5 Big News Stories Overnight - Monday, February 16, 2026

Ukraine: Ex-Energy Minister Arrested Trying to Flee Ukraine

Kyiv Post: 

Ukraine’s former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko was detained Sunday while attempting to cross the country’s border, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said.

“Today, while crossing the state border, NABU detectives have detained the former Minister of Energy as part of the ‘Midas’ case,” the agency said in a statement, referring to a giant corruption scandal in the country’s energy sector that rocked Ukraine last year.

NABU did not name Halushchenko in its statement, but he served as the country’s energy minister and resigned in November.

“Initial investigative proceedings are ongoing, carried out in accordance with the requirements of the law and court sanctions. Details to follow,” the NABU added.

PHOTO: Manhhai, Flicker CC: 2.0

Gaza - Israel: At least 11 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Attacks Across Gaza

Al Jazeera reports:

At least 11 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the latest Israeli attacks that continue in violation of the “ceasefire”, hospital sources have said.

Israeli forces targeted tents sheltering people in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza on Sunday, killing at least five Palestinians, hospital sources told Al Jazeera.

At least five others were killed in Israeli attacks west of Khan Younis in the south of the Strip, according to hospital sources.

Separately, Sami al-Dahdouh, a commander of the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), was killed in an Israeli attack in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood east of Gaza City.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the Israeli attacks as a “new massacre” and a “criminal escalation.”

U.S.: DNA Recovered From Glove Linked to Guthrie Case

Reuters reports:

Investigators have obtained a DNA sample from a glove that was found near Nancy Guthrie's Arizona home and appears to match the pair worn by a masked prowler seen in doorbell camera footage before she was abducted two weeks ago, the FBI said on Sunday.

The preliminary findings from a private crime laboratory in Florida were received by the FBI on Saturday and were awaiting "quality control and official confirmation" on Sunday before the results are submitted for comparison against known DNA profiles in a national database, the FBI said in a statement.
 

Japan: Toyota Gears Up for Bigger Role at Air Taxi Maker Joby

Japan Times:

Toyota is safeguarding its nearly $1 billion investment pledge to air taxi maker Joby Aviation by troubleshooting production processes and mulling a deeper manufacturing role.

The Japanese automaker, which last year became Joby’s largest shareholder, has a team of almost 200 employees working to supply critical parts, training tips and assembly line know-how. That involves deploying a set of lean manufacturing precepts known as the Toyota Production System, or TPS, said Sandy Lobenstein, Toyota’s group vice president of flying mobility.

"We’re really trying to bring TPS and the philosophy of TPS into the operations here,” Lobenstein told reporters on a tour of Joby’s factory. "Those types of innovations are helping to improve the lead time to production and scaling.”

Joby is among a handful of startups developing eVTOL aircraft — electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles — to fly customers on short commuter journeys via battery-powered air taxis. The Santa Cruz, California-based firm is currently set up to make one aircraft a month, but plans to boost that to as many as four per month by 2027.

PHOTO: Joby, YouTube, Promotional