标签： North America

Across American cities from Houston to New York, the vibrant tradition of lion dancing continues to captivate audiences as an essential component of Lunar New Year festivities. This cultural practice, initially introduced by southern Chinese immigrants during the mid-19th century in pioneering Chinatowns, has evolved into a nationally recognized symbol of Spring Festival celebrations.

The ritual, deeply rooted in ancient Chinese mythology, represents the triumph over adversity through its dynamic combination of ferocious lion depictions and percussive music designed to ward off evil spirits. The performance serves as both cultural preservation and public spectacle, bringing communities together in celebration of prosperity, good fortune, and renewed beginnings.

In Houston alone, established lion dance teams typically complete 30-50 annual performances during the Spring Festival period. The Shaolin Temple Cultural Center in Houston, representing one such organization, reports nearly 40 scheduled appearances for various businesses and community groups during this year’s celebrations. Master Shi Yan Chan notes that over one hundred wushu students at the center are trained in lion dance techniques, with more than twenty dedicated core members specializing in this traditional art form.

The tradition’s expanding appeal is evidenced by its inclusion in mainstream venues such as Space Center Houston, which featured consecutive days of lion dance performances this year. The center promotes the event as ‘an incredible traditional Chinese dance in which dancers are masked and costumed to resemble lions.’

New York’s Chinatown maintains particularly deep roots in this tradition, with continuous lion dance performances occurring throughout the 15-day festival period since the 1800s. The practice has become both a cultural cornerstone and significant tourist attraction, drawing thousands of spectators to lower Manhattan. Additional performances across Hudson Yards, Seaport, Flushing, Sunset Park, and major cultural institutions solidify New York’s status as potentially the most active city for lion dance celebrations in the United States.

The United Arab Emirates has lost one of its most significant visual historians with the passing of renowned photographer Ramesh Shukla on February 15, 2026. The 87-year-old artist, celebrated for capturing the iconic ‘Spirit of the Union’ photograph depicting the nation’s founding rulers, succumbed to cardiac arrest at Rashid Hospital in Dubai.

Shukla’s legacy spans decades of documenting the UAE’s remarkable transformation from its formative years to modern statehood. His camera chronicled pivotal moments including the 1971 signing of the Union Agreement at Union House, state visits, and defining national events that shaped the Emirates’ identity.

According to his son Neel Shukla, who spoke with Khaleej Times, the veteran photographer maintained an unwavering dedication to his craft despite declining health. “He was a person of passion and fire, and his camera always had its way,” Neel recounted, noting that even during his final hours, Shukla remained engrossed in his work—reviewing photographs, documenting collections, and sharing his iconic business cards featuring his famous Sheikh Zayed signing image with hospital staff.

Shukla’s technical mastery was particularly evident in his understanding of light, which became a hallmark of his photographic style. His son recalled childhood memories of family involvement in developing negatives and printing photographs in their home laboratory, creating a multi-generational connection to the nation’s visual history.

The photographer’s extensive archive, containing thousands of physical prints developed from original negatives, serves as an invaluable bridge between the UAE’s past and present. His images captured not only historical events but also the essential spirit, ambition, and vision that propelled the nation’s development.

Even as medical complications arose on his final evening, Shukla remained characteristically composed, reassuring family members and maintaining his professional demeanor until the end. His passing marks the conclusion of an extraordinary career that visually preserved the Emirates’ journey from federation to modern global power.

A former minister of an elusive Christian denomination known as The Truth or Two by Twos continues to evade justice despite confessing to sexually abusing multiple children across decades. Robert Corfield, who admitted to systematically abusing Michael Havet for six years starting in the 1980s when the victim was just 12 years old, remains at liberty in Montana despite the FBI launching an investigation following BBC’s groundbreaking report in early 2024.

The case has expanded with the emergence of Edward (pseudonym), who alleges Corfield assaulted him in 1974 during a Canadian camping trip when he was merely 11 years old. This predates Corfield’s abuse of Havet by approximately ten years, directly contradicting the former minister’s previous claims that Havet was his sole victim.

Despite Corfield’s detailed admissions to both the BBC and FBI investigators who visited him approximately one year ago, no charges have been filed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed investigating historic sexual assaults in Saskatchewan from the early 1980s, with findings forwarded to Crown Prosecutors for assessment. However, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice maintains its policy of not commenting on ongoing investigations.

The church structure itself appears complicit in enabling abuse patterns. With approximately 100,000 members worldwide, the organization operates through ministers (called ‘workers’) who surrender possessions and live with member families during travels. Former members describe this system as creating perfect conditions for child predation, with workers occupying unquestioned authority positions within households.

Private investigator Cynthia Liles, who maintains the 2×2 Church Accountability hotline, reports 1,164 allegations of sexual abuse with over half involving authority figures. Despite approximately 75 convictions, many perpetrators reportedly resume church activities, including one individual in Arizona who gained elder status after serving a rape sentence from 1969.

Victims describe systemic protection of abusers by church leadership. Michael Havet reported his abuse to Saskatchewan overseer Dale Shultz in 1993, only to be violently assaulted weeks later and encouraged to leave the congregation while Corfield was transferred to Montana. Shultz previously denied these allegations as ‘distorted and inaccurate’ without providing specifics.

While institutional accountability remains elusive, victims find solidarity through online communities like the ‘Exposing Abuse: 2x2s’ Facebook group, which has amassed over 10,000 members worldwide offering mutual support and resources for counseling funded by former members rather than the church itself.

The United Arab Emirates Fatwa Council has formally declared that the national committee tasked with observing the crescent moon signaling the commencement of Ramadan 2026 will assemble on Tuesday, February 17th. This significant religious undertaking will initiate following the Maghrib prayer, with officials meticulously examining evidence from both field observation teams and certified astronomical observatories throughout the nation.

In alignment with its constitutional mandate to authenticate the emergence of new Islamic months, the Council emphasized that this procedural rigor ensures a standardized national framework and reinforces public trust in the official declaration process. A definitive announcement regarding the confirmed sighting will be disseminated through all authorized communication channels upon the committee’s conclusive verification.

Remarkably, the Council has extended an invitation to the general public to participate in this traditional practice by attempting to sight the crescent on Tuesday evening and reporting any visual evidence via a dedicated digital portal on its official platforms. This initiative aims to revitalize the Sunnah of moon sighting and foster communal engagement in this sacred observance.

Concurrently, astronomers from the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre have issued a critical safety advisory, highlighting substantial risks associated with the observation attempt on February 17th. They caution that the moon’s proximity to the sun, which coincides with a solar eclipse, creates a hazardous scenario. Utilizing optical instruments like telescopes or binoculars without professionally certified solar filters can lead to severe and irreversible ocular damage, including blindness. Experts strongly urge strict adherence to professional safety protocols to prevent injury.

In a parallel development, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has similarly called upon Muslims within the Kingdom to attempt sighting the Ramadan crescent on the same evening, corresponding to the 29th of Shaban. The court has instructed citizens to report any sightings to the nearest judicial authority or assistance center to formally register their testimony.

Federal investigators have made a significant breakthrough in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, who vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home two weeks ago. The FBI announced Sunday that investigators recovered a glove containing DNA evidence that appears to match those worn by a suspect captured on doorbell surveillance footage.

The critical evidence was discovered in a field approximately two miles from Guthrie’s residence, with preliminary DNA testing revealing an unknown male profile. While awaiting final quality control confirmation, the agency emphasized this particular glove differs from approximately 16 others collected near the property, most discarded by search volunteers.

The investigation centers on surveillance footage showing a masked individual wearing gloves and a distinctive 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack approaching Guthrie’s front door on February 1st. The suspect attempted to obstruct the camera’s view using vegetation from the yard before presumably entering the property. Forensic analysis indicates the person stands between 5’9″ and 5’10” with an average build.

Authorities have escalated search efforts involving helicopters, K-9 units, and hundreds of officers while doubling the reward for information to $100,000. Concerns mount for Guthrie’s welfare as she requires medication and was described as being in poor physical health despite having no cognitive impairments.

Additional DNA evidence not belonging to Guthrie or known associates was previously recovered from her home, though investigators maintain they are not ruling out any possibilities despite the suspect description remaining a key focus.

Sharjah authorities have unveiled a specialized licensing initiative for vintage automobiles and motorcycles, with implementation commencing February 16, 2026. The Sharjah Police Force confirmed that designated venues across the emirate will facilitate the transition from conventional plates to newly designed registrations exclusively created for classic vehicles.

The innovative licensing category, initially announced on December 23, 2025, encompasses First Category and private registration plates for historic automobiles alongside First Category designations for classic motorcycles. Vehicle enthusiasts can complete the plate replacement process at three authorized locations: Sharjah Registration Village, the Sharjah Classic Car Club, and Khor Fakkan Registration Village.

This premium service initiative emerged through collaborative efforts between transportation authorities and Emirates Auction, which previously conducted exclusive sales of these distinctive plates. The program aims to deliver enhanced and specialized services for collectors and owners of vintage transportation, recognizing the unique cultural and historical value of these vehicles.

The introduction of specialized licensing reflects Sharjah’s growing emphasis on preserving automotive heritage while implementing modern regulatory frameworks. This approach aligns with similar premium registration services recently introduced in other UAE emirates, including Dubai’s luxury plate auctions and Abu Dhabi’s special identity cards for distinctive number plates.