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Feb 16, 2026 - World

Experts say discounts on IVF procedures an attempt to fulfil campaign promise but savings only a fraction of total cost TrumpRx, the US president’s much-anticipated drug discount program, went live earlier this month with coupons available for just 43 medications, including four required for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, and experts say this is probably a half-measure to fulfill Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to make IVF treatment universally accessible.“We’ve been hearing about TrumpRx for a long time,” said Dr Richard Paulson, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Southern California. “TrumpRx was supposed to fix all of the problems in terms of prescription drug costs and so on, and it has not done that. The only two classes of drugs that are actually cheaper on Trump RX are the GLP-1 agonists – those are the obesity medications – and fertility drugs.” Continue reading...

Feb 16, 2026 - World

Figures said to reflect increased Russian military targeting of cities and infrastructure. Plus, the week the Cuban crisis got realDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.Civilian casualties in Ukraine caused by Russian strikes surged by 26% in 2025, reflecting increased Russian targeting of cities and infrastructure in the country, according to a global conflict monitoring group.What did the AOAV say about the figures? Iain Overton, executive director of AOAV, said the figures showed “Ukraine fits a wider collapse of restraint that is now visible across multiple wars”, and respect for the distinction of proportionality in war “has broken”.Does her father still face deportation? Days before Ofelia died, a judge ruled that Torres Maldonado’s deportation would be blocked, due to the hardship it would bring his family, opening the door to a potential pathway to permanent residence and eventual citizenship. Continue reading...

Feb 16, 2026 - World

Actors union SAG-AFTRA said Friday it "stands with the studios in condemning the blatant infringement" enabled by Seedance.

Feb 16, 2026 - World

Gus went missing on 27 September from Oak Park Station, where South Australia police have begun a two-day search for evidenceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSouth Australian police have arrested a 75-year-old on unrelated firearm offences as they launch a new search for evidence during the investigation into missing four-year-old Gus Lamont.Gus, short for “August”, went missing on 27 September 2025 from his family’s remote sheep station, sparking one of the biggest and most intense searches in South Australia’s history. Continue reading...

Feb 16, 2026 - World

The separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed it is holding seven members of Pakistan's security forces in custody and has issued a seven-day deadline to the Pakistani government for a prisoner exchange.