Dawson’s Creek stars salute James Van Der Beek with heartfelt tributes

James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a late-1990s television touchstone as earnest dreamer Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, has died at 48 after a battle with bowel cancer, his family said Wednesday. “He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, said in a statement. The series, which ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003, launched him to stardom and helped define a TV era. Heartfelt tributes poured in from co-stars and friends. Katie Holmes, who starred opposite Van Der Beek,…

Trump Halts Minnesota Immigration Crackdown, Orders Statewide Enforcement Pause

Trump border czar ends Minnesota immigration surge after protests, deadly shootings MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump’s border czar said an aggressive federal immigration “surge” in Minnesota is ending after weeks of sweeping raids, mass arrests and mounting public outrage following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens. Tom Homan, a top administration official overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, announced the drawdown at a briefing outside Minneapolis, saying he proposed the move and that Trump…

Somalia’s President Mohamud to Address AU Summit After Peace and Security Council Win

Thursday February 12, 2026 MOGADISHU (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to travel to Addis Ababa for the 39th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, where he will spotlight Somalia’s recent security gains and restate the country’s position on sovereignty and foreign interference. The summit brings together leaders from 55 African nations for the continent’s top political forum. Officials said the president is scheduled to address Somalia’s progress on security sector reform, the effects of…

United Nations urges Russia to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

UN urges Russia to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid as fresh barrages kill civilians, cripple heat and water supplies The United Nations on Thursday called on Russia to stop its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after another nationwide barrage killed two people and plunged parts of the country into darkness and subzero cold. “The relentless attacks by the Russian Federation on energy infrastructure across Ukraine are depriving an already long-suffering civilian population of adequate warmth, water and…

Somali President: Working with Saudi-led partners to overturn Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud unveiled a three-pronged diplomatic and legal campaign to overturn Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, warning the move threatens Somalia’s sovereignty and the security of the Red Sea corridor. He said Mogadishu is acting in close coordination with partners led by Saudi Arabia to contain what he called a reckless escalation. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Mohamud said any recognition of the self-declared Republic of North Western State of Somalia as an independent…

Russia confirms WhatsApp ban, citing violations of national regulations

Russia blocks WhatsApp, urges users onto domestic ‘Max’ app as Kremlin cites legal noncompliance Russia has blocked WhatsApp nationwide over what the Kremlin called the platform’s failure to comply with local legislation, intensifying a state push to shift tens of millions of people to a homegrown alternative that lacks end-to-end encryption. “As for the blocking of WhatsApp ... such a decision was indeed made and implemented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that the move stemmed from the service’s…

Somali President Attends Send-Off for Egyptian Troops to African Union Mission in Somalia

CAIRO — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egypt’s defense minister, Gen. Abdel Mageed Saqr, on Wednesday attended a military formation ceremony for Egyptian troops preparing to deploy to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The event, held in Egypt, was also attended by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa and senior commanders, according to a statement from the Egyptian military spokesman. During the visit, officials received a detailed briefing on the preparation…

Top 5 Chain Restaurant Dishes Below 500 Calories

The source text best fits the Healthy Eating format. It provides science-informed nutrition tips, discusses lower-calorie meal options available at various chain restaurants, and emphasizes practical advice for making healthy dining choices. The content aligns with guidance on nutrition and wellness trends, which is characteristic of articles focused on healthy eating. By Ali Musa Axadle Wellness Desk – Health & Nutrition Monitoring. Getting a good light meal for under 500 calories isn't as tricky as you might…

‘Hold Your Children Close’: Families Mourn as Canada Shooting Victims Identified

Families in the remote Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, are mourning eight people killed in a mass shooting Tuesday that tore through a home and a secondary school, claiming the lives of five children and a teacher. Police identified the shooter as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who later died by suicide. Among the victims was 12-year-old Kylie Smith, remembered by her family as “a beautiful soul.” Kylie was killed alongside four other children and a teacher at the town’s secondary school, authorities…

President Mohamud Hails Somalia’s Election to African Union Peace and Security Council

MOGADISHU — Somalia has won a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council for the 2026–2028 term, a diplomatic milestone that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday cast as proof of the country’s renewed standing on the continent and beyond. In a national address, Hassan Sheikh said the election reflects Somalia’s growing credibility and the reemergence of its voice in regional affairs after years of rebuilding state institutions. “This victory demonstrates the significant progress of Somalia’s diplomacy and…