Thursday, February 26th
⏳ THE SPEED READ
🚨NATION
“Nearly blind” refugee found dead in Buffalo after Border Patrol release, mayor says (CBS)
Florida lawmakers intensify calls for Cuba regime change after deadly speedboat confrontation (POLITICO)
Mamdani makes unannounced trip to meet Trump in Washington (GUARDIAN), brings mock newspaper to try to win him over (MO NEWS)
Trump administration officials in court to defend prosecution against Kilmar Abrego Garcia as case sits on shaky ground (CNN)
NYPD arrests social media influencer in Washington Square Park snowball fight (GOTHAMIST)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
U.S.-Iran nuclear talks were “positive,” senior U.S. official says (AXIOS)
Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction overturned by Hong Kong court in rare legal win for activist (GUARDIAN)
Kenyan police arrest man accused of recruiting fighters for Russia’s war in Ukraine (AP)
Danish PM calls snap election amid Greenland momentum (DW)
Hungary accuses Ukraine of ‘oil blockade,’ deploys soldiers to key energy facilities (CNBC)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
Paramount Wins Bidding War for Warner Discovery After Netflix Drops Out (WSJ)
Mortgage rate dips below 6% for the first time since 2022 (AXIOS)
Instagram now alerts parents if their teen searches for suicide or self-harm content (TECHCRUNCH)
Google launches Nano Banana 2, updating its viral AI image generator (CNBC)
California seal-watching tours canceled due to bird flu outbreak (THE HILL)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“Heated Rivalry” Season 2 is coming “as soon as humanly possible,” says creator Jacob Tierney (CBS)
Singer D4vd is target of investigation in LA over murder of teen found dead in his car (GUARDIAN)
Judge scolds Shia LaBeouf and orders him to rehab after Mardi Gras arrest (AP)
Netflix’s ‘Dynasty: The Murdochs’ trailer reveals the real-life ‘Succession’ fight to control Fox News (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER)
Max Scherzer’s 8-year-old daughter wrote letter to Blue Jays in December asking team to re-sign her dad (YAHOO SPORTS)