The Trump administration has decided to temporarily stop some federal Medicaid funding to Minnesota due to concerns about misuse of funds. Vice President JD Vance announced the move, which is part of efforts to tackle fraud in public benefits. The pause in funding follows recent fraud allegations in Minnesota's social services programs.
Key Facts
The federal government is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota.
The pause is due to concerns about fraud in the state's social services.
Vice President JD Vance announced the decision alongside CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz.
President Trump mentioned Minnesota's fraud issues in his State of the Union address.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz opted not to seek a third term amid these fraud concerns.
A fraud case with the nonprofit Feeding Our Future allegedly involved $250 million during the pandemic.
Details on which funding streams are affected or how long the pause will last were not provided.
Medicaid is a program that helps cover health care costs for eligible low-income individuals.
Real Madrid won against Benfica to advance to the Champions League last 16. The match was notable because Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. was allegedly racially abused in the previous game, leading to a one-match ban for Benfica's player, Gianluca Prestianni. Real Madrid players highlighted the importance of standing against racism during this victory.
Key Facts
Real Madrid defeated Benfica to move forward to the Champions League last 16.
Vinicius Jr. reported racial abuse from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni during the first match.
Prestianni was banned for one match and missed the second leg game.
A banner saying "no to racism" was displayed by fans before the return match.
Vinicius Jr. scored the second goal for Real Madrid, completing a 3-1 win on aggregate.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni emphasized that the victory was significant for those opposing racism.
Real Madrid's coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, praised Vinicius Jr.'s successful performance.
Kylian Mbappe missed the match due to a knee injury and is expected to recover fully before returning.
The United States and Iran are scheduled for indirect talks in Geneva to discuss a nuclear deal. President Donald Trump has threatened military action if no agreement is reached, while Iran has shown some willingness to compromise on its nuclear program. The talks come amid increased military presence by the US in the Middle East.
Key Facts
US and Iranian officials are set for a third round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday.
President Trump has threatened to strike Iran if a nuclear deal isn’t reached.
The US has increased its military presence in the Middle East, the largest since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Iran is willing to consider concessions regarding its nuclear program.
The US demands Iran stop uranium enrichment, which Iran rejects.
President Trump has expressed a preference for diplomacy but considers limited military action.
The US previously bombed Iranian nuclear sites last year.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Twig's Beverage, a family-owned soda company in Wisconsin, continues to sell its Sun Drop soft drink in returnable glass bottles. The company has maintained this tradition despite the widespread move to plastic bottles in the industry. Twig's plans to expand its own-brand soda sales across the Midwest, though new bottles will not be returnable.
Key Facts
Twig's Beverage sells its core drink, Sun Drop, in returnable glass bottles.
Customers in Shawano County, Wisconsin, pay a deposit, which they get back when returning the bottles.
Twig's is the last Sun Drop producer using returnable glass bottles.
The company offers a range of sodas with real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup.
Twig's plans to expand its non-returnable bottled sodas across the Midwest.
Twig's started in 1951, founded by Floyd Hartwig after the Korean War.
The business remains family-run, now managed by Floyd's grandsons.
Twig's employs 20 people and makes about $6.5 million annually.
Many students in Northern Ireland are increasingly using food banks because they can't afford to pay for rent, tuition, and food. Queen's University Students' Union in Belfast has seen a significant rise in students visiting their food bank called The Pantry, highlighting the financial struggles faced by students today. The increased use of these services reflects changes in the student experience, with many having to focus more on financial management rather than social activities.
Key Facts
Queen's University Students' Union has seen a 20% increase in students using their food bank, known as The Pantry.
Over 200 students use The Pantry daily to access free essential items, including food and household supplies.
Between September and December 2025, there were over 10,500 student visits to the university’s food bank.
Rising rental costs and insufficient financial aid are key factors contributing to students' financial difficulties.
Student unions are playing a more active role in supporting students' basic needs, like food, rather than just social activities.
Students report that basic living expenses, such as rent, food, transportation, and heating, have risen significantly.
Students are working hard to manage their finances, contradicting the stereotype that student life is mainly about socializing.
The article discusses the challenges of managing e-bike and e-scooter parking in UK cities, focusing on conflicts between residents and councils. While these vehicles offer convenience, they also cause clutter, leading to efforts to regulate parking with designated bays. The issue reflects broader disputes about urban space use.
Key Facts
Doris Suchet in Oxford complained about an e-scooter parking bay blocking a walkway, leading to its removal.
Oxford residents report that e-scooters cause inconvenience by being parked on pavements.
E-bike and e-scooter schemes exist in major UK towns and cities, aiming to reduce travel time and emissions.
Issues with parking have led some councils to threaten e-bike companies with penalties if improvements are not made.
Councils are installing parking bays on roads to avoid angering pedestrians, though this method also has challenges.
Labour plans to introduce legislation to give local officials more control over these vehicle schemes.
London's introduction of bike-share schemes, known as Boris Bikes, began the micro-mobility trend in the UK.
Dockless schemes, allowing bikes to be parked anywhere, have increased since 2018, adding to the complexity of managing shared micromobility.
A BBC investigation discovered that a former police chief in Nepal ordered the use of lethal force against young protesters, leading to the death of 19 people, including a teenager. The protests in September 2022 were part of a broader movement against political corruption in Nepal and resulted in the resignation of the prime minister. A public inquiry is ongoing to investigate these events.
Key Facts
An order to use lethal force against unarmed protesters in Nepal was given by the former police chief.
Among those killed was a 17-year-old student, shot while leaving the protest.
The protests were driven by frustration over political corruption.
The Nepalese government collapsed following these events, with the prime minister resigning.
A police document showed the lethal force order came from someone using "Peter 1," believed to be the ex-police inspector general.
An inquiry is ongoing, but no one has been held accountable yet.
Upcoming general elections are scheduled for March 5.
Protest organizing moved to the chat platform Discord after some social media platforms were banned.
Aldi has announced two pay raises for its store assistants in the UK, with increases in March and April. These changes make Aldi store assistants the highest paid among UK supermarkets. The company is growing its presence in the competitive UK grocery market.
Key Facts
Aldi will increase store assistants' pay to £13.50 per hour in April, following a March raise.
In London, assistant pay will rise to £14.88 per hour.
28,000 staff members will benefit from these wage increases.
These rates are higher than the current Real Living Wage of £13.45 per hour.
Aldi claims to be the only major supermarket offering paid breaks to all its staff.
Lidl, Waitrose, and Sainsbury's have also recently announced pay increases above inflation.
Aldi plans to open 40 new stores in the UK this year, employing around 45,000 people.
High grocery costs are partly due to increased energy prices following global events.
An interim report led by Baroness Amos has found that maternity services in England have significant problems, including racism and poor staff relationships. These issues are causing failures in care for many families. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has promised to act on the final recommendations due in April.
Key Facts
Maternity services in England are facing issues at multiple stages of care.
Racism and poor staff relationships were highlighted as key problems.
Baroness Amos identified six areas of concern, including understaffing and outdated facilities.
Discrimination was reported against women from minority ethnic backgrounds and other disadvantaged groups.
Over 8,000 people provided evidence to the review, with over 400 families meeting Baroness Amos.
Problems in maternity services have been reported for years, affecting multiple NHS Trusts.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has committed to implementing the final report's recommendations.
A specific case highlighted involved the death of an infant due to medical neglect at Worthing Hospital.
A 21-year-old woman experienced serious health symptoms like fainting and memory loss. At the emergency room, the doctor ordered a drug test without explaining why, which upset her. Some online commentators defended the doctor’s actions, while others suggested further medical evaluation.
Key Facts
A young woman reported symptoms such as passing out, amnesia, and vomiting.
At the emergency room, a drug test was ordered for her without an explanation from the doctor.
The woman felt the drug test made her look “crazy” and was upset by it.
Commentators online have mixed opinions; some agree with the doctor’s decision to test for drugs, while others suggest she see a neurologist for further tests.
Medical experts say dismissing patient symptoms can lead to psychological harm, a concept known as “symptom invalidation.”
“Medical gaslighting” is when a healthcare provider minimizes a patient’s concerns, causing self-doubt.
Some patients change how they share their symptoms with doctors to avoid being seen as exaggerating.
The Seattle Kraken will play against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night. The game can be watched on TV channels KONG and KDFW, or streamed live on Fubo.
Key Facts
The game between Seattle Kraken and Dallas Stars is scheduled for February 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET.
The TV channels broadcasting the game are KONG in Seattle-Tacoma and KDFW in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Dallas Stars are currently third in their division and won their last six games before the break.
Dallas’s player Mikko Rantanen is injured, but Jason Robertson leads the team with 32 goals.
Seattle Kraken holds third place in their division, behind the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers.
Jordan Eberle leads the Kraken with 20 goals and 38 points.
The Dallas Stars aim to win their third game of the season against Seattle, having won twice before.
The game is available for live streaming on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Bill and Hillary Clinton are scheduled to testify in a House investigation related to Jeffrey Epstein. They reached a deal with Republicans to avoid being held in contempt by Congress.
Key Facts
Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify before Congress on Thursday and Friday.
The investigation is related to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Clintons agreed to testify to avoid Congress holding them in contempt.
Some Democrats have helped push for this cooperation.
The Clintons have faced many political battles in Washington before.
The situation involves accusations of questionable judgment and misconduct related to power and money.
Larry Summers is leaving his teaching job at Harvard because of his connections to Jeffrey Epstein. In Brazil, rescue teams are looking for people after heavy rains caused floods. In Cuba, officials reported soldiers killed four people on a Florida-registered speedboat that allegedly fired in Cuban waters.
Key Facts
Larry Summers will no longer teach at Harvard.
His decision is linked to his name appearing often in files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Brazil is experiencing heavy rains and floods.
Rescue teams in Brazil are searching for people affected by the flooding.
Cuban authorities claim soldiers killed four people on a speedboat.
The speedboat was registered in Florida.
The Cuban government says the speedboat fired in Cuban waters.
A Texas grand jury decided not to charge an ICE agent involved in the 2025 shooting death of Ruben Ray Martinez. The incident happened when ICE agents were helping police with traffic control after an auto accident, and Martinez was shot after allegedly hitting an agent with his vehicle. The circumstances around the shooting remain disputed, with conflicting accounts from officials and Martinez's family.
Key Facts
A Texas grand jury did not indict an ICE agent in the shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez in 2025.
The incident took place on March 15, 2025, in South Padre Island, Texas.
Martinez, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, was reportedly shot after driving his vehicle into an agent.
ICE officials stated the agent fired "defensive shots" after an agent was allegedly run over.
Martinez's family contests this account, claiming he did not hit anyone.
Internal records from ICE obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request revealed more details about the shooting.
Martinez was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
Conflicting reports from officials and witnesses have emerged about the sequence of events.
The Golden State Warriors played against the Memphis Grizzlies in their third matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season. Several players from both teams were injured, leading to confusion over who would play. The Warriors faced challenges due to these injuries, especially after losing to the Pelicans the day before.
Key Facts
The Golden State Warriors had a 30-28 record, while the Memphis Grizzlies had a 21-35 record before the game.
This was the third game between the Warriors and Grizzlies for the 2025-26 season, with the Warriors winning the previous two.
Memphis players Ja Morant, Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke were listed as injured and not expected to play.
Golden State's De’Anthony Melton was confirmed to sit out, and Draymond Green was questionable but later confirmed out.
The Warriors lost to the Pelicans 113-109 the day before, partly due to injuries.
Coach Steve Kerr stated the team needed to play well to overcome injuries and noted their 21 turnovers in the loss to the Pelicans.
Followers expressed frustration over the Warriors' injuries and team management.
Dr. Casey Means has been nominated by President Trump to be the surgeon general. She is well-known for her focus on wellness and healthy living but is facing questions about her views on vaccines and raw milk.
Key Facts
Dr. Casey Means is President Trump's pick for surgeon general.
She is associated with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Dr. Means is known for promoting natural foods, reducing pesticides, and encouraging exercise.
The MAHA movement, linked to wellness, supports her ideas.
Critics question her views on vaccines and raw milk.
William Brangham provided the report on her nomination.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is a Democrat who has successfully won two terms in a state that usually votes Republican. Beshear's ability to win elections in Kentucky, even though President Trump is very popular there, makes him a significant figure. He talked about how his political approach might help Democrats appeal to more voters.
Key Facts
Andy Beshear is the Governor of Kentucky and a member of the Democratic Party.
He has been elected governor twice in a state that typically supports Republicans.
President Trump won Kentucky by large margins during elections.
Beshear's success is drawing attention as Democrats look for ways to reach voters outside traditionally Democratic areas.
Beshear's political strategy could provide insights for Democrats trying to win in Republican-leaning states.
President Donald Trump defended his immigration policies in his State of the Union address. A recent NBC News poll shows that nearly half of the people strongly disapprove of his approach to border security and immigration. The issue was discussed further with the National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke about his immigration agenda in the State of the Union address.
His approach to border security and immigration faces growing public disapproval.
An NBC News poll in the same month indicated that 49% of respondents strongly disapprove of Trump's performance in this area.
This disapproval rate has increased by 15 points since April of the previous year.
Paul Perez, the head of the National Border Patrol Council, discussed the situation with Amna Nawaz.
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr became the 17th president of the Philippines in 2022 after a major election win. His presidency has been challenging, with his government facing a corruption scandal and a broken alliance with the vice president. On the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution, some political groups are questioning his leadership.
Key Facts
Ferdinand Marcos Jr is the son of Ferdinand Marcos Sr, a former president who was overthrown in 1986.
Marcos Jr won the presidency in 2022 with a strong election result.
His presidency has faced difficulties, including political division and a major corruption scandal.
The political alliance between Marcos Jr and Vice President Sara Duterte has ended.
Marcos Jr's presidency coincides with the 40th anniversary of the protests that removed his father from power.
Critics say Marcos Jr has not delivered on his election promise of unity.
The Philippines' economy grew by 4.4% in 2025, missing government growth targets.
Wildfires in Colorado led to evacuation orders in several areas due to high winds and dry conditions. Authorities took action as fires threatened neighborhoods near Denver and on the Eastern Plains.
Key Facts
Evacuations occurred in parts of Colorado due to wind-driven wildfires.
A grass fire in Thornton caused evacuations and the temporary closure of Interstate 25.
A wildfire in Padroni, Logan County, prompted evacuation orders for the town and surrounding areas.
The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings because of critical fire conditions, which include strong winds and dry air.
On Tuesday, a different wildfire burned over 1,000 acres in Douglas County but is now fully contained.
Residents were advised to prepare for possible evacuations and to follow official emergency alerts.
