Media

Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearings – The Associated Press

Conspiracies, espionage, an enemies list: Takeaways from a wild day of confirmation hearings  The Associated PressTrump’s Cabinet nominees face sharpest bipartisan grilling to date and other takeaways from Thursday’s confirmation hearings  CNNFive Takeaways from Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel hearings  BBC.comDonald Trump’s Cabinet of Revenge  The New YorkerTulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, RFK Jr.: Latest confirmation vote count  TODAY

Israelis and Palestinians rejoice after more hostages and prisoners are freed – The Associated Press

Israelis and Palestinians rejoice after more hostages and prisoners are freed  The Associated PressEight hostages released from Gaza amid chaotic scenes as Palestinian prisoners set to be freed  CNNIsrael Frees Palestinian Prisoners After Chaotic Hostage Handover  The New York TimesNetanyahu furious about chaotic handover of Israeli hostages from Hamas  Fox News3 Israeli and 5 Thai hostages are freed in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners  NPR

Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis launch investigation after 19 people found dead in drifting vessel – CBS News

Authorities in St. Kitts and Nevis launch investigation after 19 people found dead in drifting vessel  CBS NewsSt Kitts and Nevis finds 13 decomposing bodies in boat adrift in Caribbean  The GuardianCaribbean nation of St Kitts launches investigation after 19 people found dead in drifting vessel  Fox NewsBoat with 13 bodies discovered off the coast of Nevis  Trinidad GuardianBodies found on boat near Nevis said to include West Africans  Loop News Caribbean

France hands over last military base in Chad – The Associated Press

France hands over last military base in Chad  The Associated PressWith France’s military influence in Africa gone, can it rely on soft power?  Al Jazeera EnglishFrance ends military presence in Sahel region with handover of last base in Chad  FRANCE 24 EnglishWhat France loses by closing its military bases in Africa  theconversation.comChad officials say French troops have finally left after 70 years’ presence  VOA Asia

Antiqua et Nova: Note on the relationship between AI and human intelligence – Hacker News

Antiqua et Nova: Note on the relationship between AI and human intelligence  Hacker NewsCiting ‘Shadow of Evil,’ Vatican Warns About the Risks of A.I.  The New York TimesNew Vatican document examines potential and risks of AI  Vatican News - EnglishAI on the Vatican on AI  The PillarAI must serve, not replace, teacher-student relationship, Vatican says  Detroit Catholic

An Iraqi man who carried out Quran burnings in Sweden is killed in a shooting – The Associated Press

An Iraqi man who carried out Quran burnings in Sweden is killed in a shooting  The Associated PressSweden releases 5 arrested following the killing of an Iraqi who carried out Quran burnings  The Associated PressMan Who Burned Qurans in Sweden Shot Dead During TikTok Livestream  The Wall Street JournalSwedish PM says shooting of anti-Islam campaigner may be linked to foreign power  ReutersIraqi at center of Quran burnings in Sweden shot dead before court verdict  The Washington Post

Families in India cremate loved ones killed in stampede at religious festival – The Associated Press

Families in India cremate loved ones killed in stampede at religious festival  The Associated PressAfter Maha Kumbh Mela Stampede, Concerns of Cover-Up  The New York Times‘Where should we go’: Refrain at Kumbh lost-and-found centre  The Indian ExpressFamilies mourn loved ones who died in Kumbh Mela crush  BBC.comAt Least 30 Dead, 60 Injured After Religious Event Ends in Stampede: 'There Was No Chance for Escape'  PEOPLE

A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori – The Associated Press

A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori  The Associated PressNew Zealand mountain gets same legal rights as a person  BBC.comTaranaki Mounga: New Zealand mountain granted same legal rights as a person  The GuardianTaranaki Maunga becomes a legal person as treaty settlement passes into law  RNZNew Zealand Mountain Named a ‘Person’ with ‘Rights’ and ‘Responsibilities’  National Review

Media

Russia seems to have time on its side as the war in Ukraine reaches its third year – The Associated Press

Russia seems to have time on its side as the war in Ukraine reaches its third year  The Associated PressThe War in Ukraine Three Years On  Center for Strategic & International StudiesTuesday, February 18. Russia’s War On Ukraine: News And Information From Ukraine  ForbesWe must not forget Russia’s aggression  The TelegraphRussia-Ukraine after three years of large-scale war  Brookings Institution