B.C. Begley

10 FBI staffers who worked on Mar-a-Lago documents case are fired, sources say

At least 10 FBI employees who worked on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into President Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents were fired on Wednesday, sources told CBS News. The terminations followed reports that the FBI had subpoenaed phone records of former FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles from when they were private citizens. The FBI Agents Association condemned … Continue reading 10 FBI staffers who worked on Mar-a-Lago documents case are fired, sources say

Maryland man donned disguise to kill millionaire philanthropist in nursing home, police say

A 22-year-old Baltimore man, Maurquise Emillo James, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 14 killing of 87-year-old philanthropist Robert Fuller Jr. at a Potomac nursing home where James worked. Fuller, a retired Navy Reserve officer, was found shot in the head, and police say James had access to the facility and allegedly used a disguise—including a mask and wig—during the attack. Investigators … Continue reading Maryland man donned disguise to kill millionaire philanthropist in nursing home, police say

The IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential information to ICE, judge says

A federal judge ruled that the IRS illegally disclosed confidential taxpayer information to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) roughly 42,695 times, violating IRS Code 6103. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found that the IRS shared addresses of thousands of taxpayers with ICE under a controversial data-sharing agreement meant to identify undocumented immigrants. The disclosure came from 47,000 of 1.28 million requested records, often including additional … Continue reading The IRS broke the law by disclosing confidential information to ICE, judge says

Nancy Guthrie’s home will be returned to the family as search stretches into fourth week

Law enforcement is preparing to return Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home to her family as the search for the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie enters its fourth week. Guthrie was last seen on January 31 in the Tucson area, and authorities have collected DNA evidence from her home, though testing has so far yielded no conclusive results. Over 23,000 tips have been submitted to the FBI, … Continue reading Nancy Guthrie’s home will be returned to the family as search stretches into fourth week

Fire at an Ohio farm complex kills about 6,000 hogs

A fire at Fine Oak Farms in Madison County, Ohio, killed about 6,000 pigs and sent a large plume of smoke visible for miles. Firefighters battled the blaze amid strong winds and limited water, bringing it under control after five hours, while roughly 1,500 hogs survived and were relocated. Two of the farm’s five large buildings were heavily damaged, but nearby structures remained largely intact, … Continue reading Fire at an Ohio farm complex kills about 6,000 hogs

10 Cubans on U.S. boat intended to carry out an ‘armed infiltration,’ Havana says

Cuba’s military killed four Cuban Americans aboard a U.S.-registered boat that entered Cuban waters Wednesday, calling it a “foiled armed infiltration” aimed at terrorist activities. The Interior Ministry said the vessel carried 10 armed individuals with rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, and bulletproof gear, and that a firefight injured a Cuban border guard and six people on the boat. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel vowed to defend … Continue reading 10 Cubans on U.S. boat intended to carry out an ‘armed infiltration,’ Havana says

Hungary’s Orban orders extra security, alleges Ukraine attacks plot

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has ordered increased security at key energy infrastructure sites, accusing Ukraine of attempting to disrupt Hungary’s energy system. In a video statement, Orban alleged Kyiv was using an “oil blockade” and preparing further actions, though he provided no evidence. Budapest recently claimed Ukraine was deliberately restricting Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline, an accusation Ukrainian officials denied, saying the … Continue reading Hungary’s Orban orders extra security, alleges Ukraine attacks plot

Mud volcano erupts near homes in Colombia

A mud volcano erupted in San Juan de Urabá in Colombia’s Antioquia department, prompting authorities to order precautionary evacuations near homes and a municipal water treatment plant. No injuries have been reported, though the road to the Siete Vueltas district was damaged. Emergency teams are assessing the site after videos showed flames and thick smoke rising from the eruption. Mud volcanoes release mixtures of mud, … Continue reading Mud volcano erupts near homes in Colombia

Afghanistan launches attacks against Pakistan, draws ‘immediate response’

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities say they have launched large-scale attacks on Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line in response to recent Pakistani air strikes in Nangarhar and Paktia. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the assaults targeted Pakistani installations after what he described as repeated provocations. An Afghan military source claimed 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 13 outposts seized, while Pakistan said its forces mounted … Continue reading Afghanistan launches attacks against Pakistan, draws ‘immediate response’

Kenyan man accused of tricking and trafficking hundreds of Kenyans to fight for Russia in Ukraine

A Kenyan recruitment agency founder has been charged with human trafficking for allegedly sending young men to fight for the Russian army. Festus Omwamba, head of Global Face Human Resources, is accused of deceiving at least 22 youths with promises of jobs abroad, only for them to end up in Russia and, in some cases, on the frontlines in Ukraine. Authorities say more than 1,000 … Continue reading Kenyan man accused of tricking and trafficking hundreds of Kenyans to fight for Russia in Ukraine

Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction overturned by Hong Kong court in rare legal win for activist

A Hong Kong appellate court has overturned fraud convictions against pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, though he will remain in prison due to a separate 20-year sentence under the Beijing-imposed national security law. Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, had previously been sentenced to five years and nine months for fraud, but judges ruled prosecutors failed to prove deception beyond reasonable doubt. His overall … Continue reading Jimmy Lai’s fraud conviction overturned by Hong Kong court in rare legal win for activist

Space

An asteroid passed 428 km from Earth and no one saw it coming

Last year, a tiny 2-meter-wide asteroid, 2025 TF, passed over Antarctica at just 428 kilometers—lower than the International Space Station—without being detected until afterward. While harmless due to its small size, the close pass highlights that asteroid detection, though vastly improved, still has blind spots. Data show near-Earth asteroid detections have surged: from 103 small asteroids (under 7 meters) spotted between 2000–2007 to 1,124 between 2017–2026, and 7–20 meter … Continue reading An asteroid passed 428 km from Earth and no one saw it coming

Space

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-110 from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 at 6:04 p.m. ET. The launch, with a 95% favorable weather forecast, was the 10th flight for the booster B1092, which successfully landed on the droneship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic. The mission carried 29 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit to expand SpaceX’s global internet coverage. The launch window ran from 3:56 p.m. to 7:56 p.m. ET, giving … Continue reading SpaceX launches Starlink satellites

Technology

San Francisco startup pitches Trump admin on arming robots for U.S. military

A Foundation says the Trump administration is exploring the use of its humanoid robots on future battlefields. So far, Foundation has received at least $18 million in U.S. military contracts for research, logistics, and equipment manufacturing, but none involve arming the robots. Co-founders Mike LeBlanc and Sankaet Pathak envision robots assisting troops with tasks like reconnaissance, supply transport, and translation, while maintaining human oversight for any combat actions. By the end of this month, two … Continue reading San Francisco startup pitches Trump admin on arming robots for U.S. military

Technology

Corvette ZR1 Sets Car And Driver’s New Lightning Lap Record

The 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1″] has set a new Lap”,”automotive testing record”] record at Virginia International Raceway, beating the long-standing McLaren Senna mark of 2:34.9 with a 2:34.2 lap. While the Corvette ZR1’s 1,064-hp is less exotic than the Senna’s 789-hp rear-wheel layout, its heavier 3,899-pound frame still delivers nearly identical power-to-weight performance. The ZR1 also claimed the top-speed record for the Lightning Lap at 179.0 mph, surpassing the … Continue reading Corvette ZR1 Sets Car And Driver’s New Lightning Lap Record

Business

Spirit Airlines plans to slash flights, fleet in bid to emerge from bankruptcy

Spirit Airlines unveiled a plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to slim down its operations, focusing on high-demand routes and peak travel periods while expanding premium-class seating to remain competitive. The airline will concentrate flights from major hubs in Florida, New York, and Detroit, cut underperforming routes, and reduce operations in Latin America, while increasing aircraft utilization during busy times. Spirit plans to shrink its Airbus fleet, reduce costs by $5.5 … Continue reading Spirit Airlines plans to slash flights, fleet in bid to emerge from bankruptcy

Business

South Korea and Japan stocks hit fresh highs amid regional gains

Asian and Australian markets surged to record highs Wednesday, following a tech-driven rally on Wall Street amid easing concerns about AI-related disruption. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped over 2% to 58,583.12, while South Korea’s Kospi topped 6,000 for the first time, closing at 6,083.86; Taiwan’s benchmark hit a five-day record high. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 1.17%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and China’s CSI 300 also advanced. U.S. equities gained overnight, led … Continue reading South Korea and Japan stocks hit fresh highs amid regional gains

Business

WBD says Paramount raised its bid to $31 per share

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) said Paramount Skydance (PSKY) has raised its takeover bid to $31 per share, up from $30, in a proposal that could surpass WBD’s existing deal with Netflix. WBD is reviewing the revised offer, which is all cash and includes a $7 billion breakup fee if regulators block the merger, plus a $2.8 billion fee to cover Netflix if that deal is abandoned. The board has … Continue reading WBD says Paramount raised its bid to $31 per share

Pentagon appeals order blocking Sen. Mark Kelly’s punishment for call to resist unlawful orders

Pete Hegseth is appealing a judge’s ruling that blocks him from punishing Democratic Senator Mark Kelly for appearing in a video urging troops not to follow unlawful orders. The Justice Department will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to review the Feb. 12 decision by Judge Richard Leon, who ruled that Kelly’s First Amendment rights were violated and that the Pentagon’s actions threatened the liberties of military retirees. Kelly … Continue reading Pentagon appeals order blocking Sen. Mark Kelly’s punishment for call to resist unlawful orders

Trump hails ‘turnaround for the ages’ in record-long SOTU speech

Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union of his second term, celebrating what he called a “turnaround for the ages” in the U.S., highlighting economic growth, lower inflation, energy independence, and tax relief for working families. Trump spotlighted guests whose lives were positively affected by his policies, including a homeschooling mother, while also honoring military heroes, first responders, and Olympic athletes with medals and … Continue reading Trump hails ‘turnaround for the ages’ in record-long SOTU speech

Marco Rubio briefs US lawmakers on Iran

Hours before Donald Trump’s State of the Union, Senator Marco Rubio briefed top U.S. lawmakers on Iran amid the largest U.S. deployment of aircraft and warships to the Middle East since 2003. Trump warned that Iran would never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons and claimed Tehran was working on ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S., while asserting he preferred a diplomatic solution. U.S.-Iran nuclear talks are scheduled for … Continue reading Marco Rubio briefs US lawmakers on Iran

Mexico weighs legal action after Musk links president to drug cartels

Claudia Sheinbaum is considering legal action after Elon Musk suggested on X that she was connected to drug cartels following the killing of Nemesio Oseguera, “El Mencho.” Musk’s post claimed Sheinbaum was “saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say” without providing evidence. Sheinbaum said government lawyers are reviewing the matter, though U.S. defamation laws make suing Musk difficult, as she would need to prove he knowingly spread … Continue reading Mexico weighs legal action after Musk links president to drug cartels

Rep Al Green Tossed Out Of Trump SOTU

Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was once again escorted out of the House chamber during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union after holding up a sign reading “Black People Aren’t Apes!” in protest of a racist video Trump posted depicting the Obamas as apes. Despite efforts by Republican leaders to block the sign from view, Green continued to display it as Trump entered and addressed the chamber. … Continue reading Rep Al Green Tossed Out Of Trump SOTU

Judge dismisses defense push to remove prosecutors from Charlie Kirk murder case

Judge Tony Graf ruled that Utah County prosecutors can continue handling the case against Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating conservative figure Charlie Kirk last September, rejecting the defense’s claim of a conflict of interest. The defense argued that a prosecutor’s child witnessed the shooting, suggesting this could bias the prosecution, but Graf said no factual basis was shown to create an appearance of impropriety or compromise Robinson’s due process. Testimony indicated … Continue reading Judge dismisses defense push to remove prosecutors from Charlie Kirk murder case