NASA is conducting a crucial second wet dress rehearsal for its Artemis 2 mission, a high-stakes fueling test designed to resolve persistent hydrogen leaks and other issues that plagued a previous attempt. This intensive 50-hour countdown, involving over 700,000 gallons of supercold propellants, is a vital step toward the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 and will determine the feasibility of a March launch for the four astronauts.
Peru's Congress has elected 83-year-old leftist Jose Balcazar as the nation's eighth president in eight years, underscoring a period of profound political instability. Balcazar, who replaces a leader ousted by scandal, now faces the challenge of overseeing transparent elections despite his own controversial past comments defending child marriage.
Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was reportedly arrested on his 66th birthday, February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This dramatic development, confirmed by Thames Valley Police, follows intensifying scrutiny over his Jeffrey Epstein connections and allegations he sent confidential trade reports to the convicted sex offender.
Indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, held in Geneva through Omani intermediaries, have reportedly made progress. An agreement on general guiding principles has been reached, setting the stage for Iran to constrain its nuclear program under United Nations supervision, with further discussions expected to finalize the deal.
The U.S. Treasury has successfully concluded a significant public-private initiative to fortify cybersecurity and risk management for artificial intelligence within the financial services sector. This crucial effort, supporting the President's AI Action Plan, will soon release six new resources designed to ensure secure and resilient AI adoption across the U.S. financial system.
Vanderbilt Health researchers have developed an experimental vaccine that successfully protected animals from *C. difficile* infection, preventing illness, death, and recurrence. This novel vaccine, administered to the colon's mucosal lining, offers a promising new strategy against a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections.
