Alibaba unveils Qwen3.5 as China’s chatbot race shifts to AI agents
Alibaba Group has released its newest AI model series, featuring new agentic capabilities, as competition in China’s AI space ramps up.
Day: February 17, 2026
Trump says he will be involved ‘indirectly’ in Iran nuclear talks
The US president’s comments come ahead of a second round of high-stakes talks in Geneva on Tuesday.
Costa Rican authorities investigate killing of a US citizen in an apparent robbery
Costa Rican authorities are investigating the killing of a U.S. citizen in what they describe as an apparent robbery.
Under Fire At Home, Muhammad Yunus Brings Up China, India’s ‘7 Sisters’ In Exit Speech
Bangladesh’s outgoing Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus used his farewell address to project defiance abroad, most notably through indirect but provocative remarks touching on India’s northeastern region.
Anderson Cooper says he’s exiting from ’60 Minutes,’ but staying with CNN
Anderson Cooper says he will leave CBS’ “60 Minutes,” where he has reported for two decades in a unique job-share agreement with CNN, where he hosts a weeknight news program.
US judge cites ‘1984’ in ordering reinstatement of slavery exhibit
“The government claims it alone has the power to erase, alter, remove and hide historical accounts,” the judge wrote in her ruling, which cited George Orwell’s defining work about a dystopian, authoritarian state.
The Rise of the “Central” Bloc? How Türkiye and Saudi Arabia May Build a New Third Channel for Global Defence Buyers
As Türkiye and Saudi Arabia ink $8.8B in deals at WDS 2026, a new “Central” defense bloc is emerging—challenging Western dominance and redefining global sovereignty.
The post The Rise of the “Central” Bloc? How Türkiye and Saudi Arabia May Build a New Third Channel for Global Defence Buyers first appeared on Quwa.
Sony says it has developed tech to identify copyrighted music in AI-generated songs, aiming to help rights holders receive compensation if their music was used (Rei Nakafuji/Nikkei Asia)
Rei Nakafuji / Nikkei Asia:
Sony says it has developed tech to identify copyrighted music in AI-generated songs, aiming to help rights holders receive compensation if their music was used — Japanese company seeks to help copyright h…
‘Millionaires tax’ clears WA Senate
State Senators passed legislation Monday to create an income tax on those earning over $1 million a year, the first hurdle in what will likely prove to be a long legislative battle.
Iran Update, February 16, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
Iran Update, February 16, 2026 Institute for the Study of WarIran – Situation Assessment (February 2026): The Race to Rebuild the Nuclear and Missile Array, Casual Terror and the CRINK Alma Research and Education CenterIran News i…