Khrushchev’s secret speech and the partial reckoning with Stalinism
On February 25, 1956, Nikita Khrushchev’s closed-door address broke decades of silence about Stalin’s crimes, opening a limited era of reform and public debate
Marco Santini
How Vance balances support for Trump with his anti‑intervention reputation on Iran
JD Vance is reconciling an anti‑war persona with support for President Trump’s strikes on Iran, emphasizing narrow nuclear objectives while seeking to limit escalation
Nazanin Boniadi asks where progressive outrage is over Iran’s domestic repression
Nazanin Boniadi, a British-Iranian actress and longtime supporter of Iranian protesters, called out the relative silence among some progressive activists over Iran’s internal human rights violations and asked where that outrage was before recent strikes
How strikes in the Middle East left hundreds of Russian travelers stuck in Dubai
Russian travelers in Dubai report canceled flights, emergency alerts, and mounting expenses after strikes in the Middle East forced airport closures and partial resumptions
How religious language is reshaping public support for the Iran conflict
Officials in the United States and Israel have invoked sacred texts and apocalyptic imagery to describe the Iran conflict, a tactic that mobilises supporters but raises ethical and diplomatic concerns
Clippers climb back from 17 down to beat Warriors 114-101
Golden State led by 17 at halftime but fell 114-101 to the Los Angeles Clippers as Kawhi Leonard paced the comeback and the Warriors struggled after the break
How depleted interceptor supplies are reshaping the Iran confrontation
Gulf states and their partners are confronting a critical supply imbalance: expensive interceptors versus inexpensive Iranian missiles, while outside powers quietly shift the strategic landscape
What tightening spreads mean for fintech lenders in 2026
Fintech lenders see margins compress as spreads widen; lessons from 2008 and fresh metrics point to selective caution
Skijor YXE draws crowds to Optimist Hill for fast-paced horse-powered winter sport
Crowds gathered at Optimist Hill to watch skijor yxe, a lively horse-pulled skiing and snowboarding event that mixed cowboy culture, live music and beginner-friendly runs
Radiohead demands removal of ‘Let Down’ from ICE social media video
Radiohead has asked ICE to remove a video posted February 18 that used a choral version of ‘Let Down,’ formally issuing a statement on February 27 to protest the appropriation
How tighter fintech rules may reshape digital payments in 2026
Record payment volumes collide with fresh regulation: a pragmatic take from a former Deutsche Bank analyst
Why US missile inventories are shrinking after strikes on Iran
A clear-eyed look at how repeated missile use tied to Iran operations is reducing US stockpiles and increasing strategic vulnerabilities
Top summer reads: new novels from Julian Barnes and fresh literary voices
From a final book by a Booker winner to bold debuts and taut thrillers, this roundup highlights standout fiction to add to your summer reading list
Neil Sedaka remembered: from early chart topper to later comeback
Neil Sedaka, an American pop singer-songwriter who achieved major hits in the early rock-pop era and again decades later, is remembered for his songwriting craft and lasting influence
Trump signals tough stance on Iran amid nuclear talks and military options
President Trump signaled displeasure with Iran’s negotiating stance, left the door open to military action and tied diplomacy to a 10–15 day timeline while officials move assets and caution personnel in the region
How digital banking models could reshape liquidity and compliance
A surprising metric points to hidden risk in common fintech strategies, blending lessons from 2008 with new liquidity and spread data