Domestic:

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 has arrived at the International Space Station. Crew-12 consists of NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. Crew-12 serves as Crew-11’s replacement, as the former had to return to Earth early due to an unforeseen medical issue. Crew-12’s eight-month mission will be spent conducting research on human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit and refining food production in space. Soon, NASA also hopes to launch Artemis II, which would send astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972.

The Department of Homeland Security has shut down after lawmakers failed to pass a spending bill necessary to keep it open. Notable agencies affected included the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard. Most employees in the Department of Homeland Security will be required to work without pay until the shutdown ends. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations are expected to continue uninterrupted.

International:

Lucas Pinheiro Braathen secured the gold medal for Brazil in the men’s giant slalom, marking the first time the country has won a Winter Olympics medal. Braathen said “I was skiing with my heart, and when you ski the way you are, anything is possible. The only thing that matters to me is that I remain who I am. I am a Brazilian skier who became an Olympic champion.” He originally competed for Norway until retiring in 2023, before returning in 2024 to represent his mother’s home country. Brazil has participated in every Winter Olympics since 1992, with its best result prior to this medal being 9th place.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died from toxins produced by poison dart frogs, a new report published by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and the Netherlands claims. Navalny died in prison on Feb. 16, 2024, where he had been sentenced to nine years for fraud and contempt of court. Two months after being transported to a prison in the Arctic Circle, he died after taking a walk. Now, the report on his death offers an explanation, claiming that only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity to act (poison dart frogs are not native to Russia). Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed the claim as “propaganda”.