Ski mountaineering, often shortened to SkiMo, was added to the Olympic program at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games as the only new sport for this edition of the Olympics. The discipline has long been practiced in alpine regions as a test of uphill endurance and downhill control, but the Olympic version packages that backcountry DNA into tightly managed races on a closed course, with strict equipment rules and closely monitored transition zones. The Olympic venue has been the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Italy, which also hosts men’s alpine events at these Games. Even before medal races began, organizers…
Author: Emily Harper
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As the 2026 Winter Olympics spotlight figure skating in Milan-Cortina, Vera Wang has been using the moment to revisit a lesser-known chapter of her life: competitive skating. Before her career in fashion, Wang trained seriously as a skater and competed nationally, including at the 1968 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but did not make the U.S. Olympic team, an outcome she later described as devastating. That early near-miss has remained part of Wang’s public biography even as she became best known for bridal and red-carpet design. In recent years, she has framed skating as a long-running personal throughline rather than a…
A proposed one‑time 5 % tax on the wealth of California billionaires has become a focal point of political debate, as national and state Democratic figures take sharply different positions less than a year before the 2026 midterm elections. The measure, championed by some progressive leaders and opposed by others, aims to generate revenue to offset anticipated cuts in federal funding for health services. The initiative, backed by major labor unions, would target individuals with a net worth exceeding $1 billion, levying on assets such as stocks, businesses, art, and intellectual property. Union advocates argue that the proposal would help sustain hospitals…
Anna Breman presided over her inaugural monetary policy meeting as Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) on February 18, 2026, underscoring a drive for improved transparency and clearer communication with markets and the public. Breman, appointed in September 2025 and taking office on December 1, 2025, is the first woman and first foreign national to occupy the position in the RBNZ’s history. Her debut came after a period of leadership turbulence at the central bank. Former Governor Adrian Orr resigned in March 2025, prompting a search for a successor who could restore confidence and strengthen public engagement.…
A well-known natural rock formation nicknamed “Lovers’ Arch” has collapsed along Italy’s southern Adriatic shoreline, after days of rough weather battered the coast. The arch was part of the Sant’Andrea sea stacks near Melendugno in the Puglia region, an area where limestone cliffs and sea stacks draw visitors for beach tourism and photography. The collapse occurred around Valentine’s Day, following heavy rain, strong winds, and turbulent seas that weakened the already fragile structure. Some visitors and residents noticed the landmark was gone the next morning, with the former arch reduced to rubble at the waterline. Local Leaders Describe a Blow…
Warner Bros. Discovery said it will briefly reopen discussions with Paramount Skydance after receiving a seven-day waiver from Netflix under the terms of Warner’s existing merger agreement. The waiver is intended to let Warner’s board address what it described as unresolved shortcomings in Paramount Skydance’s earlier proposals and to determine whether a revised offer can be clarified and made actionable within a tight window. In a statement cited in Warner’s filing, Netflix said it granted a narrow waiver to help “fully and finally resolve” what it called ongoing disruption tied to the competing bid. Warner also emphasized that, even while…
Lunar New Year celebrations began Tuesday with dense crowds, incense smoke, and the steady commerce of holiday markets, as communities across Asia and far beyond welcomed the Year of the Horse in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac cycle. The new year follows the Year of the Snake, and the holiday remains the most important annual observance in China and several neighboring societies, while also drawing large public gatherings in overseas communities. In Beijing, thousands streamed into the former Temple of Earth area for seasonal fairs, browsing stalls selling snacks, toys, and small gifts. The scene blended the familiar, families moving slowly…
New research suggests China’s decades-long planting campaign around the Taklamakan Desert is doing more than slowing moving sand: it is now drawing down more carbon dioxide than the area releases, effectively functioning as a carbon sink. The Taklamakan is among the world’s largest and driest deserts, spanning roughly 130,000 square miles (337,000 square kilometers) and ringed by high mountains that limit moisture for much of the year. Scientists say the shift is concentrated along the desert’s margins, where vegetation has been established through a vast afforestation effort. A study co-author, Yuk Yung of Caltech and a senior research scientist at…
Wendy’s said it will shut several hundred restaurants in the United States as it tries to reverse a sharper-than-expected sales decline. The company reported that global same-store sales at locations open at least a year fell 10% in the October–December quarter, a steeper decline than the 8.5% decline analysts surveyed by FactSet expected. U.S. same-store sales fell further in the period, adding pressure to accelerate changes to its domestic footprint. The chain, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, said it closed 28 U.S. restaurants in the fourth quarter and ended 2025 with 5,969 domestic locations. It now expects to close 5% to…
On Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, Marco Rubio met Viktor Orbán in Budapest, using the visit to publicly promote the Hungarian leader’s bid to remain in power after elections scheduled for April 12. Orbán has led Hungary since 2010 and is seeking what would be a fifth straight term, after 16 years at the helm. Rubio linked the two governments’ current closeness to Orbán’s relationship with Donald Trump, telling reporters that the personal ties between the two leaders have strengthened bilateral cooperation. Rubio’s language went beyond a routine diplomatic show of support. In comments delivered alongside Orbán, he said the U.S.…
