclear, submarines, long-range bombers in the Kola Peninsula area," he stated in a fresh interview. Arctic rivals Washington & Moscow: The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Pasadena "They are building new military facilities along our border, same as the Cold War. It would be wise to watch the Arctic and build Arctic capabilities" for deterrence, Häkkänen continued. According to the publication he spoke to: The Kola Peninsula - a 100,000 square kilometer region in far northwestern Russia - hosts the majority of the country’s sea-based strategic nuclear arsenal, such as submarines, as well as long-range aviation assets. As for ongoing discussions within Europe to find an eventual alternative to the US nuclear umbrella, the Finnish defense chief explained his view that "In the longer term, it would be better that the Europeans have their strong capabilities." He added: "But in the short, and even mid-term, we need the US. It's crucial to European security." France and the UK offering to extend their nuclear deterrent across the continent is "good news" - Häkkänen conceded, but added that ultimately "That’s not the question now." Lately, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has sought to made clear that the Kremlin believes the Arctic should remain "a region of peace, dialogue and equal cooperation." The prior comment was issued related to the United States eyeing control over Greenland. A key part of the Trump administration's argument is that Russia and China threaten waters off Greenland - a view firmly rejected by both Moscow and Beijing. 🇷🇺🇬🇱🇺🇸 Lavrov: If Greenland is militarized against Russia, we will respond with appropriate countermeasures, including military-technical ones. The Arctic must remain a zone of peace. pic.twitter.com/2JtnrGS3fS February 11, 2026 President Trump has also claimed on the subject of Greenland that the large island is "vital" to his proposed Golden Dome air and missile defense system. But again, Russia is vowing it would respond if such significant assets were placed on Greenland. Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 02:45

Kevin Durant has said he has a burner account on Twitter. Did the internet find it?

They’re gonna put me in the DotsThey’re gonna make a big star out of meWe’ll make the film about a man that’s sad and lonelyAnd all I got to do is act naturally (Having trouble loading X/Twitter today, so here are some Bluesky Husky posts)

The giant tour comes to the UK in June The post My Chemical Romance wipe Twitter/X account before revealing ‘The Black Parade’ tour so far has been a prequel appeared first on NME.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a special message on X (formerly Twitter) thanking Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, EU Commission and Council leaders, and leaders from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland for their solidarity visit to Kyiv on the fourth anniversary of the invasion.

Ghanaian songstress S3fa revealed that a social media comment calling her 'beautiful but brainless' deeply hurt her, highlighting the emotional impact of online criticism.

The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team suffered a last-second defeat to the Auburn Tigers in an SEC college basketball game on Saturday.

Dozens of potential jurors were dismissed from the trial concerning Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter after his own lawyer acknowledged that many 'hate him'. Investors are suing Musk for allegedly making misleading statements about bot accounts during the acquisition.

A German court has ordered X (formerly Twitter) to hand over user data to NGOs that are searching for election 'disinformation or foreign interference'.

Tesla Scores FCC Waiver For Wireless Cybercab Charging System On Wednesday, Tesla's first Cybercab officially rolled off the production line in Texas. The Model Y robotaxi is a two-passenger, self-driving EV with no steering wheel or pedals, though it will have a human "safety monitor" in most cases.  Congratulations to the Tesla team on making the first production Cybercab! https://t.co/TFSVQcbME5 February 17, 2026 What's more, Musk confirmed that they will cost under $30,000 - something he was challenged to do by YouTuber Marques Brownlee, who vowed to shave his head on camera if Musk could pull off that price point before 2027.  Marques Brownlee in October 2024 on the Cybercab being delivered before 2027 for $30,000: "There's no way they're actually going to be able to do that. If they do, I will shave my head on camera. I'm that confident they won't do it." Today, Tesla announced that the first… https://t.co/CDMz7IfGbG pic.twitter.com/6iu2QDR4Cl February 17, 2026 Yes February 17, 2026 Wireless Charging Bitchez Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted Tesla approval to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology in its wireless EV charging system - granting the company a waiver so that Cybercabs recharging pads can be installed on fixed outdoor equipment, which is major.  "The Tesla positioning system is an impulse UWB radio system that enables peer-to-peer communications between a UWB transceiver installed on an electric vehicle (EV) and a second UWB transceiver installed on a ground-level pad, which could be located outdoors, to achieve optimal positioning for the EV to charge wirelessly," the company said in the FCC document granting approval.  As journalist Sawyer Merritt notes on X:  The FCC today officially granted @Tesla a waiver allowing it to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology for its wireless EV charging system that will be used to wirelessly charge the Cybercab. Normally, this kind of radio must be handheld and can’t be installed outdoors on fixed equipment. Tesla’s charging pad is fixed and could be outdoors, so they needed an exception. The FCC said yes because: More information from the filing: "The Tesla positioning system is an impulse UWB radio system that enables peer-to-peer communications between a UWB transceiver installed on an electric vehicle (EV) and a second UWB transceiver installed on a ground-level pad — which could be located outdoors — to achieve optimal positioning for the EV to charge wirelessly. Prior to the UWB operation, the vehicular system uses Bluetooth technology for the vehicle to discover the location of the ground pad and engage in data exchange activities (which is not subject to the waiver). When the vehicle approaches the ground pad, the UWB transceivers will operate to track the position of the vehicle to determine when the optimal position has been achieved over the pad before enabling wireless power charging." In its waiver request, Tesla states that the UWB signals occur only briefly when the vehicle approaches the ground pad; and mostly at ground level between the vehicle and the pad, and that the UWB signals are then significantly attenuated by the body of the vehicle positioned over the pad. BREAKING: The FCC today officially granted @Tesla a waiver allowing it to use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio technology for its wireless EV charging system that will be used to wirelessly charge the Cybercab. Normally, this kind of radio must be handheld and can’t be installed… pic.twitter.com/pve5NSoqtc February 19, 2026 We assume that in the not-too-distant future your human-skinned Tesla Optimus will have its own cute little charging pad at home, whichever model you choose. Cyber-Fleshlight not included.    Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 21:20

Kevin Durant brushed off accusations of using burner accounts, stating he would not engage in 'Twitter nonsense,' though the questions are likely to persist.

Window Closing On Iran Diplomacy: IAEA's Grossi Issues Pessimistic Outlook Oil prices climbed early Thursday as markets zeroed in on the prospect of US action against Iran, lifting energy shares alongside crude - with West Texas Intermediate above $66 a barrel. The US military build-up in the Middle East means Iran's window to reach a diplomatic agreement over its atomic activities - which Tehran insists is for peaceful domestic energy purposes - is at risk of closing fast, according to the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog speaking to Bloomberg Television.  At this moment the Trump-assembled armada threatening Iran includes two aircraft carriers, a dozen warships, hundreds of jets, and advanced air defenses. Over 150 US military cargo flights have delivered weapons to the Middle East this month, with a surge of aircraft still headed to the region. Some say the build-up is already nearing Iraq war levels. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi underscored the clock is ticking. "There is not much time but we are working on something concrete," said Grossi, in reference to meetings in Geneva with Iranian diplomats. "There are a couple of solutions the IAEA has proposed. IAEA inspectors haven't verified the state of Iran's stockpile of near-bomb-grade uranium or assessed the scope of damage dealt to enrichment facilities for more than eight months. Ironically enough, it was the unprovoked surprise Israeli and US attacks which shut the door on such inspections, also after the White House itself insisted on several occasions that the Islamic Republic's nuclear program was "obliterated" in the series of US bunker-buster bomb attacks on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Which is it? Bloomberg and various analysts have speculated that before the Israeli attacks in June, Iran had enough highly-enriched material to quickly craft about a dozen warheads, assuming the scenario Tehran issued the order to weaponize its nuclear program. Grossi said he also met with Trump’s envoys on Tuesday in Geneva, alongside the IAEA's some six hours of meetings with Iranian diplomats. He asserted that an IAEA return to the damaged facilities in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz "hinges on the possibility of a wider type of agreement." "We are conscious of the fact that there is this political negotiation," Grossi added. However, the Iranians are likely going to remain deeply distrustful of the UN watchdog and Grossi himself, given that the surprise June attack resulted in Iranian officials accusing the IAEA team of leaking sensitive data on Iranian facilities to Israel. This is perhaps why Grossi himself appears pessimistic when commenting on the potential the forge a new deal before US military action ensues.  "There cannot be a deal if the IAEA isn’t able to verify," said Grossi, who described to Bloomberg he's seeking a solution by threading the red lines set by both sides. "It’s not impossible," he said. "There are certain things that Iran understands cannot be pursued. We have to provide the watertight verification there is no deviation." Some reports say a US attack on Iran could come as early as this weekend... Major US naval, air buildup in the Middle East sets stage for potential Iran war. CNN and CBS reported Wednesday that the US military will be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, though Trump has reportedly not made a final decision yet… pic.twitter.com/cRJOwP2PY8 February 19, 2026 As the second US carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is about to enter the Mediterranean while headed toward the CENTCOM area of responsibility, regional analyst Levent Kemal observes, "The US military buildup in the Middle East is going beyond dialogue or gunboat diplomacy. This is clearly an important preparation for a war aimed at removing the Iranian regime from the regional power balance equation." Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 09:15

NBA star Kevin Durant faced allegations over the weekend regarding the use of burner accounts on X, which he has since addressed.

Nikita Bier said that Elon Musk's X was "essentially operating like a startup." Marc Piasecki/Getty Images Want to work for one of Elon Musk's companies? Expect small, flat teams. X product head Nikita Bier compared his experience at X to past jobs at Meta and Discord on the "Out of Office" podcast. Bier said that Musk holds "weekly reviews" of one or two slides with every X engineer. One of Elon Musk's lieutenants at X is sharing what it's like to work in the trenches with him. There are some trademarks of a Musk company, whether it be Tesla, SpaceX, or xAI. His teams are flat, his schedule is jam-packed, and his expectations are high. In the lead-up to a big launch, expect to grind out some long hours. X's head of product, Nikita Bier, recently opened up about working under Musk on the "Out of Office" podcast, contrasting it with his past work at Silicon Valley staples like Discord and Meta. Bier described a "very flat organization" with lots of individual contributors reporting directly to Musk himself. There are very few managers, Bier said. "Everyone has an incredible amount of agency," Bier said. "We come up with an idea, we build it in a week, and it's out." Bier also said that Musk was "deep in the weeds." That's a feat for an executive who runs multiple companies (and once a government agency) at the same time. "He does weekly reviews basically with every engineer at the company," Bier said. "You have one or two slides, you present what you got done that week, he gives feedback." While some social media commenters expressed skepticism that every engineer received a weekly review, Musk is clearly hands-on — as evidenced by another xAI employee's podcast appearance. Sulaiman Ghori worked on xAI's Macrohard team. He described flat teams, few managers — and a wager between Musk and an employee on how quickly he could set up a rack of GPUs. The employee won himself a Cybertruck. (Ghori, who also talked about the company's "carnival company" permit workaround for building data centers, announced he was no longer at xAI four days after the podcast was published.) Bier also described a lean but efficient team that had "like 30 core product engineers." "The size of the engineering team is equivalent to a feature when I worked at Facebook," Bier said. "It's essentially operating like a startup." On X, one user asked whether these 30 employees were on the product or design team. Bier responded: "Engineers, 2 designers, 1.5 product managers and me." It's difficult to compare engineering team sizes to the pre-Musk Twitter days — or even discern which "core" team Bier is referencing. After six months of ownership, Musk cut Twitter's staff by 90%. Five hundred engineers remained at the time. What Bier didn't realize before working with Musk, he said, was that the executive will "always do the hard things." Consumer product builders are often looking for quick wins, Bier said. Musk chooses the most important — and difficult — thing to do, he said, from rebuilding the algorithm to building data centers. That also means: Don't expect a lazy Friday at X. "Every morning, every day, there's a new crisis," Bier said. "I'll just open my phone and be like: 'Oh my god.'" Read the original article on Business Insider

Kremlin Mocks European 'Illusions' For Wanting Own Nuclear Umbrella Currently France and Britain are in talks to potentially extend their nuclear arsenals to protect Europe as a defense 'umbrella' - at a moment some officials have questioned the United States commitment to leading NATO. Politico wrote in the aftermath of the Munich Security Conference, "Multiple European countries are publicly backing talks on a homegrown nuclear deterrent to complement American atomic weapons following an erosion of trust in a Donald Trump-led US." Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin has issued the Kremlin's reaction to these latest developments, asserting that the British ‘nuclear umbrella’ will fail to provide extra security to other NATO members. Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin, via Al Jazeera screenshot. The diplomat's words were captured in an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia on Tuesday. Kelin described that it is "obvious that the British 'nuclear umbrella' will not be able to provide any additional material security guarantees" to Europe. Moscow meanwhile continues to closely monitor the moves by "states pursuing an overtly anti-Russian policy" - he emphasized. "The possibility of the expansion of nuclear safeguards will be taken into account in our military planning as well as in further discussions of the strategic stability issues," the ambassador added. Kelin then took a swipe at Britain's hawkish stance in the context of the Ukraine war: "The strengthening of such potential apparently instills in London an illusory hope of leadership in ensuring European security," he said. Moscow's growing concerns over British policy is in part related to plans to purchase a dozen F-35 fighter jets from the US, capable of carrying missiles tipped with nuclear warheads. Additionally, when the tiny but outspoken Baltic states - directly on Russia's doorstep - try to tout NATO 'nuclear deterrent' talking points, it seems natural that Moscow would be extremely concerned:  Estonia isn’t ruling out joining early-stage talks on a common nuclear deterrent in Europe, Deputy Defense Minister Tuuli Duneton said in an interview. "We are always open to discuss" with partners, she said, while emphasizing the U.S. was still "committed to providing nuclear deterrence for allied nations." Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa echoed that. "Nuclear deterrence can give us new opportunities. Why not?" she said, while cautioning that any steps would have to be in compliance with "our international commitments." NATO top leadership has still signaled no change in direction on the conventional US nuclear umbrella, however. The United States nuclear umbrella, which has protected allies and cut down on the spread of nuclear weapons, is the "ultimate guarantor of freedom" in Europe, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte says. "The ultimate guarantor is the nuclear umbrella from the United States," Rutte… pic.twitter.com/8GCU5oc4O6 February 17, 2026 In the backdrop is the fact that that the landmark New START nuclear treaty between Washington and Moscow has ceased to exist as of this month. Russia is offering that it won't expand its arsenal so long as the US does the same. But this is still dangerous, uncharted territory. Tyler Durden Wed, 02/18/2026 - 04:15

Vinod Khosla says stock prices aren't the way to evaluate AI bubbles. Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images Vinod Khosla says the rise of AI might warrant steeper taxes on capital and none for most workers. The billionaire VC wrote on X that AI displacing workers could shrink the labor part of the economy. Khosla wrote that some popular tax breaks were "special interest goodies" and not "true capitalism." If artificial intelligence eliminates millions of jobs, it might make sense to scrap income taxes for the vast majority of Americans and target capital instead, Vinod Khosla says. "AI will transform economies and need a rethink of capitalism & equity," the billionaire venture capitalist wrote in an X post on Monday. "Labor portion of economy (vs capital) will decline sharply. Should we eliminate preferential treatment of capital gains tax and equalize to ordinary income?" Khosla — who cofounded Sun Microsystems and made the first VC investment in OpenAI — was making the point that AI replacing labor on a grand scale might warrant greater taxes on assets such as stocks and real estate. The veteran financier, who founded Khosla Ventures after leaving Kleiner Perkins, attached a video highlighting some of the jobs that could be taken by AI, from accountants and therapists to truck drivers and chip designers. AI will transform economies and need a rethink of capitalism & equity. Labor portion of economy (vs capital) will decline sharply. Should we eliminate preferential treatment of capital gains tax and equalize to ordinary income? 40% of capital gains taxes are paid by those with… pic.twitter.com/7oSA9xj5Ko — Vinod Khosla (@vkhosla) February 16, 2026 Khosla said in a follow-up post that ramping up taxes on capital would generate so much revenue that the government could scrap taxes for most of the roughly 150 million US taxpayers. "Could easily eliminate bottom 125 million taxpayers from the tax rolls and be revenue neutral at the same time with a capital gains tax equal to ordinary income and a few other tweaks," he wrote. He added that tax breaks such as carrying over tax losses and tax-free borrowing against unrealized gains — which he called a "true abuse!" — are "special interest goodies inserted by lobbyists and campaign contributions, not true capitalism." Khosla didn't address common critiques of higher taxes, including that they can discourage entrepreneurship and investment, that collecting them can be tricky, and that wealthy people may leave the country to avoid them. Khosla has previously underscored that the advent of AI may require sweeping policy changes. He estimated in late 2024 that in 25 years' time, AI could be doing 80% of the work in 80% of all jobs, and universal basic income might be needed to compensate for job destruction. "As AI reduces the need for human labor, UBI could become crucial, with governments playing a key role in regulating AI's impact and ensuring equitable wealth distribution," he wrote on his firm's website. Khosla isn't alone in predicting AI will change the fabric of society. Elon Musk suggested late last year that work could become "optional" and money might become "irrelevant" if advances in AI and robotics generate abundant resources for all. Moreover, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO recently said that retirement savings may not be needed in 10 or 20 years, as everyone might have "whatever stuff they want." However, skeptics such as Michael Burry of "The Big Short" fame have cautioned the AI boom is a speculative bubble, tech companies are overinvesting in microchips and data centers that will quickly become obsolete, and true AI is further away than many think. Read the original article on Business Insider

Despite speculation, a product head at Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) has stated that crypto trading is not currently planned for the platform.

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images OpenAI hired the creator of OpenClaw, Peter Steinberger. The news made waves in the AI community. Some AI leaders took to X to celebrate the news, and others expressed concern. OpenAI announced on Sunday it had hired Peter Steinberger, the creator of OpenClaw. Within hours, the news sent ripples across the AI community, drawing praise from some executives, jabs from rivals, and a flood of memes from engineers watching the talent wars unfold. Steinberger wrote in a blog post shared on X Sunday that he was "joining OpenAI to work on bringing agents to everyone." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman amplified the news, writing that "the future is going to be extremely multi-agent." Peter Steinberger is joining OpenAI to drive the next generation of personal agents. He is a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people. We expect this will quickly become core to our… — Sam Altman (@sama) February 15, 2026 In response to the news, several OpenAI leaders welcomed Steinberger. Thibault Sottiaux, an engineering lead on OpenAI's Codex team, wrote that "@steipete is proof you can just build things." @steipete is proof you can just build things — Tibo (@thsottiaux) February 15, 2026 Another Codex engineer posted that one of the "neat" parts of OpenAI's culture is how many former founders work there. One thing @steipete and I talked about over lunch last week was how many former founders are at OpenAI. It’s a really neat part of the culture. — Andrew Ambrosino (@ajambrosino) February 16, 2026 Steinberger told Lex Friedman in a podcast last week that both Mark Zuckerberg and Altman had made him offers. OpenClaw and its agent-only social media network Moltbook became wildly popular earlier this year as developers and AI enthusiasts shared clips of autonomous AI agents posting, replying, and interacting online. The open-source project, which demonstrates how networks of AI agents can coordinate to perform tasks across apps, also rapidly gained traction on GitHub. After Steinberger's announcement on Sunday, some of the people who worked on OpenClaw commented on the news. "I know the decision was not an easy one, and I saw firsthand the pressure Peter was under, given that he understands how fundamental this could be for the AI timeline," Jamieson O'Reilly, an OpenClaw advisor, wrote on X in a post congratulating Steinberger. One thing has become very clear to me working together with @steipete on @openclaw. While lots of people spectate from the sidelines, sharing their opinions, concerns and even hot takes at times, the dude is there, vigilantly on the front-lines pushing AI forward for every one… https://t.co/fe5OEKgevm — Jamieson O'Reilly (@theonejvo) February 16, 2026 Aaron Levie, the CEO of Box, said it was a sign "2026 was the year of the agents." If anyone was wondering if 2026 was the year of agents, OpenAI is bringing on the maker of Openclaw. This space is about to get very real. https://t.co/ocqX4kE9PT — Aaron Levie (@levie) February 15, 2026 Not everyone in the tech space was as enthusiastic about the news. XAI cofounder Igor Babuschkin asked users on X: "What's the best open alternative to OpenClaw right now? Doesn't make sense to put all your data into it if it's owned by OpenAI." PayPal mafia member Jason Calacanis expressed similar concerns. 😔 what are the chances the open source project survives / thrives after this? https://t.co/4sUZkKWkGh — @jason (@Jason) February 15, 2026 Steinberger and OpenAI have said that OpenClaw will remain an open-source project with OpenAI's support. Other experts in the space pointed out that OpenAI's win could be a loss for Anthropic, especially after Steinberger wrote on X that Anthropic sent "love letters from legal." "Another interesting detail is Anthropic's visible disdain for anything open source: their only contribution to this was legal threats," George Orosz, a tech industry analyst and author of the tech newsletter The Pragmatic Engineer, wrote on X. Kris Puckett, a designer at Stripe, expressed a similar sentiment Instead of @AnthropicAI getting Claudebot, they rushed legal to send a C&D and lost out on not only brilliant talent but community drive. Truly would love to know the decision making process. — Kris Puckett (@krispuckett) February 16, 2026 Raphael Schaad, a visiting partner at Y Combinator, said, "I bet this causes lots of VC tears." I bet this causes lots of VC tears and angry OSS folks. But think about this: - Peter showed the future and lots of awesome startups are starting to bloom from this. Invest in those! - Peter created one of the most exciting OSS projects in years. The community is vibrant and… https://t.co/RFWwfXU9Lz — Raphael Schaad (@raphaelschaad) February 15, 2026 And finally, some X power users did what they do best: posted memes about the news. Was expecting this one in replies pic.twitter.com/bfcZt3Ugg6 — Tibor Blaho (@btibor91) February 15, 2026 Read the original article on Business Insider

"You Ought To Be In Jail": Senator Unloads On Minnesota AG Ellison Over Fraud Scandal During a Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing this week, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) confronted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The Missouri Republican exposed Ellison's ties to the Feeding Our Future scandal, where fraudsters stole $250 million in federal child nutrition funds.  Hawley didn't hold back, charging the Democrat with protecting fraudsters who funneled cash to terrorists and traffickers, as well as Ellison’s own campaign coffers, and telling him he “ought to be in jail.” THERE IT IS 🚨 Official Hearing where Senator Josh Hawley confronts Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison about meeting with and taking campaign donations from Somali fraudsters stealing billions He personally called and BLOCKED THE INVESTIGATIONS Josh Hawley “Are you… pic.twitter.com/i40Ow5V9Zz February 12, 2026 Hawley opened the confrontation by spotlighting $10,000 in campaign donations Ellison pocketed from players in the Feeding Our Future mess, which the New York Post broke last year, detailing how the money flowed in right after a December 11, 2021, meeting at Ellison's office. Ellison repeatedly denied it, calling it a false statement. But Hawley read directly from the meeting transcript, where money was discussed repeatedly.   An audio recording of that meeting revealed that Ellison met with members of the Somali community who were later convicted in the scandal. In the recording, the individuals ask Ellison for help securing funding before discussing campaign donations.  “The only way that we can protect what we have is by inserting ourselves into the political arena,” a man is heard saying on the audio. “Putting our votes where it needs to be. But most importantly, putting our dollars in the right place. And supporting candidates that will fight to protect our interests.” “That's right,” Ellison replied. Ellison accepted $10,000 in campaign contributions from the fraudsters mere days later, as did his son, Minneapolis councilman Jeremiah Ellison. Hawley proceeded to read from that recording, quoting Ellison's own words back to him. "Send me the names of all these folks who are investigating them," Ellison said. He promised to call the Education Department and ask what was going on. "I already have my team working on this," he told them, according to the transcript. "What day should we get together to discuss it again?" Ellison pledged repeatedly to help them fight the investigators. "You have my attention. I'm concerned about this," he said. "Let's go fight these people." "Why'd you do it? Was it worth it?" Hawley asked. "This is what accountability looks like, of which you've had none," Hawley countered. "You helped fraudsters defraud your state and this government of $9 billion, and you got a fat campaign contribution out of it. You ought to be indicted. That's the truth." Ellison shot back hard. He denied the donations flat-out: "a lie" and "No donations came." He insisted, "You're completely wrong. … I did not see anybody." Hawley countered with video proof of their nearly hour-long sit-down—easy to find online. Ellison dismissed Hawley's quotes as "cherry-picked." As the exchange got heated, Ellison repeatedly talked over Hawley, which the senator didn’t appreciate. “It's my hearing, pal,” he snapped. "Don't call me 'pal,’” Ellison shot back. "Well, I should call you a prisoner because you ought to be in jail."  He demanded resignation. Ellison flipped it: "I was thinking the same thing about you." Hawley didn't stop there. He brought up testimony from the previous day showing where the fraudulent money went: to terrorist groups, transnational criminal organizations, drug trafficking, and child trafficking. "You took $10,000 and helped them do it," he said. Ellison kept denying everything, but Hawley had receipts.  He cited a Minnesota Star Tribune report that Partners in Nutrition raised concerns with the attorney general’s office in 2018 and 2019, but Ellison did nothing. The New York Post reported that Ellison accepted campaign donations from individuals linked to the fraud after meeting with them. "You've been right at the center of this fraud thing from the beginning, and you've enabled it," Hawley said. "You should resign." Ellison shot back, "And, sir, you should resign. I was thinking the same thing about you."  Tyler Durden Sun, 02/15/2026 - 20:25

Nigerian actress Eniola Badmus has threatened legal action against an X (formerly Twitter) user over allegations linking her to an alleged exploitation network, declaring that she will not overlook…

Got the job done.

A new policy mandates the removal of all posts made by official State Department accounts on X (formerly Twitter) prior to President Trump's anticipated return to office in 2025.

A social media user has been questioned by authorities over an X (formerly Twitter) post deemed insulting to the Terengganu royal family.

Within two hours the GoFundMe the family set up for Rucker's wife, surpassed the original $100,000 goal. The new goal is $250,000.

Danish Navy Intercepts, Detains Iran-Flagged Cargo Ship Denmark detained a container vessel previously blacklisted by Washington under last year's sweeping Iran sanctions on Thursday, amid suspicions it was operating under a false flag. The Nora was seized after authorities determined it was allegedly sailing under the flag of Comoros without authorization. The ship is now anchored in Danish waters pending further investigation, according to reports. It actually appears to be a box ship transporting containers at the time it was intercepted. It raised the Iranian flag under deeply suspicious circumstances, as a patrol boat eyed the vessel, Danish officials say. AFP via Getty Images The Danish Maritime Authority believes it to be part of Iran's so-called shadow fleet of tankers. "The Danish Maritime Authority reports that the vessel has been detained due to incorrect registration," the agency said. Several months ago the vessel went through a name change, which Washington officials believe was in order to keep shipping sanctioned Iranian and Russian exports, and to evade European suspicions while traversing regional waters. The vessel is said to currently anchored east of Albaek in the northernmost part of Jutland. It's possible the vessel will eventually be released, as the Danish government explained the ship will be detained until Iran confirms to the agency that the container ship is legitimately registered and certified. According to more details via a maritime monitoring publication: Denmark’s TV 2 reports the vessel had gone dark while it was in St. Petersburg, Russia, in mid-January and then sailed west into the Baltic and reached Skagen, where it stopped on January 22. The following day, it anchored less than 20 miles east of Aalbaek, Denmark, where it has remained for the past 28 days. A Danish patrol ship was spotted near the vessel along with a Danish Armed Forces sea drone. The Danish Maritime Authority reports it questioned the vessel’s registry in Comoros and was informed by the authorities that the ship was “not correctly registered.” Apparently, when they questioned the vessel further, it suddenly raised an Iranian flag, prompting the detention. Danish outlet TV 2 further reports that the Cerus/Nora had transited Danish waters at least 10 times over the past year during repeated voyages to Saint Petersburg - and each time the vessel allegedly went dark, ceasing transmission of its position data as it neared Russian waters. BREAKING: Danish authorities have detained the 226-meter container ship Nora, now flying the Iranian flag, east of Aalbæk, after it was found not properly registered with its claimed flag state. Previously sailing under the Comorian flag, the vessel suddenly changed its… pic.twitter.com/vjh2qaOJOm February 19, 2026 The Trump administration is meanwhile contemplating whether to escalate its military pressure on Iran by beginning to directly seize Iranian oil exports. This would be seen by Tehran as an immediate act of war. Tyler Durden Fri, 02/20/2026 - 02:45

Boasberg Rubber-Stamps DOJ Request To Keep FBI-Twitter Payments Secret When the Twitter files hit in December of 2022, they revealed that the Biden administration had paid Twitter at least $3.4 million between October 2019 and February 2021 to reimburse the pre-Musk, left-leaning social media giant for a flood of requests.  During this period, the Biden DOJ was going after vaccine skeptics, lab-leak proponents, 2020 election 'deniers,' Catholic parents, Hunter Biden laptop / Burisma content, and conservative news outlets. We also learned that the FBI's Elvis Chan and crew were holding weekly meeting with Twitter on "misinformation," and flagged thousands of accounts for the above.  Days after the Twitter files were released, watchdog group Judicial Watch sued the Biden DOJ, which oversees the FBI, over a FOIA request demanding to know how much the FBI paid Twitter from 2016 onward. The FBI initially refused, but eventually released 44-pages of documents with the key payment details redacted - claiming the data was protected under FOIA's "Exemption 7(E)," which lets agencies hide info about law enforcement methods if releasing it could help criminals or enemies dodge detection. Judicial Watch then narrowed their claims to just those redacted payment amounts (JW dropped other issues such as vendor names), however in December of 2025, the Trump DOJ asked Judge James Boasberg for a Motion for Summary Judgement to deny Judicial Watch's request - effectively concealing the extent to which the FBI, under Trump and Biden, was going after Americans.  In its request for summary judgement, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro's office (say it ain't so!) argued that revealing payments that are tied to real investigations could reveal super secret investigative methods - such as how much the FBI is "engaging" with Twitter vs. other platforms, which could lead to 'bad guys' (criminals, hackers, foreign spies) to switch to platforms with less FBI activity, and that it might reveal shifts in FBI priorities over time. Revealing the quarterly totals could also betray "mosaic theory," where seemingly harmless info (like one quarter's payment) can be pieced together with public data (e.g., Twitter's transparency reports) to form a big picture of FBI strategies. Earlier this month, Boasberg agreed - ruling that revealing the payments could expose FBI "techniques and procedures" (how they monitor online threats) and help bad actors figure out what the FBI is focused on, allowing them to adapt and change strategies.  Boasberg wrote in his opinion that the 7(E) exemption is valid because it could "risk circumvention of the law."  So @JudicialWatch sued to find out how much the Deep State/Biden FBI was paying Twitter (now @X) to censor and spy on Americans. Kash Patel's FBI and Pam Bondi's Justice Department told a federal court we shouldn't get even summary quarterly totals of the payments because it… https://t.co/6P6oqQDxDj February 18, 2026 What the actual... .@FBIDirectorKash this was probably handled by lower-levels — a personal intervention on this one, which impacts 100 million voters & is critically important for Americans to restore trust in the bureau, at zero cost to FBI time or resources, would be greatly appreciated https://t.co/aHwXCi9h55 February 19, 2026 Maybe Elon can just give Tom Fitton the deets?  The filings for your reading pleasure... DOJ request to deny Judicial Watch: Judicial Watch Inc v Us Department of Justice Dcdce-23-03004 0024.0 by Zerohedge Janitor Boasberg's opinion granting the DOJ request: Judicial Watch Inc v Us Department of Justice Dcdce-23-03004 0027.0 by Zerohedge Janitor Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 18:50

Anti-drone netting covering tanks at an oil depot in Velikiye Luki, Russia. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor Ukraine carried out a long-range drone attack against a Russian oil depot on Wednesday night. A Ukrainian security source said anti-drone netting at the facility failed to stop the attack. Anti-drone netting has emerged as a common makeshift defense tactic on and off the battlefield. Ukrainian drones struck a Russian oil depot overnight, breaking through the netting that had been installed earlier to protect the site from such attacks, a security official told Business Insider on Thursday. Long-range Ukrainian drones struck an oil depot in Velikiye Luki, a city in western Russia's Pskov region, a source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said. They were only authorized to speak on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The source said protective anti-drone nets had been stretched above fuel tanks at the oil depot. The facility belongs to the company Pskovnefteproduct and is located nearly 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the Ukrainian border. The nets were unable to prevent the strike from doing damage, the source added. Satellite imagery captured in December by US spatial intelligence firm Vantor and analyzed by Business Insider, shows what appears to be anti-drone netting covering roughly 15 tanks at the depot in Velikiye Luki. Anti-drone netting is seen in this December 14, 2025, image of storage tanks at Velikiye Luki. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor Anti-drone netting covering tanks at an oil depot in Velikiye Luki, Russia. Satellite image ©2026 Vantor Several explosions and a large fire were reported at the oil facility, the source said, citing local channels on the Telegram messaging app. Video footage shared on social media shows a massive blaze burning through a structure resembling anti-drone netting. This kind of netting has been spotted at other oil facilities in Russia in recent months. The tactic underscores how the country is turning to crude-looking, improvised defenses to protect energy infrastructure from ongoing Ukrainian attacks. "Vietnam, run!" - overnight, drones from the Special Operations Center "Alpha" of the Security Service of Ukraine successfully struck the Velikolukskaya oil depot. A large fire broke out at the site. Anti-drone nets had been stretched over the fuel storage tanks, but they did not… pic.twitter.com/bLBxuHNxtm — WarTranslated (@wartranslated) February 19, 2026 Concerns over the high drone saturation have led to similar measures on the battlefield. Anti-drone netting is common near the front lines. Ukrainian soldiers are using this material to cover critical logistics routes. And both militaries have added cage-like fencing to their armored vehicles to protect against drones. Additionally, Russia has also installed makeshift defenses, such as large, floating barriers, to protect its ports from the Ukrainian naval drones that have wreaked havoc on its Black Sea Fleet. The Ukrainian attack on Wednesday night marked Kyiv's latest deep-strike drone operation against the vast Russian energy sector, a major source of revenue that fuels Moscow's ongoing war efforts. "The SBU continues to work methodically on facilities that provide the Russian army with fuel," the security source said in a translated statement. "The destruction of oil depots directly affects the enemy's ability to conduct combat operations, advance and transfer reserves. Such operations are an element of the systematic weakening of the military potential of the Russian Federation," they added. Anti-drone netting has become increasingly common near the front lines in Ukraine. Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images Neither Russia's defense ministry nor its US embassy responded to a request for comment on the attack. Moscow said its air defenses shot down roughly 300 Ukrainian drones over the past 24 hours. Since last August, Ukraine has been intensifying its long-range drone attacks on Russia's energy sector, targeting oil refineries, terminals, tankers, and platforms at sea. Kyiv has described the deep-strike campaign as its way of imposing "long-range sanctions" on Moscow. Many of these attacks — at least four in the past week, including the most recent strike — have been carried out by the SBU's Alpha group, an elite unit considered to be among the best of Ukraine's special forces. Its personnel have also been involved in ground operations. Meanwhile, Russia has significantly stepped up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure this winter compared to previous years of the war. Since October, Ukrainian energy facilities have been the main target of Russian barrages, Britain's defense ministry said on Thursday. Russia has launched more than 20,000 drones, and its aircraft have fired over 300 missiles, "in attempts to systematically destroy Ukraine's electrical grid and heat generation capacity," the ministry said in an intelligence update. Read the original article on Business Insider

Archival footage of Wilt Chamberlain's prime highlights his unparalleled dominance in basketball, with no modern equivalent.

Kevin Durant has responded to those Twitter burner account allegations.

22-year-old Gen Zer Eileen Gu is being applauded online for her confident and no-nonsense response to a journalist's question. Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images Olympic skier Eileen Gu shut down a question on whether winning two silver medals was "two golds lost." Gu, representing China, responded confidently, emphasizing her historic achievements. Gu's response aligns with Gen Z's candid narratives at this Winter Olympics. Five-time Olympic medalist Eileen Gu just shut down a reporter's question asking if she'd "lost" two gold medals by finishing second in her events. The 22-year-old Olympic freeskier, who was born in the US and is representing China in the 2026 Winter Olympics, was responding to a reporter who asked whether Gu felt disappointed not to win gold in Milan. "Do you see these as two silvers gained or two golds lost?" the journalist asked a press conference following her second silver at these games. During her Winter Olympic debut in Beijing in 2022, Gu won two golds. Gu immediately laughed off his question and, without hesitation, said: "I am the most decorated female freeskier in history. I think that is an answer in and of itself." "How do I say this? Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete." "Doing it five times is exponentially harder, because every medal is equally hard for me, but everybody else's expectations rise, right? And so the two medals lost situation, to be quite frank with you, I think it's kind of a ridiculous perspective to take," she added. Zing! The clip quickly garnered significant attention online. You got to give lots of credit to Eileen Gu for responding brilliantly back to the reporter with great confidence. She looked him in the eye said that was a "ridiculous perspective" without any hesitation or fear. 😁 pic.twitter.com/fPz5uQIosT — Alvin Foo (@alvinfoo) February 18, 2026 Alvin Foo, venture partner at Chain Valley Capital, reposted the clip on his X feed, writing, "You got to give lots of credit to Eileen Gu for responding brilliantly back to the reporter with great confidence." "She looked him in the eye said that was a "ridiculous perspective" without any hesitation or fear," he added. Foo's post has received over 700,000 views. Other posts praising Gu for being confident and poised gained thousands of views. Gu's messaging and self-advocacy follow the trend of what Business Insider's Amanda Yen recently dubbed "The most Gen Z Olympics yet." It's been an Olympics full of public statements and oversharing, Yen wrote. This has included a Norwegian biathlete who confessed to cheating on his ex in a slopeside interview, and American figure skater Amber Glenn addressing discrimination against the queer community under President Donald Trump. Read the original article on Business Insider

Mark Pope's Kentucky Wildcats dropped an SEC college basketball game to the Georgia Bulldogs at Rupp Arena despite a big night from Otega Oweh.

In Defense Of Sir Jim Ratcliffe Authored by Charles Johnson via TheCritic.co.uk, Far more energy has gone into condemning his phrasing than confronting the questions he raised... Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s statement that Britain has been “colonised by immigrants” has sparked a fierce reaction. From Starmer to Bluesky, to the Athletic and all the football social media pundits in between, the co-owner of  Manchester United has been bombarded with the same attack lines repeatedly. He has been called a tax dodging, racist immigrant hypocrite. Such an uproar has flared up in such a short space of time because Ratcliffe is radically different from those who have issued similar statements before. Ratcliffe is not a political figure: you do not see billionaires nor football club owners voicing discontent like this. The pushback has been fierce because Ratcliffe has no political incentive to say any of this. He isn’t running for office, seeking favour, or chasing votes — which makes his intervention harder to dismiss. Part of the backlash, too, reflects an unease that his diagnosis may be accurate. The remarks came from an initial conversation regarding the economic challenges Britain faces in general, not solely on immigration. The snippet that has been so widely shared is merely part of a wider statement of the economic problems Britain faces; Ratcliffe refers to the issues of “immigration” and “nine million people” on benefits simultaneously. Manchester United part-owner has told @EdConwaySky the UK has been "colonised" by immigrants, who are draining resources from the state, as he warns of the country facing profound political, social and economic challenges. 🔗 https://t.co/bie6uFZ1Tp pic.twitter.com/qFpiO0HkfO February 11, 2026 Colonised is a strong opening salvo for a figure such as Ratcliffe, who is not known for any previous anti-migration stance. This generated responses of tone policing from his critics – cries that his choice of words were “disgraceful and deeply divisive” and that “this language and leadership has no place in English football” from Kick It Out, a notable “Anti Racism” football pressure group. There was no attempt to argue or debate: this was no more than tone policing, of “mate mate mate, you can’t say that mate”. It did not engage with the substantive point. It was not an argument. The Prime Minister has pushed for Ratcliffe to apologise. Less than a year ago, Starmer was referring to Britain as an ”Island of Strangers”; he has little argument here. Sir Ed Davey has stated that Ratcliffe is “totally wrong” and is “out of step with British Values”. Once again this is weak tone policing, not an argument. Regardless, which British values are being violated in particular? What are British values precisely meant to mean here? The fact is that Ratcliffe’s vocabulary choice is nowhere near as divisive as the impacts of mass migration in the last quarter century. Mass migration is the most important issue in British political debate. It has bought sectarianism, Bengali and Palestinian politics swinging both local council and Parliamentary elections, a deepening of housing crisis, the rape and murder of British women from taxpayer funded hotels and programs which bloat the welfare state even further. It is undeniable mass migration has defined British politics of the 2010s onwards. It has been much more harmful and divisive than any comment made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. His words are nothing compared to the actions of Deng Chol Majek, or Hedash Kebatu, to name a couple of examples. Critics have also cried that Ratcliffe is “an immigrant himself, dodging tax in Monaco”. The difference between Ratcliffe and migration into Britain is so different they are almost incomparable. In the 2017/18 tax year Ratcliffe was the fifth highest taxpayer in the country, footing a bill of £110.5 million. With such an extraordinarily high bill, it is no wonder that he has since moved to Monaco. Meanwhile, the average salary of of a migrant entering Britain in 2023 (which has fallen by £10,000 since 2021) was £32,946, according to a report by the Centre for Migration Control. From this we can estimate a migrant would pay about £5,000 in income tax. That means it would take over 22,000 (statistically average) migrants to foot the tax bill that Ratcliffe paid in one year alone. Ratcliffe has been an exceptional cash cow to the British state. He has been taxed incredible amounts and contributed more to this country than almost anyone currently living; to call him hypocritical since he dared to criticise migration and its impact on the welfare state is simply not fair. Census data from the ONS in 2021 shows that migrants from four nations – Somalia, Nigeria, Jamaica and Bangladesh – head over 104,000 social homes in London alone. With such incredible numbers of subsidised housing going to foreign born nationals, it is absolutely correct to state that mass migration is costing the British economy a fortune. The same census states that over 70% of Somali born households are in social housing in England and Wales, whilst also being of lowest contributors to income tax in the nation – paying well under the £5,000 stated per head previously. The increase and sheer scale of benefit reliance for many immigrants in Britain is not sustainable, and it is a problem that is right to be addressed. Perhaps the most nonsensical argument presented by some is that as co-owner of Manchester United he employs a significant number of immigrant players. Bruno Fernandes is not living in social housing in Wythenshawe. Benjamin Sesko is not in a single bed council flat in Hulme. When he arrived in Manchester last year, the first thing Senne Lammens did was not register for Universal Credit. Not a single foreign player is a drain on the state. They are, as elite athletes in the most lucrative league in the world, very clearly exceptions to the norm of British migration. The difference between Bruno Fernandes, who earns a reported £300,000 a week, and the over 40% of Bangladeshi immigrants who are economically inactive should really not need spelling out. We are referring to just 17 foreign senior team players who all earn more in a week than the average migrant – or Brit – will earn in a year. It is ludicrous  to even attempt to compare the two. Regardless, employing or working with immigrants does not mean you waive your right to criticise the state of affairs in Britain. As an Englishman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a given and inalienable right to comment on the affairs of his country. Ratcliffe’s critics have entirely focused on his choice of the word “colonised”, and how they consider it inflammatory. This choice of phrase was not entirely accurate or intentional by Ratcliffe – proved by the fact he issued an apology over his “choice of language”, rather than the substance and argument behind his critique of the broader economic challenge of Britain. The bottom line is, Ratcliffe was right to raise a perfectly reasonable concern. He is directionally correct, and close enough to the truth that the obsessive focus around his phrasing is both absurd and clearly no more than a tactic to dodge the substance of his argument entirely. His critics have been intentionally evasive around the underlying subject: it is a harsh, necessary truth they have no reply too. They avoid the debate because, despite his wording being wrong, Ratcliffe is right. Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 06:30

Elon Musk's latest merger moves signal a continued push to evolve X (formerly Twitter) into a comprehensive 'everything app,' expanding its functionalities beyond social media.

A compilation of 17 humorous tweets from Black Twitter has gone viral, causing widespread laughter.