Good Morning!

It's Monday, February 16, 2026, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison. 

• Olympics reportedly run out of condoms. 

• The myth of intermittent fasting

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

World

Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Dies In Prison

European governments said Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison after being poisoned with epibatidine, a lethal toxin found in South American dart frogs. The UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands said laboratory analyses of Navalny’s biological samples confirmed the toxin, which is not naturally present in Russia. 

Russia’s prison service reported in February 2024 that Navalny felt unwell after a walk at the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a long sentence. Yulia Navalnaya said she had believed from the start he was poisoned and later transferred his biological materials abroad for testing.

Work

Gender Pay Gap Projected To Persist For Next 30 Years

The Trades Union Congress said the gender pay gap will not close until 2056 if current progress continues. Its analysis of official pay data shows a 12.8% average gap, equal to £2,548 per year, with the widest disparities in finance and insurance at 27.2%. 

The TUC said the gap leaves women working “for 47 days for free,” and its general secretary Paul Nowak called for expanded parental leave and better childcare access. Business group CBI’s Matthew Percival said increased employment benefits could raise costs. The government said it is tackling “root causes” through existing policies.

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Dating

Is Tinder The New LinkedIn?

Some job seekers are turning to dating apps to find referrals, clients, and job leads. Business Insider interviewed workers who used platforms like Tinder, Hinge, and Grindr to secure interviews, side gigs, or recommendations. In a tight job market with slower hiring and AI-driven résumé screening, they said dating apps offer direct access to real people. 

A recent Glassdoor poll found 29% of respondents have used or considered using dating apps for career purposes. Users described conversations that shifted from personal interest to professional opportunities, sometimes leading to ongoing work arrangements.

In the know

DON’T MISS

😳 Wait! How did the Olympics run out of condoms?

💰 Trump’s Board of Peace has allegedly pledged over $5 billion towards Gaza.

😬 Dreading that invite? Your social anxiety isn’t the problem and tiny mindset shifts can turn dread into opportunity.

🐎 The world’s celebrating the Year of the Horse. What even is it?

🍔 RFK Jr’s SNAP junk-food crackdown sparks confusion as states can’t agree on what’s unhealthy. Here’s a quiz to help you out!

🎬 Warner Bros is reconsidering Paramount’s bid. Ouch, Netflix.

💖 It isn’t just about Galentines’ — can your friendships offer the same benefits as a relationship?

📂 Nearly half a dozen Trump administration officials linked to Jeffrey Epstein in newly released records.

💔 Monogamy might be idealistic but could we be hard-wired for infidelity?

⏳ In this age of longevity,what can we learn about death?

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

💧 Is plain water out of the question now? WaterTok is betting on stacked water to save the day — and perhaps the aesthetic. 

😴 Missing sleep might be forcing your brain into a sleep-like state mid-day. But what exactly is happening during those few seconds of spacing out?

🍦 One doctor's secret to living healthy isn’t with potions and supplements. If anything, it involves a few scoops of ice cream and a lot more time spent actually enjoying life. 

⏳ Like clockwork, this fasting fad cycles back into the trends every other month — even if the actual data doesn't match the “miracle weight loss” hype on your feed.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👢 Uggs on the runway? Well, that made all of us do a double-take. 

💄 For better or for worse, there’s a makeup trend in town that might help mask a sleepless night, without really masking …. anything. 

🎨 ‘Tis the season of color blocking at the New York Fashion Week — prepare for the unexpected pairings your wardrobe has been missing.

🧼 Dermatologists finally settle the loofah vs. washcloth debate. One is a bacterial breeding ground, the other …. has a separate set of woes.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎤 Cardi B fell off a chair mid-concert — and then hilariously blamed a government conspiracy behind it.  

💍 Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson tie the knot in a Valentine’s Day ceremony. 

📺 ‘The Simpsons’ released milestone 800th episode! 

🎬 Hollywood mogul Casey Wasserman moves to sell agency amid scrutiny over Epstein ties.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

Scientists may have found a way to briefly make people more generous. In a University of Zurich study, volunteers deciding how to split money became more willing to share when two brain regions linked to empathy and decision-making were stimulated at the same time. Researchers say the effect was small and short-lived, but point to potential uses in treating social-behavior disorders. The findings also raise bigger questions about nudging human behavior through targeted brain stimulation.

“Decide that your dreams deserve your discipline.” 

— Angela Bassett