The Daily Populous

Tuesday February 17th, 2026 day edition

image for Europe Is America’s Secret Weapon. And We’re Giving It Up.

THIS YEAR, RUBIO AND COLBY used Munich’s stage to defend the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy.

Rubio’s counterpart, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, was surprisingly absent from Munich, as he has been from other recent diplomatic engagements, especially those in Europe.

Unsurprisingly, he argued that Europe must assume primary responsibility for its defense while the United States concentrates on the Indo-Pacific.

The United States cannot be strong everywhere, and Europe must continue to invest in its own defense.

When key U.S. leaders suggest Europe must “stand on its own,” they hear us announcing: We will not stand with you.

Forward presence in Europe prevents wars we would otherwise have to fight and enables operations far beyond the continent.

When American representatives use that stage to suggest alliances are transactional, the reverberations extend far beyond the Bayerischer Hof’s walls. »

Indonesia Just Banned Elephant Rides In Zoos Nationwide

Authored by plantbasednews.org

According to World Animal Protection, Bali’s Mason Elephant Park halted elephant rides at the end of January after receiving multiple warnings.

It was one of the last venues in the country to still offer elephant rides, and is now reportedly transitioning to ethical, observation-based experiences instead.

“The ending of elephant rides in Indonesia sends a strong signal to the wider tourism industry that we’re entering a new chapter of more responsible wildlife tourism,” she continued. »

Far-right character’s monologue prompts violent scenes at German theatre

Authored by theguardian.com

The violent scenes came on Saturday during the German premiere of the Portuguese playwright Tiago Rodrigues’s work Catarina, or the Beauty of Killing Fascists in Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia.

At the end of the last act, the year’s chosen victim, a far-right party functionary, delivers a 15-minute monologue laying out a nightmarish extremist agenda.

As the actor Ole Lagerpusch launched into the incendiary speech, the audience became increasingly agitated, the theatre spokesperson Alexander Kruse said. »

Silent Hill: Townfall reveals first-person gameplay in a new trailer

Authored by blog.playstation.com

I am thrilled to finally be able to deliver updates on Silent Hill: Townfall, following our announcement back in 2022.

In today’s State of Play, we revealed a new trailer that gives you a glimpse into the world that awaits.

To explain more, I will hand it over to Jon McKellan, Writer and Director at Screen Burn Interactive on Silent Hill: Townfall. »

FBI won’t share Alex Pretti shooting evidence, Minnesota authorities say

Authored by theguardian.com

Minnesota law enforcement authorities have said the FBI is refusing to share any evidence on its investigation into the death of Alex Pretti, the man killed by federal immigration authorities in late January.

On Monday, Minnesota’s bureau of criminal apprehension (BCA), a state-level criminal investigative law enforcement agency, said the FBI had formally notified it that it would not share any information or evidence related to Pretti’s shooting.

“Trump’s left hand cannot investigate his right hand,” he said on Monday in response to the FBI’s refusal to share evidence. »