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The Catholic actors promoted Hallow's Pray 40 challenge on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, displaying the traditional cross-shaped ashes that remind people 'you are dust, and to dust you shall return.' Europeans, especially Italians, expressed shock, saying they've only seen ashes sprinkled on the head, not drawn as crosses, while Americans and others defended it as a standard practice in many places. The exchange revealed Catholicism's global variations—both methods are valid per the Roman Missal—turning a moment of piety into a lively lesson on shared faith across cultures.

Key Takeaway

Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie appeared on Fox & Friends with bold black ash crosses on their foreheads, kicking off Lent and surprising many viewers worldwide.

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Real Madrid beat Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League play-off first leg on February 17, thanks to Vinícius Júnior's 50th-minute goal at Estádio da Luz. Tensions boiled over when Vinícius and Kylian Mbappé accused Benfica's 20-year-old forward Gianluca Prestianni of yelling 'mono,' a racist slur, prompting a 10-minute stoppage under FIFA's anti-racism protocol. Prestianni denies it, admitting to a homophobic slur instead, while Benfica claims Real players retaliated with insults like 'mono blanco' and has submitted lip-reading evidence to UEFA's ongoing probe. The second leg is set for February 25 in Madrid, with potential bans looming.

Key Takeaway

Vinícius Júnior curled in a stunning winner, but a tunnel brawl stole the show, with both sides accusing each other of ugly slurs.

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Oaveed Rahman, 26, from Crays Hill near Billericay, ran an unregistered 'Save A Paw' scheme, luring owners via social media with rehoming and training offers. He took fees up to £500 per dog from 11 people across 20 UK counties but starved the animals, leading police to find 41 dead dogs amid maggots and rats, plus 21 emaciated survivors in filthy conditions on May 13, 2025. Sentenced February 20, 2026, to five years in prison plus a lifetime animal ban, Judge Richard Conley called it 'an act of betrayal of epic proportions.' Owners wept in court, charities rehomed survivors, but advocates push for more digs fearing up to 180 missing pets.

Key Takeaway

Pet owners handed over their beloved dogs, trusting a promise of care, only to discover a nightmare of neglect and death at a backyard operation.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the Jackson family's bid for the civil rights icon to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, following historical precedent reserved for former presidents, military leaders, and top officials. The 84-year-old activist, who died February 17, 2026, after battling Parkinson's, had twice run for president and founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Critics like NAACP President Derrick Johnson decried the move as a disregard for democracy, while defenders noted similar denials for figures like Charlie Kirk and Dick Cheney; Jackson's family plans memorials in Chicago, South Carolina, and possibly D.C.

Key Takeaway

Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and fought for voting rights, won't receive the Capitol's rare lie-in-honor tribute his family requested.

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The city, home to 130,000 Muslims or 17% of its residents, spent €100,000 on the third-year display in the Freßgass zone to honor community contributions and promote inclusion, as officials like Hilime Arslaner described it a model for diverse societies. Videos of cheering crowds spread widely, with Muslim voices sharing prayers on patience and unity, but critics like Tommy Robinson called for 'remigration' and Rod Dreher decried it as 'civilizational erasure' coinciding with Christian Lent. Similar lights appear in other German cities, highlighting ongoing discussions on multiculturalism and heritage.

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On February 18, Frankfurt switched on crescent moons and lanterns for Ramadan, right as Ash Wednesday began Lent—drawing crowds of 400 to celebrate while igniting online divides over cultural visibility.

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The Benfica manager will speak only to the club's BTV outlet ahead of Saturday's Portuguese league game against Santa Clara, just like he did before last weekend's win over Alverca. The decision drew online criticism from Real Madrid fans calling him a 'coward,' amid fallout from Tuesday's 1-0 defeat where Vinicius Junior scored and alleged racist abuse from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni. Mourinho, sent off for protesting the referee, questioned Vinicius's celebration style post-match, while Benfica stays top of the Primeira Liga unbeaten and eyes a comeback in the second leg on February 25.

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Jose Mourinho, fresh off a heated Champions League loss to Real Madrid, is sticking to his routine by skipping Benfica's pre-match press conference.

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During Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Benfica on February 17, Gianluca Prestianni told UEFA investigators he called Vinícius 'maricón,' a Spanish anti-gay slur, not 'mono' for monkey as alleged by Vinícius, Kylian Mbappé, and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Play stopped for nearly 10 minutes under anti-racism protocols, with José Mourinho intervening on the pitch. Real Madrid submitted evidence, prompting UEFA's probe under rules covering insults based on race or sexual orientation, which could ban Prestianni for at least 10 matches. Vinícius called abusers cowards on Instagram, while reactions from coaches like Álvaro Arbeloa and Vincent Kompany highlighted divides over blame and history.

Key Takeaway

In the heat of a tense Champions League clash, Benfica's young winger admitted to a homophobic slur toward Vinícius Júnior, but denied the racist insult the Brazilian star reported.

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Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering autophagy, the process where cells break down and recycle damaged components to survive stress like fasting. Research shows autophagy ramps up after 12-24 hours without food, peaking around 72 hours, aiding cell renewal, reducing inflammation, and supporting metabolic health. Shared widely during Ramadan—which began around February 18—posts connect the science to longstanding Muslim, Hindu, and folk fasting traditions, though experts caution it's no cancer cure and advise consulting doctors for safety.

Key Takeaway

As millions reach day five of Ramadan fasting, a post about Yoshinori Ohsumi's Nobel Prize for cellular self-eating has drawn huge attention. It spotlights how the body recycles damaged parts during nutrient scarcity.

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India's reservation system, in place for nearly 80 years, reserves spots in jobs, education, and legislatures for historically disadvantaged groups like Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Others. Critics like former police chief Shesh Paul Vaid argue it now hurts merit in key fields such as medicine, pointing to cases like a doctor with a low NEET-PG score getting a seat via other means. Supporters highlight ongoing rural discrimination and note that beneficiaries often pay full price for opportunities, as seen in recent Lucknow plot allotments. The Supreme Court maintains a 50% cap, but discussions push for economic-based shifts or reviews like the U.S. model.

Key Takeaway

Lawyer J. Sai Deepak challenged the endless extensions of India's reservation policy by asking for a cutoff date, just like one for reclaiming Hindu temples. His words from a public talk captured a growing tension between equity and merit.

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Just days after Tarique Rahman's swearing-in as prime minister on February 17, following his BNP's landslide election win on February 12, Bangladesh resumed tourist, medical, business, and other visas at its High Commission in New Delhi and assistant commissions in Agartala and Siliguri. This reverses a suspension from late December 2025 under the prior interim government, which cited security concerns amid anti-India protests. India plans to fully restore its own services in Bangladesh soon, signaling a thaw in ties and easier people-to-people contact, though issues like minority safety remain.

Key Takeaway

Families, patients, and business travelers can now breathe easier as Bangladesh restarts full visa services for Indians at key missions.

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The UK Royal Family issued a message wishing Muslims a blessed and peaceful Ramadan on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. This action sparked backlash from users on X for the absence of any message acknowledging the Christian observance of Shrove Tuesday. Critics accused King Charles, as head of the Church of England, of neglecting his role as defender of the Christian faith.

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John Terry leads with 492 Premier League appearances, 214 clean sheets, five titles, and 41 goals, compared to Van Dijk's 327 games, 124 shutouts, two titles, and 27 goals. Jermaine Pennant shocked pundits by choosing Van Dijk for his 2019 Ballon d'Or runner-up finish—the highest ever for a Premier League center-back—while Jason Cundy hailed Terry as the best ever. Terry responded on TikTok, touting his records like most goals and clean sheets by a defender, as fans divide along club lines over trophies, leadership, and standout moments.

Key Takeaway

TalkSPORT's side-by-side stats graphic pitted Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk against Chelsea's John Terry, igniting arguments over longevity versus peak brilliance.

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Femi Dapson, an internet personality, and Simi Sanya exchanged vows in a private registry ceremony attended by close family and friends.

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