In ice rinks across the United States, a new generation of figure skaters is emerging, training in the very same facilities as Olympic medalists like Ilia Malinin. These young athletes, some still in elementary school, are dedicating their lives to a singular dream: representing their country on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Their journey is one of immense discipline, balancing rigorous academic schedules with predawn practice sessions, all while drawing inspiration from the elite skaters they share the ice with daily. Coaches and parents report a significant surge in motivation and technical ambition among these youngsters, who see living proof that their Olympic aspirations are attainable. This phenomenon highlights the powerful trickle-down effect of elite athletic success, fostering a highly competitive and inspired training environment that promises to strengthen American figure skating for years to come. The narrative is not just about future medals, but about the cultivation of perseverance, passion, and the pursuit of excellence from a remarkably young age.
标签： North America
北美洲
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UAE Lottery announces registration issues on website
The UAE Lottery has officially acknowledged technical difficulties affecting user registration processes on its digital platform. On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the organization issued a public statement confirming awareness of accessibility challenges impacting certain users attempting to access their services.
In response to these operational disruptions, the lottery’s technical team has initiated comprehensive measures to resolve the registration complications. The organization emphasized its commitment to restoring full functionality and ensuring seamless user experiences for all participants.
For immediate assistance during this technical resolution period, affected users have been directed to utilize multiple support channels. These include direct communication through the website’s Live Chat feature, email correspondence at support@theuaelottery.ae, or telephone assistance via the dedicated hotline at 8002365.
This incident represents the latest in a series of technical challenges faced by the popular gaming platform, which recently experienced another temporary service interruption. Despite these occasional disruptions, the UAE Lottery continues to maintain its operational schedule, including recent distributions of substantial prizes totaling Dh100,000 each to three fortunate winners.
The timing of these technical issues coincides with the organization’s expansion of gaming options, including the recent introduction of a new digital game featuring tickets starting at Dh2 with draws occurring every two minutes.
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From burnout to biohacking: Why healthspan is becoming the new status symbol
A paradigm shift is redefining success metrics among global high-performers, particularly across the UAE, where the traditional pursuit of productivity and wealth is being supplanted by a new premium: longevity and sustained peak performance. This transformation positions healthspan—the number of years one remains in optimal physical, mental, and emotional condition—as the ultimate status symbol for ambitious individuals.
The evolving healthcare narrative has moved beyond mere lifespan extension to emphasize quality of life preservation. Longevity medicine now bridges both concepts, focusing on delaying biological aging while addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Research indicates three primary longevity determinants: genetics, environment, and lifestyle, with the latter two offering significant modification potential.
This revolution is fundamentally transforming healthcare approaches from curative to preventive models. Preventive healthcare emphasizes early risk identification and maintenance interventions, contrasting with traditional symptom-responsive treatment. The strategic advantage lies in early detection enabling simpler lifestyle adjustments and nutritional modifications, potentially preventing conditions that would require intensive medical intervention if discovered later.
The modern high-performance paradox reveals a critical disconnect: external success often masks internal chronic stress states. Alarming data from Smart Salem, Dubai’s premium wellness center, indicates 40% of UAE residents experienced burnout within the past year, with 87% reporting work performance impacts and 62% identifying stress or anxiety as primary symptoms.
Medical experts caution against misattributing performance decline solely to burnout when underlying biological factors—including vitamin deficiencies or hormonal imbalances—may manifest similar symptoms. Dr. Philipp Mirbach, Consultant in Family Medicine at Smart Salem, emphasizes the foundational principle of longevity optimization: comprehensive annual health screening to establish baselines, even for asymptomatic individuals who ‘feel fine.’
The future healthcare landscape is evolving toward predictive, preventive, and personalized models. Rather than waiting for symptomatic manifestations, forward-thinking individuals are adopting data-driven lifestyle adaptations to maximize their healthspan. This approach recognizes that true success is measured not by years lived, but by years lived vibrantly and productively.
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Heriot-Watt University: Preparing students for a rapidly evolving job market through unique study plans
Heriot-Watt University Dubai, the pioneering British institution that established the first UK university campus in the UAE in 2005, has announced a strategic May 2026 intake designed to address evolving workforce demands. The initiative targets fresh graduates, working professionals, and university alumni seeking flexible mid-year enrollment options.
The university is offering two flagship programs through its Edinburgh Business School: MSc International Business Management with Marketing and MSc International Business Management with Finance. Both programs hold full accreditation from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research through the Commission of Academic Accreditation, ensuring compliance with the highest educational standards.
Designed with working professionals in mind, the programs feature both part-time and full-time study modes with evening classes that minimize disruption to career commitments. The Dubai Knowledge Park campus offers strategic accessibility, enabling students to balance academic advancement with professional responsibilities while receiving the identical British degree qualification offered at Heriot-Watt’s UK campus.
The curriculum emphasizes practical application through industry projects, internships, and simulations that mirror real-world business challenges. This approach addresses growing employer concerns about graduate readiness, particularly regarding soft skills such as communication, resilience, and problem-solving.
Beyond the May intake, Heriot-Watt offers an extensive portfolio of September-start programs spanning Engineering, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Logistics, Construction, Energy, and Design. The institution also provides foundation programs for high school graduates exploring undergraduate pathways.
Distinguishing features include the exclusive Go Global Programme, which guarantees inter-campus study opportunities across UK and Malaysia campuses for select undergraduate degrees. The university boasts exceptional graduate outcomes, with 95% of students employed or pursuing further education within six months of graduation, earning a Five-Star Employability Rating from KHDA.
To support student investment in education, the university has introduced the Future Shapers Award valued at Dh6,000 for May 2026 intake applicants, with applications closing March 23, 2026.
With a diverse community representing over 120 nationalities and 46% international students, Heriot-Watt maintains one of the UK’s oldest alumni networks, the Watt Club, established in 1854 with 173,000 members across 190 countries.
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How UAE families are preparing as some schools announce distance learning on Fridays
Emirati households are implementing comprehensive strategies to accommodate the UAE’s newly instituted Friday distance learning protocol for public school students. The Ministry of Education confirmed the transition on February 12, simultaneously clarifying that educational staff will maintain physical presence at school facilities throughout the implementation period.
While the policy mandates remote instruction, it incorporates flexibility by permitting in-person attendance for students whose families can arrange transportation. This dual-approach framework has triggered proactive adaptation measures across the education ecosystem.
Um Muna, a parent of public school children, exemplifies the preparatory mindset: ‘We’re establishing structured Friday schedules encompassing wake-up times, class sessions, and designated breaks. Technical preparedness remains our paramount concern—we verify device functionality and internet reliability the preceding evening.’
The domestic learning environment presents distinct challenges, as Um Muna notes: ‘Home atmospheres inherently differ from classroom settings, featuring potential distractions from younger siblings or household activities.’ Working parents particularly anticipate difficulties balancing professional obligations with academic supervision.
Despite these concerns, families recognize potential advantages. The elimination of morning commutes reduces traffic-related stress and creates opportunities for post-instruction rest. With effective time management, many believe Fridays could transform into more tranquil educational experiences.
Parental perspectives diverge regarding implementation feasibility. Amna Al Shehhi emphasizes the supervisory demands: ‘Young learners require constant monitoring during digital instruction due to diminished disciplinary structures.’ Device accessibility concerns emerge prominently in multi-child households.
Conversely, Sara Hamad acknowledges governmental support: ‘Authorities have extensively provisioned electronic devices to enable seamless distance learning.’ Her children received both new and replacement laptops through school distribution programs.
Consensus emerges around critical success factors: stable internet connectivity, dedicated learning spaces, and sustained parental engagement. As educational institutions and families navigate this transitional phase, the collective focus remains on preserving instructional continuity while adapting to domestic learning realities.
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These two countries start Ramadan 2026 on February 20; here’s why
In a distinctive astronomical alignment, Fiji and New Zealand will initiate the holy month of Ramadan on February 20, 2026, diverging from the majority of Muslim nations that commenced observances on February 18 or 19. This chronological variance stems from the formal non-sighting of the Ramadan crescent moon on the evening of February 18, corresponding to the 29th of Shaban in the Islamic calendar.
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) and the Fiji Muslim League jointly confirmed that February 19 would complete the 30-day cycle of Shaban, thereby establishing February 20 as the inaugural day of fasting. Both organizations emphasized their adherence to traditional lunar sighting methodologies, noting that advanced astronomical calculations confirmed the impossibility of crescent visibility within their geographical regions using either naked-eye observation or telescopic assistance.
This regional approach contrasts with numerous Middle Eastern nations including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Sudan, which collectively began Ramadan observance on February 18. Meanwhile, several other countries including Oman, Brunei, India, Pakistan, and Egypt commenced the holy month on February 19.
The implementation of localized moon sighting protocols demonstrates the continuing diversity in Islamic calendrical practices across global communities, with religious authorities maintaining their traditional methods for determining the commencement of significant religious periods.
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UAE’s stablecoin push shifts from pilots to point‑of‑sale as CBUAE rulebook takes hold
The United Arab Emirates is executing a strategic transition of regulated stablecoins from experimental pilots into mainstream commercial applications, establishing itself as a global leader in blockchain-enabled financial infrastructure. This transformative shift is governed by the Central Bank of UAE’s comprehensive regulatory framework that mandates strict monetary safeguards while paving the way for future interoperability with the national digital currency.
According to the landmark report ‘The UAE Blockchain Ecosystem’ produced through collaboration between Abu Dhabi Blockchain Center and Binance, the nation has cultivated an optimal environment for institutional blockchain deployment through regulatory precision, diversified capital investment, and increasing market influence. The ecosystem has progressed beyond preliminary testing phases into active production implementation across numerous enterprise applications.
The regulatory cornerstone emerged in July 2024 when the Central Bank instituted the Payment Token Services Regulation, establishing requirements for 100% reserve backing of dirham-denominated payment tokens. The framework explicitly prohibits algorithmic and privacy tokens for payment purposes while restricting foreign-currency stablecoins primarily to trading pairs on licensed exchanges, thereby maintaining the dirham’s supremacy in domestic commerce.
In October 2024, AE Coin achieved distinction as the first fully licensed AED-pegged stablecoin through DhStablecoin LLC in partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank, establishing a precedent for centralized issuance within regulatory parameters rather than through peripheral crypto market channels. The adoption momentum accelerated dramatically in December 2025 when ADNOC Distribution signed a memorandum to accept AE Coin across approximately 980 service stations throughout the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This deployment extends stablecoin functionality to fuel purchases, convenience store transactions, and car wash facilities, representing one of the most extensive retail implementations of regulated payment tokens worldwide.
Concurrently, telecommunications provider e& UAE initiated a partnership to pilot AE Coin for consumer bill payments, mobile recharges, and digital services, indicating stablecoin integration into essential utility payments. Additional dirham-referenced initiatives are advancing through consortiums involving International Holding Company, ADQ, and First Abu Dhabi Bank, which announced plans for bank-issued dirham stablecoins. Zand Bank secured regulatory approval in November 2025 to launch a dirham-pegged token on public blockchains, demonstrating competition emerging within the licensed payment-token category among both traditional financial institutions and fintech innovators.
The UAE’s nuanced approach permits non-dirham stablecoins in appropriate contexts: USD and EUR stablecoins have received recognition within specific free-zone frameworks for trading and settlement purposes, though not for routine domestic merchant transactions. This balanced methodology aligns capital market liquidity requirements with retail commerce monetary policies.
This stablecoin implementation coincides with the inaugural retail phase of the Digital Dirham, launched in December 2025 through payment service providers to offer residents instantaneous, fee-exempt peer-to-peer transfers. The central bank has strategically positioned this central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative as complementary to private payment tokens, incorporating design provisions that anticipate future interoperability between the Digital Dirham and licensed stablecoins to ensure uniform settlement standards across both public and private financial channels.
The policy emphasis reflects the UAE’s high-volume payments economy, where domestic systems processed over Dh20 trillion in transfers during the first ten months of 2025. As one of the world’s largest sources of outbound remittances, the nation prioritizes transaction velocity, system resilience, and regulatory compliance as fundamental design objectives.
Licensed infrastructure providers are developing solutions aligned with these regulations. Payment specialists and financial institutions are piloting AED-to-stablecoin conversion mechanisms and exploring tokenized deposits for on-chain treasury operations that remain entirely within the banking ecosystem. Regulated exchanges and custodians are integrating dirham-token parameters into both consumer and institutional workflows. Operational standards encompass reserve segregation, net liquid asset thresholds, technological safeguards, cybersecurity controls, and continuous reporting requirements, embedding compliance throughout the issuance and distribution processes.
The emerging consideration focuses not on policy direction but implementation specifics. Point-of-sale adoption will depend on wallet interoperability among multiple dirham stablecoins, merchant integration expenses, and technical alignment with Digital Dirham interfaces. With numerous bank-backed issuers developing products and an active CBDC pilot offering commission-free transfers, the UAE is positioned for dual-track evolution where regulated private tokens and public digital currency expand concurrently, normalizing dirham-denominated digital money across petroleum, telecommunications, and daily retail while containing non-dirham stablecoins to trading and institutional contexts under combined free-zone and federal supervision.
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Meta’s Zuckerberg denies Instagram targets kids at social media addiction trial
In a pivotal courtroom confrontation with far-reaching implications for the technology sector, Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg staunchly defended his company’s policies regarding underage users during a high-stakes trial addressing youth social media addiction. The legal proceedings, unfolding in Los Angeles, represent a critical test case within a broader wave of litigation against major tech companies.
Under rigorous cross-examination by plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier, Zuckerberg repeatedly asserted that Meta maintains strict prohibitions against users under 13 on its platforms, despite internal company documents suggesting otherwise. The CEO faced particularly challenging scrutiny over a 2018 Instagram presentation that explicitly stated “If we want to win big with teens, we must bring them in as tweens” – a statement seemingly at odds with his congressional testimony from 2024.
The case centers on a California woman who alleges that Instagram and Google’s YouTube actively sought to profit by addicting children to their services while knowingly concealing potential mental health risks. She claims these platforms significantly contributed to her depression and suicidal thoughts during childhood.
Zuckerberg offered nuanced explanations throughout his testimony, characterizing internal documents as “gut checks” rather than formal corporate objectives. He emphasized Meta’s evolving approach to user experience, stating that while the company previously measured success through engagement metrics, it now prioritizes delivering genuine value to users.
Notably, Meta’s competitors including Snap and TikTok opted for pre-trial settlements with the plaintiff, leaving Meta and Alphabet’s Google as the remaining defendants. The trial has revealed several damaging internal communications, including an email from former Meta executive Nick Clegg questioning the enforceability of age restrictions and noting inconsistent policies across platforms.
The proceedings have illuminated the technological challenges of age verification, with Zuckerberg suggesting that device manufacturers should share responsibility for preventing underage access. He also testified that teenage users constitute less than 1% of Instagram’s revenue.
This landmark case challenges the longstanding legal protections enjoyed by tech companies under US law, which have traditionally shielded platforms from liability regarding user content. The outcome could establish significant precedents for how courts evaluate platform design decisions rather than merely content moderation practices.
The trial occurs amid growing global scrutiny of social media’s impact on youth mental health. Several countries, including Australia and various European nations, have implemented or are considering age-based restrictions on social media access. In the United States, Florida has prohibited platforms from allowing users under 14, though industry groups are challenging this legislation in court.
As the tech industry faces this moment of reckoning, the verdict in this case could potentially reshape corporate accountability standards and regulatory approaches worldwide, forcing social media companies to fundamentally reconsider how they develop and market their services to younger audiences.
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Bad Bunny to make lead acting debut in film inspired by Puerto Rican revolutionary
Global music sensation Bad Bunny is poised for a cinematic breakthrough, securing his first leading role in the highly anticipated historical drama ‘Porto Rico’. The film unites the Grammy-winning artist with Academy Award winners Javier Bardem and Edward Norton in what promises to be a powerful exploration of Puerto Rican heritage.
Directed by renowned rapper and activist René Pérez (professionally known as Residente), the project has been meticulously developed since 2023 as a cinematic love letter to Puerto Rico’s complex history. The narrative draws inspiration from the life of José Maldonado Román, a revolutionary figure who challenged Spanish colonial rule in late 19th and early 20th century Puerto Rico under his legendary alias Águila Blanca (White Eagle).
Residente expressed his profound connection to the project, stating to Deadline: ‘This film represents a reaffirmation of our identity, presented with the intensity and honesty our historical legacy demands. Since childhood, I’ve envisioned creating a film about my homeland, whose true narrative has perpetually been shrouded in controversy.’
The production gains additional prestige with Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu serving as executive producer, alongside acclaimed actor Viggo Mortensen joining the ensemble cast. Edward Norton articulated the film’s significance within American cinema tradition: ‘This project resonates with the transformative power of films like The Godfather and Gangs of New York—blending visceral drama with iconic historical portrayals while confronting the obscured narratives beneath American idealism.’
Norton further praised the creative synergy: ‘Uniting René’s directorial vision with Bad Bunny’s artistry to illuminate Puerto Rico’s authentic origins will be like a flame meeting its destined dynamite.’
The film marks a strategic expansion of Bad Bunny’s entertainment footprint following an extraordinary year that included headlining the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show and securing Album of the Year at the 2024 Grammy Awards. His previous acting credits include supporting roles in Brad Pitt’s ‘Bullet Train’ and the crime comedy ‘Caught Stealing’ alongside Austin Butler.
Adding to his milestone week, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) recognized Bad Bunny as the world’s fifth most-streamed artist globally for 2024, cementing his status as a cross-cultural phenomenon now transitioning into dramatic cinema.
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Do not give away Diego Garcia, Trump tells UK in fresh attack on Chagos deal
Former US President Donald Trump has dramatically shifted his stance on the UK’s Chagos Islands agreement, creating diplomatic uncertainty just days after Washington formally endorsed the sovereignty transfer plan. Through his Truth Social platform, Trump issued a stern warning to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, characterizing the arrangement as a “big mistake” that would constitute “a blight on our Great Ally.”
The controversial agreement, announced in May 2026, would transfer sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius while maintaining UK control over the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base through a 99-year leaseback arrangement. This joint UK-US facility serves as a critical staging post for military operations in the Indian Ocean region.
Trump’s intervention represents his third position change on the matter within months, having previously described the transfer as an “act of great stupidity” before briefly endorsing it as the “best” available option. His latest statement emphasized that “Leases are no good when it comes to Countries” and warned that Starmer was “losing control of this important Island.”
The surprising critique comes despite the US State Department’s official endorsement of the agreement earlier this week. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Trump’s social media post should be considered official administration policy, stating: “When you see it on Truth Social you know it’s directly from President Trump, that’s the beauty of this president in his transparency.”
UK officials maintained their support for the agreement, with the Foreign Office emphasizing that the arrangement remains “crucial to the security of the UK and our key allies, and to keeping the British people safe.” The legislation implementing the agreement has faced parliamentary delays, with no current timeline for its next consideration in the House of Lords.
The political opposition in Britain seized on Trump’s comments, with Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel demanding that Starmer “finally saw sense, U-turned and scrapped this appalling deal altogether.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage characterized it as “the worst deal in British history.”
Meanwhile, Chagossian activists have intensified their opposition to the transfer. Four islanders recently occupied a remote atoll in protest, refusing evacuation orders from British maritime patrols. One protester, Misley Mandarin, declared they would have to “drag me from my beach,” arguing that Mauritius never legitimately owned the islands historically.
The archipelago has been under British control since 1814, purchased for £3 million in 1965. Mauritius maintains that it was illegally compelled to relinquish the territory during independence negotiations. The construction of the Diego Garcia base in the late 1960s involved the forced displacement of thousands of Chagossians, many of whom eventually settled in the UK, Mauritius, and Seychelles.