News

News

February 19th, 2026

Grandfather, 85, Snatched from His Home in Case of Suspected Mistaken Identity: ‘Screaming Just Kept on Going’

A grandfather in Australia is believed to have been forcefully taken from his home in a suspected case of mistaken identity.

At around 5 a.m. local time on Friday, Feb. 13, police received reports that Chris Baghsarian had been kidnapped from his home in North Ryde, Sydney, said the New South Wales (NSW) Police in a news release.  They arrived at the scene alongside detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery & Serious Crime Squad.

Having launched an investigation, authorities now believe that the grandfather “was not the intended target” in the kidnapping and are appealing for his safe return. Baghsarian, 85, has lived alone since the death of his wife four years ago, according to 9News.

“They took Mr. Baghsarian whilst he was at home, in his bedroom of his family home, and they took him and bundled him into a car and took him away to a location that we do not know,” said Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks in a press conference, per 9News.

A dark Toyota SUV that may have been used in the kidnapping was found burnt out near Baghsarian’s home in South Turramurra, the outlet reported. At least three people are suspected of being involved in the incident.

Baghsarian’s family is “concerned” for the 85-year-old’s health as he needs daily medication.

“Being a hostage, we really fear for his safety and we’re appealing for a very safe return and to get medical attention,” Marks said, per 9News.

“Please release Mr. Baghsarian. Take him to a hospital. Take him to somewhere that’s safe,” Marks continued, adding to the kidnappers, “You have the wrong person.”      

Mom of 4 Found Dead in Trash Compactor Likely Fell Down Garbage Chute Trying to Retrieve Purse, Police Say

A New York woman found dead in a trash compactor may have been trying to retrieve an item when she accidentally fell into a garbage chute, according to investigators.

On Friday, Feb. 13, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny shared an update on the investigation into the death of Michelle Montgomery in a news conference in downtown Manhattan. Workers at a public housing complex in Brooklyn discovered the body of the mother of four, 39, in the building’s basement on Feb. 1. 

Her dismembered remains were found in a plastic bag that had been processed through a trash compactor. Investigators initially suspected foul play as she was covered in wounds and slashes, but Chief Kenny said her death now seems most likely to have been an accident.

A group of moms on a ski trip is reportedly among the victims of an avalanche in California that is now one of the deadliest in the state’s history.

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, around 11:30 a.m. local time, authorities received a 911 call about the avalanche in the Castle Peak area in the Tahoe National Forest, Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a news conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The group of 15 skiers, including 11 clients and four guides, was caught in the avalanche at the conclusion of a three-day backcountry skiing trip near Lake Tahoe, according to a statement from Blackbird Mountain Guides, which organized the trip.

Initially, reports stated that nine of the group members were missing while six people survived.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over ties to Epstein

LONDON (AP) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former British prince was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein, concerns about Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to the late financier have dogged the royal family for more than a decade. But the arrest of a brother of a monarch was an extraordinary development with no precedent in modern times that will no doubt put more pressure on the crown. After Thursday’s arrest, King Charles III said that the law must take its course in the investigation.

The former Prince Andrew went from helicopter pilot to trade envoy to royal pariah

LONDON (AP) — The former Prince Andrew is the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested by police. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was detained Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in an investigation stemming from his relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was born in 1960, the second child of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip. He spent 22 years in the Royal Navy, serving as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War. Andrew was named Britain’s special representative for international trade in 2001. He was forced to step down from that role in 2011 amid growing concern about his friendship with Epstein. Last year that friendship cost him his royal title and honors.

Iran and the US lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in balance

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States are both applying naval pressure to the talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. Tehran held drills Thursday with Russia. Meanwhile, the Americans brought another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast, the USS Gerald R. Ford. The movements of additional American warships and airplanes to the region don’t guarantee a U.S. strike on Iran. But it does give President Donald Trump the ability to carry out one should he choose to do so. Meanwhile, Iran struggles with unrest at home following its deadly crackdown on protests. Mourners are holding ceremonies honoring their dead.

Trump gathers members of Board of Peace for first meeting, with some US allies wary of new body

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is gathering with representatives from more than two dozen countries that have joined his Board of Peace —and several others that have opted not to. Thursday’s inaugural meeting will focus on reconstruction for a war-battered Gaza. But ahead of the gathering, the Gaza ceasefire deal remains fragile and Trump’s expanded vision for the board has triggered fears that he’s looking to create a rival to the United Nations. A senior Trump administration official said more than 40 countries and the European Union have confirmed they will send officials. Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland are among more than a dozen countries that have not joined the board but are expected to attend.

Skiers with roots in Lake Tahoe’s alpine community among 8 killed in California avalanche

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say the bodies of eight backcountry skiers have been found and one remains missing after an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California. Search and rescue crews were dispatched to the Castle Peak area of the Sierra Nevada after a 911 call reporting an avalanche Tuesday morning. Six others were found alive. Heavy snow and the threat of additional avalanches slowed the rescue effort in the mountains near Castle Peak, northwest of Lake Tahoe. Authorities have told the families the mission has moved from rescue to recovery. They say the eight victims were found fairly close together, and that three of them were discovered by the skiers who survived.

Former South Korean president receives life sentence for imposing martial law in 2024

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for his brief imposition of martial law to suppress the opposition. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found Yoon guilty of mobilizing military and police forces in an illegal attempt to seize the liberal-led National Assembly, arrest politicians and establish unchecked power for a considerable time. Yoon is likely to appeal the verdict. Yoon fell from office after an ill-advised attempt to overcome an opposition-controlled legislature by declaring martial law and sending troops to surround the legislature on Dec. 3, 2024. A special prosecutor had requested the death penalty, saying Yoon deserved harsh punishment for the threat his actions posed to the country’s democracy.

Genealogical sites have helped solve major crimes. Police in Nancy Guthrie’s case might turn to them

Authorities trying to solve the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie say they might tap DNA genealogy databases. It’s the same step that police took to unravel a series of murders in California and the fatal stabbings of four college students in Idaho. The strategy could pay off: If unknown DNA evidence can be connected to someone in a genealogical database, it could lead investigators to a suspect in Guthrie’s apparent kidnapping in Arizona. A law enforcement database didn’t turn up any matches to DNA found in gloves a few miles from Guthrie’s home.

US futures retreat after Nvidia-led rally, oil prices rise on reports of potential US-Iran conflict

Markets on Wall Street were poised to give back a slice of the gains made a day earlier on the shoulders of computer chip giant Nvidia. Futures for the S&P 500 were down 0.2% before the opening bell Thursday, while futures for the Dow fell 0.2%. Nasdaq futures were off close to 0.3%. Walmart shares sank more than 3% in premarket after the retail giant hinted at a volatile economic environment ahead, despite delivering another quarter of standout results. In energy trading, oil prices rose around 1.5% on media reports that the likelihood of a U.S. conflict with Iran was rising.

Alysa Liu carries US medal hopes into concluding women’s free skate at the Milan Cortina Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu carries U.S. gold hopes as women’s figure skating heads into its final night at the Milan Cortina Games. On Tuesday, Japan’s Ami Nakai took the short program lead, with Kaori Sakamoto just a point behind. Their Japanese teammate Mone Chiba stayed close too, while Liu sits among that trio. The 20-year-old world champion has returned strong after a two-year retirement, and now Liu is chasing the first Olympic women’s gold medal for the U.S. since 2002. Adeliia Petrosian is the wildcard. The neutral athlete from Russia has the ability to land a quad jump and could upend the standings on Thursday night.

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