Category: News
Sidney Hale’s energy pushes Crown Point teammates to ‘want to play better.’ More and more wins attest to that.
It didn’t take long for Crown Point sophomore Sidney Hale to impress first-year coach Brad Stangel.
Hale’s most salient skills got Stangel’s attention from the outset.
“From day one, she’s been the perimeter defensive stopper,” Stangel said. “She’s usually drawing the toughest assignment, and if she doesn’t draw the toughest assignment, she generally guards the ball, the point guard.
“Her role was defined at the beginning. You could see how athletic she is and how strong she is. But she’s also very competitive. Those are all things that you look for when you try to find somebody who can really guard.”
A former gymnast, Hale takes pride in her defense. The 5-foot-7 guard/forward is averaging 6.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals for the Bulldogs (23-4), who will play Norwell (23-4) in the semifinals of the Class 4A LaPorte Semistate on Saturday.
“I take that role with a passion,” she said. “I know that maybe if I have good defense, it spreads to the whole team. If I have good energy starting out on defense, it spreads to the whole team and makes the whole team want to play better.
“It’s definitely developed. I realized going into this year how much of a role I could play in this team. It has always been there, but this year I got my opportunity and my chance to really show out. I’ve tried to put it all out there and give it my all.”
Crown Point’s Sidney Hale (10) drives to the basket against Lake Zurich during a game in Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest in Lisle, Illinois, on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (James C. Svehla / Post-Tribune)
Not to say Hale doesn’t have offensive ability too. She scored 13 points during Crown Point’s regional win against Penn last week, the second most on the team behind star sophomore guard Ava Richie’s 14. Hale added had five rebounds, four assists and two steals.
But Stangel also praised Hale’s efforts defending Jillian Sanderson, Penn’s standout freshman guard.
“That game that she played on Saturday was a fantastic game, not just because she scored 13 points, but because she had to guard Sanderson,” Stangel said. “She guarded her for about 27 of the 32 minutes, and she ran around and she made it hard.
“Watching film in here, you can watch Sid getting bumped around, banged around, and she’s just working her butt off. She’s a really competitive kid. She figures out what you’re trying to do to her, and we go that way with it. She’s matured a lot throughout the season, and that’s been our team in general.”
Junior forward/center Ivy Henderson also highlighted Hale’s contributions on the defensive end.
“Sidney is a very athletic player who has incredible on-the-ball defense,” Henderson said. “She’s the most consistent defender we have and gets steals from some of the best point guards in the state. She’s always able to shut down the best ball handlers on the opposing team, ultimately securing wins.”
Hale has scored 13 points three times this season. That total is only one point shy of the career-high 14 she scored in the Bulldogs’ sectional semifinal win against Hammond Central.
“The offensive game is coming,” Stangel said. “It’ll get there with the more varsity experience she has. She’s had some big games for us. … It’s coming and coming. We’ve really liked the progress she’s made as an individual player. She’s a big asset for us.”
Crown Point’s Sidney Hale , right, looks to shoot as Lake Zurich’s Kaitlin Wahlund defends during a game in Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest in Lisle, Illinois, on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026. (James C. Svehla / Post-Tribune)
After playing limited varsity minutes as a freshman last season, Hale tried to expedite her progress in the offseason. She also played catcher for Crown Point’s junior varsity softball team last year, although she doesn’t intend to return to that sport this spring in order to concentrate on basketball.
“In the offseason, I just put in my work and focused on my offense,” Hale said. “Obviously, my offense has improved tremendously this past year. I was just always in the gym with my dad.”
The Bulldogs’ victory against Penn secured their first regional title since 2022 and avenged a regular-season loss, which they also did in a sectional opener against Morton.
The winner of the semistate semifinal against Norwell, which ended the regular season ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll and was the Class 3A state champion last season, will play either No. 18 Northridge (20-7) or McCutcheon (22-5) in the semistate final. Crown Point, which last won a semistate title during its state championship run with Jessica Carrothers and Lilly Stoddard in 2021, defeated both of those teams during the regular season.
“It’s crazy,” Hale said of the regional title. “I still don’t really believe it because it’s so crazy. But we really pushed hard, and now we realize we really have a chance of going to state. We’re really focusing and locking in for this whole week to play our hardest in Saturday’s games.
“We’ve all been playing together for so long, a good amount of us. It’s hard sometimes with us being so young. A lot of people think we’re going to just break down and give up. But it helps us focus and stay together even more. It makes us stick and glue together even more. We’re such great friends out of basketball, too, and that just helps us too.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/crown-point-high-school-basketball-sidney-hale/
Trump encabeza la primera reunión de la Junta de Paz; aliados de EEUU desconfían del nuevo organismo
Por AAMER MADHANI y MATTHEW LEE
WASHINGTON (AP) — El presidente Donald Trump se reunirá el jueves con representantes de más de dos docenas de países que se han sumado a su Junta de Paz —y varios que han optado por no hacerlo— para una reunión inaugural que se centrará en la reconstrucción y en la creación de una fuerza internacional de estabilización para una Gaza devastada por la guerra, donde se mantiene un frágil acuerdo de alto el fuego.
Trump anunció antes de la reunión que los miembros de la junta han prometido 5.000 millones de dólares para la reconstrucción, una fracción de los aproximadamente 70.000 millones de dólares que se calcula que se necesitan para reconstruir el territorio palestino, arrasado tras dos años de guerra. Se espera que los miembros den a conocer compromisos de miles de efectivos para fuerzas internacionales de estabilización y de policía en el territorio.
“Tenemos a los mejores líderes del mundo sumándose a la Junta de Paz”, declaró Trump a los periodistas a principios de esta semana. “Creo que tiene la posibilidad de ser la junta más trascendental jamás reunida de cualquier tipo”.
La junta se puso en marcha como parte del plan de paz de 20 puntos de Trump para poner fin al conflicto en Gaza. Pero desde el alto el fuego de octubre, la visión de Trump para la junta ha cambiado y quiere que tenga un mandato aún más ambicioso: uno que no solo complete la tarea hercúlea de lograr una paz duradera entre Israel y Hamás, sino que también ayude a resolver conflictos en todo el mundo.
Pero, antes del primer encuentro de la junta, el acuerdo de alto el fuego en Gaza sigue siendo frágil y la visión ampliada de Trump ha despertado temores de que el presidente de Estados Unidos busque crear un rival de las Naciones Unidas. Trump afirmó a principios de esta semana que esperaba que la junta anime a la ONU a “ponerse las pilas”.
“Las Naciones Unidas tienen un gran potencial”, sostuvo. “No han estado a la altura de ese potencial”.
Algunos aliados de EEUU siguen escépticos
Más de 40 países y la Unión Europea han confirmado que enviarán funcionarios a la reunión del jueves, según un alto funcionario del gobierno que no estaba autorizado a hacer comentarios públicos. Alemania, Italia, Noruega y Suiza figuran entre más de una docena de países que no se han sumado a la junta, pero se espera que asistan como observadores, indicó el funcionario.
El Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU celebró el miércoles una reunión de alto nivel sobre el acuerdo de alto el fuego y los esfuerzos de Israel por ampliar el control en Cisjordania. La sesión de la ONU en Nueva York estaba programada originalmente para el jueves, pero se adelantó después de que Trump anunció la reunión de la junta para la misma fecha y quedó claro que complicaría los planes de viaje de los diplomáticos que planeaban asistir a ambas.
El secretario de Estado del Vaticano, el cardenal Pietro Parolin, comentó a los periodistas a principios de esta semana que “a nivel internacional debería ser ante todo la ONU la que gestione estas situaciones de crisis”. El gobierno de Trump rechazó el miércoles las preocupaciones del Vaticano.
“Este presidente tiene un plan y una visión muy audaces y ambiciosos para reconstruir y rehabilitar Gaza, que ya están muy avanzados gracias a la Junta de Paz”, manifestó la secretaria de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt. “Esta es una organización legítima en la que hay decenas de países miembros de todo el mundo”.
Mike Waltz, embajador de Estados Unidos ante la ONU, también rebatió a los aliados escépticos, al afirmar que la junta “no está hablando, está actuando”.
“Estamos escuchando a la clase parlanchina criticar la estructura de la junta, que es poco convencional, que no tiene precedentes”, dijo Waltz. “De nuevo, las viejas formas no estaban funcionando”.
Preguntas sobre el desarme de Hamás
Un punto central de las conversaciones del jueves será la creación de una fuerza internacional de estabilización armada para mantener la seguridad y garantizar el desarme de Hamás, una exigencia clave de Israel y un pilar del acuerdo de alto el fuego.
Pero hasta ahora, solo Indonesia ha ofrecido a Trump un compromiso firme para la fuerza propuesta. Y Hamás ha dado pocas señales que generen confianza de que esté dispuesto a avanzar con el desarme. El gobierno “no se hace ilusiones sobre los desafíos en torno a la desmilitarización”, pero se ha visto alentado por lo que los mediadores han informado, según un funcionario de Estados Unidos que no estaba autorizado a comentar públicamente y habló bajo condición de anonimato.
El presidente de Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, se comprometió a trabajar estrechamente con otros países islámicos líderes invitados por Trump para “sumarse a los esfuerzos para tratar de lograr una paz duradera en Palestina”.
“Reconocemos que todavía hay obstáculos que superar, pero al menos mi postura es que tenemos que intentarlo, y tenemos que hacer nuestro mejor esfuerzo”, expresó en un acto en la Cámara de Comercio de Estados Unidos el miércoles, donde se reunió con miembros de la comunidad empresarial.
Se espera que la Junta Ejecutiva de Gaza, el brazo operativo de la junta, presente el jueves actualizaciones sobre sus esfuerzos para crear un sistema de gobierno funcional y servicios para el territorio, según el funcionario que habló bajo condición de anonimato para adelantar los lineamientos generales de la reunión.
Además de Trump, el funcionario señaló que entre los otros oradores de la conferencia estarán el secretario de Estado Marco Rubio, el enviado especial de Trump Steve Witkoff, el yerno de Trump Jared Kushner, el ex primer ministro británico Tony Blair, el alto representante de la junta ejecutiva, Nickolay Mladenov, y Waltz.
Michael Hanna, director del programa de Estados Unidos en International Crisis Group, una organización sin fines de lucro centrada en la prevención de conflictos, sugirió que el escepticismo que muestran algunos aliados de Washington no es injustificado.
“Sin una autorización clara para ampliar su mandato más allá de Gaza, no sorprende que muchos aliados y socios de Estados Unidos hayan optado por rechazar la oferta de Trump de sumarse a la junta”, afirmó Hanna. “En cambio, muchos de los Estados más comprometidos con el futuro de Gaza se han inscrito con la esperanza de centrar la atención de Estados Unidos y alentar al propio Trump a usar la influencia y la capacidad de presión que tiene con Israel”.
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Los periodistas de The Associated Press Didi Tang en Washington, Farnoush Amiri en Naciones Unidas, y Nicole Winfield en Roma contribuyeron con esta cobertura.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
“The Plan Was To Kill Off Gold As Money…”
“The Plan Was To Kill Off Gold As Money…”
Authored by Alasdair Macleod via VonGreyerz.gold,
For years, bulls of gold and silver have complained about how derivatives have been used to suppress their prices. Their dreams of the practice ending could be coming true…
Introduction
If you think about it, there is a simple reason that derivatives for speculating or hedging gold is fatally flawed. It is because in nearly every nation’s common law, gold is money, and currencies are inferior credit, which is where payment risk actually lies. That the Western financial establishment is ignorant of this fact does not change the facts.
There is a good reason why this matters. Gold has lasted as legal money, and credit has been separately acknowledged to be deferred payment in money since Roman law. Since then, there have been many instances of governments denying these facts and promoting their currencies in the place of gold, which have always ended in their collapse.
In any price relationship involving a medium of exchange, there is an objective value and a subjective one. The objective value is always in the medium of exchange, and the subjective value is in the goods or services being exchanged. Put another way, the buyer and seller will both value money or its substitute the same, but the buyer values the goods or services more highly than the seller: otherwise, the exchange won’t take place. But if gold is the money, where does that leave a fiat currency?
Clearly, if the currency is not a credible gold substitute, then it should bear the subjective value relative to gold. That it is not regarded this way is partly due to government anti-gold propaganda, but mainly due to accounting in the government’s currency for tax purposes. Furthermore, while a gold standard is always defined as a currency being exchangeable for a given weight of gold, for convenience it is referred to as so many currency units per gramme or ounce. This gives the erroneous impression that gold is being priced in the subordinate currency.
This is as may be, but in the knowledge that a fiat currency always fails while gold as money never does, the recognition of this reality will eventually kill off any derivatives when fiat currencies collapse. And if some derivatives survive, it should then refer to fiat currencies in terms of gold-grammes, or better still, in a credible gold substitute instead if one exists.
Gold derivatives should not exist in the first place, except perhaps for seasonal agricultural produce — the original function. It should be borne in mind in the context of this article.
The plan was to kill off gold as money
Following the inflationary seventies, which almost destroyed the post-1971 dollar-based fiat currency system, there can be little doubt that the deep thinkers in the US Treasury thought long and hard as to how to drive inflation out of the economy while promoting the dollar to kill off gold as money. The solution chosen came in three distinct policies.
The first and most obvious was to reform the financial system so that the banks would wrest control of financial securities from the brokerage industry: this resulted in London’s big-bang, implemented by the Thatcher government in the mid-eighties at the US Treasury’s behest. A capital-starved securities industry would become turbocharged by bank finance, ensuring a perpetual bull market in financial asset values, including government debt, and ensuring everlasting demand for dollars.
The second was to reform statistical calculation for key economic indicators, such as consumer price inflation and jobless figures, giving a measure of government control over them to create the illusion of currency stability. Not only was the indexation cost of pensions and welfare thereby contained, but interest rates were permitted to be lower than they would otherwise be. All economic statistics are produced by government agencies who control this information.
The third was to sanction and encourage derivative markets to expand, and by doing so divert speculative demand from physical markets for gold. This was to prevent gold prices from being driven higher, threatening the status of the dollar as a medium of exchange. It was the basis of the massive expansion of gold trading on the LBMA, and of gold futures under the control of the large US banks, which would occasionally act as agents for the Exchange Stabilisation Fund.
In London, 44 million ounces were cleared daily in 1998 on the London Bullion Market, valued at approximately $13 billion at that time. Last December, 17 million ounces were cleared, but at higher prices, they were valued at $71 billion. It should be noted that outstanding forward commitments measured by their average duration in days are unrecorded multiples of daily settlement.
The falling settlement numbers in London from 44 million to 17 million, while the value of the settlement rose 4.5 times, illustrates the problem paper markets now face. On Comex, which has the same problem, this is demonstrated by the gross and net short position of the Swaps category, which is comprised mainly of bullion bank traders:
Between 2010 and 2018, the average gross short position was $15bn, compared with $112bn today. And the net position averaged $7bn, compared with $90bn currently.
This particularly matters because physical gold is now being drained out of London and New York directly or indirectly by a combination of central bank and wider Asian demand. While London faces a developing liquidity crisis of available gold bullion, Comex has a position which is proving impossible to contain, let alone from drifting into ever higher liabilities for bullion bank traders.
In both markets, higher prices require increasing fiat capital to sustain positions. This fact alone is bound to restrict these markets’ ability to trade in the numbers demanded of them.
Hope that demand for physical gold will diminish, allowing the bullion establishment to initiate a raid on bullish speculators, is proving to be whistling into the wind, a wind blowing with increasing strength driven by a mixture of geopolitics and increasing credit risk facing the fiat dollar. In short, gold derivative markets are drifting towards the rocks of a crisis.
This matters because gold is central to everything, more so than the illusory dollar. Gold as money in possession has no counterparty risk, while the fiat dollar with increasing counterparty risk is of uncertain future value. The central banks accumulating bullion, as well as other Asian entities and individuals, are being motivated to rid themselves of this dollar uncertainty, choosing not to encash them for other currencies which are ultimately tied to the dollar’s credibility but for gold.
The relationship between dollars and gold has been a conundrum for many since the suspension of the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1971. The western financial establishment has lost all compass as to which is money and which is credit, with most actors not even aware of gold’s central importance.
To illustrate this importance, the chart below shows average values for a range of industrial metals priced in dollars and gold, followed by a chart of oil similarly priced.
Priced in dollars, commodity and energy prices have risen multiple times and with great volatility, while they have been remarkably steady priced in gold. The point being made is that the approaching problems in paper gold contracts will almost certainly be transmitted into higher dollar prices for commodities generally, as paper hedging in the form of derivatives diminishes. And the catalyst for an implosion of commodity and energy derivatives is gold.
Just as derivatives have suppressed gold and other commodity values from the 1980s onwards, their ending is set to unleash an explosion of physical replacement demand. The contraction of outstanding commodity derivatives will not be without accidents. Banks will face enormous write-offs, and doubtless some rescues will have to be arranged by the authorities. And there’s no guarantee that other derivative markets, such as interest rate swaps and fore,x will go unscathed because of the commonality of derivative counterparties.
The rise in values for gold and commodities generally is the same thing as a decline in the value of the dollar for the purpose of dealing in commodities. Foreign holders of dollars will be acutely aware of the consequences, dumping dollars increasingly to hoard commodities.
Looking at oil and base metal values, they are already relatively cheaply priced in gold. Or put the other way, being moderately expensive gold appears to have begun to discount a wider currency crisis, while these commodities have not yet.
Forced by global markets, as opposed to those under the control of the US authorities, the wisdom of ancient Roman lawmakers in framing the origin of all their successor nations’ common law is being reaffirmed. The error being corrected today is the accumulation of fiat currency distortions of the last fifty-five years, which looks like it is coming to a financially violent end.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/19/2026 – 08:05
https://www.zerohedge.com/precious-metals/plan-was-kill-gold-money
Sweep through your chores with these top-rated brooms
Which broom is best?
You need a high-quality broom to clean your household, and there are many options, including traditional corn brooms and practical push brooms. If you’re looking for a durable and handcrafted broom, the O-Cedar Commercial Warehouse Corn Broom is your best bet.
What to know before you buy a broom
Types
There are a few different types of brooms, including push brooms, corn brooms, hand brooms and angled brooms. Angled brooms are lightweight with angled heads to reach tight spots, while hand brooms are tiny brooms with shorter handles. Corn brooms feature bristles composed of natural corn fibers, and push brooms are meant to be pushed forward instead of from side to side.
Color
Brooms tend to come in a wide range of colors. This certainly isn’t the most crucial feature to look for, but it can help make the cleaning process more enjoyable if you choose a color that you actually like.
Dustpan
Many brooms, especially full-size options, also include long-handled dustpans. Consider whether or not you want a dustpan included with your broom.
What to look for in a quality broom
Flagged vs. unflagged bristles
Consider whether you want a broom that comes with flagged bristles or unflagged bristles. Neither kind of bristle is better per se, but each type of bristle serves its own purpose. For example, flagged bristles are frayed at the ends and can catch small particles of dirt and dust, but they usually don’t last as long as unflagged bristles.
Unflagged bristles, on the other hand, are fairly straight, with blunt ends. They’re effective at sweeping up and cleaning large pieces of dirt, but they can often miss the tiny particles.
Handles
There are a few different types of broom handles, including metal, plastic, wood and fiberglass. Wooden broom handles are fairly durable, but they can sometimes splinter with age. Plastic broom handles are lightweight and affordable but not very durable.
Metal broom handles are fairly long-lasting and durable, but aluminum tends to be lightweight and can bend easily with heavy use. Fiberglass broom handles are usually more expensive, but they are also weatherproof, durable and lightweight.
Bristle materials
The most common bristle materials include bass, tampico, corn, polystyrene and polyester. Polyester bristles are multipurpose and can be used both outdoors and indoors. Polystyrene bristles dry quickly, which works well for both dry use and wet use.
Corn bristles are fairly stiff and work well at cleaning up large pieces of debris. Tampico bristles are very soft, which works for sweeping up fine dirt and dust particles. Bass bristles are durable and great for cleaning outdoors.
How much you can expect to spend on a broom
Brooms tend to vary in price, depending on the kind of broom and its quality. For example, the most basic push brooms go for $10 to $20, while high-end commercial push brooms cost $60 to $80. Basic corn brooms cost about $10-$20, and high-end handmade corn brooms range in price from $35 to $50. Hand brooms are fairly cheap in general, ranging in price from $5 to $15. Angled brooms go for about $15-$25.
Broom FAQ
Do you need different brooms for outdoor use and indoor use?
A. Most people choose to have different brooms for outdoor use and indoor use, since various brooms work better when cleaning different surfaces. For example, the bristles on a well-made outdoor broom might be too stiff to use indoors. You also probably don’t want to clean the floors inside your house with a broom that you’ve used to clean the outdoors.
Can you use a broom when it’s wet?
A. Not all brooms can be used wet, but there are brooms on the market that can clean both dry and wet surfaces. This is a good feature to look for when you are scrubbing floors inside or using your broom to clean outdoors. Synthetic bristles are usually better for wet use than natural fibers are.
Will a broom damage your wooden floors?
A. It’s best to use a soft-bristled broom on wooden floors, since regular cleaning with a stiff-bristled broom can damage or scratch your hardwood floors over the months and years.
What’s the best broom to buy?
Top broom
O-Cedar Commercial Warehouse Corn Broom
What you need to know: This durable and handcrafted corn broom from O-Cedar will get the job done for people who want dust-free floors.
What you’ll love: This amazing O-Cedar corn broom comes with an eco-friendly corn-fiber design, a sturdy wooden handle for full control while you’re cleaning and a handcrafted straw-bristle design that works both outdoors and indoors.
What you should consider: This broom has a rugged appearance that might be off-putting for some people.
Worth checking out
TreeLen Angle Broom and Dustpan
What you need to know: This solid and simple broom option from TreeLen cleans up dirt from your floors with an angled brush.
What you’ll love: This TreeLen angle broom and dustpan set features an angular design so that you can clean spaces that are difficult to reach, a foot-wide broom head with fairly thick bristles and an attachable dustpan for simple storage and access.
What you should consider: A few people said that this broom’s bristles were too soft.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/sweep-through-your-chores-with-these-top-rated-brooms/
Airbus Shares Hit Turbulence After Dismal Delivery Outlook
Airbus Shares Hit Turbulence After Dismal Delivery Outlook
Shares of Airbus SE plunged as much as 8% in Paris trading after the aerospace and defense group guided to 870 commercial aircraft deliveries for 2026, well below the Bloomberg Consensus estimate of 896. Airbus blamed the softer outlook on the lack of reliable engine supplies for its A320 family of jets.
UBS analyst Tricia Wright said fourth-quarter results were in line, but the 2026 guidance was at the low end of expectations, and long-term production targets were downgraded.
“While the possibility of a long-term production rate target downgrade had been discussed by investors, 2026 guidance is also below the expectations of most investors we spoke to—880 deliveries, €7.5–8 billion EBIT, and €5–5.5 billion FCF,” said UBS analyst Ian Douglas-Pennant. The analyst reiterated his “buy” rating on Airbus.
The lower guidance was largely due to what CEO Guillaume Faury called a “significant” shortage of engines from Pratt & Whitney. He said this forced the planemaker into a mad dash to meet last year’s delivery target, which was ultimately lowered in the final weeks of the year.
“Pratt & Whitney’s failure to commit to the number of engines ordered by Airbus is negatively impacting this year’s guidance and the ramp-up trajectory,” Airbus wrote in a statement.
Here’s a snapshot of the 2026 full-year forecast (courtesy of Bloomberg):
Sees commercial aircraft deliveries of about 870 planes; estimate 895.74 (Bloomberg Consensus)
Sees adjusted EBIT of about €7.5 billion; estimate €8.19 billion
Sees adjusted free cash flow of about €4.5 billion; estimate €5.68 billion
Goldman analyst Jeremy Elster commented on bearish technicals developing for the planemaker:
AIRBUS trading down -8%, breaking 200dma and breaching lows of recent range –
Feedback: guide came in at lower end – per comment yesterday; at €200 I would argue the shares are pricing in an €~8bn ebit guide. At closer to €190 we had more fully priced >€7.5bn. Feedback is mostly arguing to defend this as yet another Airbus “clearing event”, but it is clear that conviction is fragile in the currently rather volatile tape.
In the numbers: headline item is ’26 guide at 870 aircraft, ebit “around 7.5bn”, and cash flow “around 4.5bn”. Implied consensus downgrade is m to hsd. The company cite continued “failure to commit” from Pratt as holding up engine deliveries. The ramp-up guide is tweaked to now assume rate 70-75 by the end of 2027 (previously 75) and to stabilise at rate 75 “thereafter” (consensus has rates reaching this cadence only in ’29/30).
After the call – a few more reasons for optimism than is typical from Airbus. Key soundbites:
“guidance does not reflect any concern on a per aircraft basis. the margins are healthy”.
“FCF main impact is Spirit now being worse because of late deal close leading to spill over into ’26”
Engines (the key topic) – “Pratt issues will mainly impact ’26 and to some extent ’27”. “we continue to pursue reaching rate 75 by end of next year, but due to uncertainty on engine volumes we changed the guide to 70-75″… “as we navigate the relationship with Pratt we want to preserve the possibility to have better news at a later stage”.
Shares of Airbus in Paris tumbled as much as 8.1% following the downgraded full-year update on aircraft deliveries.
Elster noted, “Airbus looking technically fragile, despite an update that could / should have reassured…”
Airbus deliveries in January fell to their lowest level since 2020, marking the weakest start to a year in at least a decade. By contrast, rival Boeing has continued to recover from yearslong 737 MAX crisis and recently posted its highest commercial aircraft deliveries since 2018.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/19/2026 – 07:45
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/airbus-shares-hit-turbulence-after-dismal-delivery-outlook
These Laneige lip masks are essential for hydrated lips
Discover why this cult-favorite overnight treatment is the ultimate secret to achieving soft and hydrated lips
If you haven’t already heard, LANEIGE’s lip mask is a cult favorite — and it’s easy to see why. In just one night, this lip mask can make your lips amazingly soft and hydrated. Read on for more details on what makes LANEIGE’s Lip Sleeping Mask so great and how to get your hands on some.
What is the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask?
The LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask is an overnight lip treatment made for all skin types that delivers an intense boost of moisture and antioxidants to your lips while you sleep, thanks to ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, murumuru butter and vitamin C. People love it because the flavors smell (and taste) amazing, and the silky texture feels absolutely luxurious and delivers incredible moisture to your lips — but isn’t thick or greasy enough to stain your sheets or pillowcases. In other words, it’s basically the perfect overnight lip mask.
Best Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask varieties
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry
The Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry has a strawberry and blueberry flavor, with a subtle pink color to match.
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask in Gummy Bear
The Lip Sleeping Mask in Gummy Bear is a sweet treat for your lips that comes in bright purple for extra fun.
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask in Sweet Candy
The Lip Sleeping Mask in Sweet Candy is a bright fuchsia shade that goes perfectly with this sweet flavor.
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla
Want a more basic lip mask? The Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla is a tried-and-true flavor that never gets old.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/these-laneige-lip-masks-are-essential-for-hydrated-lips/
Need a kitchen revamp? Start with Amazon’s ‘most wished for’ list
If you’re looking to update your kitchenware, Amazon has a list that can help
Shopping for new kitchen products can quickly become overwhelming. There are a ton of choices — and it’s tough to tell what’s good-quality and will actually help you save time and effort in the kitchen, and what’s just a gimmick or a single-purpose tool you don’t actually need (and will clutter your drawers and cabinets, creating yet another kitchen problem to solve).
Luckily, there’s a way to find kitchen bestsellers quickly and easily: Amazon’s “most wished for” list. This is like a crowdsourced list of the top kitchen gadgets, organizers and more. When this many people want a product, they can’t all be wrong, right?
Shop this article: Carote Nonstick Granite Cookware Sets 10 Pcs, REALINN 2 Tier Pull Out Cabinet Organizer, Pull out Cabinet Organizer, Expandable (11.7″-19.7″) Heavy Duty Slide out Drawers Fixed with Adhesive Nano Film for Pots
Amazon’s ‘most wished for’ list is a great place to find kitchen bestsellers
Carote Nonstick Granite Cookware Sets 10 Pieces
Carote nonstick cookware is made of granite, making it safer and healthier than brands coated in synthetic chemicals such as PFOS and PFOA. This 10-piece set is perfect for making the switch from coated nonstick cookware — it includes two frying pans, three casserole pots with lids and a saucepan with a lid.
REALINN 2 Tier Pull Out Cabinet Organizer
This under-sink or cabinet organizer has two tiered shelves that pull out, making it perfect for organizing cleaning supplies, canned goods, spices, snacks or any other small items.
Kitstorack Expandable Pullout Cabinet Organizer with Adhesive Nano Film for Pots
This pullout shelf is heavy-duty enough to hold pots and pans or heavy canned goods, and it can grow from 11.7 inches to 19.7 inches. Unlike other pullout shelves, though, it doesn’t need to be installed with screws — it sticks to your cabinet with strong adhesive strips that don’t cause any damage, making it perfect for renters.
Hate chopping vegetables? This two-in-one chopper has two blades for coarse and fine dicing and makes chopping a breeze.
KitchenAid Ribbed Soft Silicone Oven Mitt Set
Protect your hands with these soft silicone oven mitts that are waterproof, slip-resistant and safe up to 500 degrees.
Pyrex three Piece Measuring Cup Set
This three-piece set comes with dishwasher-, freezer- and microwave-safe measuring cups in 1-, 2- and 4-cup sizes.
KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt Head Stand Mixer
There’s a reason KitchenAid stand mixers are so coveted — they last forever and make quick work of mixing batters and doughs, kneading bread and so many other tedious kitchen tasks.
Kitchen Gizmo Snap N’ Strain – Silicone Clip-On Colander
This snap-on colander is made to fit just about any size pot, making it easier to strain pasta, potatoes and more. It’s smaller than a colander, so it takes up less space — plus, it saves time because you don’t have to transfer your food in and out of the pot.
CAROTE 11-Piece Nonstick Pot and Pan Set
This 11-piece Carote nonstick cookware set includes two frying pans, a saute pan, two saucepans, two fridge storage lids, two silicone lids and two removable handles that can be attached to different pieces in the set with just the click of a button.
Lodge 6.5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven with Lid
A Dutch oven is a workhorse in any kitchen, versatile for baking, roasting, braising, sautéing, searing and more. This version from Lodge is a durable, affordable option that comes in multiple sizes and colors to suit many needs.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Daywatch: Ex-CPD detective denies coercing Guantanamo suspects
Good morning, Chicago.
Former Chicago police Detective Richard Zuley once spent time on a special assignment at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, but on the witness stand on, the retired investigator took a position seemingly at odds with a facility notorious for the human rights abuses of the interrogations that unfolded there.
“Rapport works,” Zuley said. “Interrogation doesn’t work.”
Zuley spent more than three hours testifying at the Leighton Criminal Court Building after he was called to the stand by Cook County prosecutors fighting off a petition that asks a judge to vacate a murder conviction. He denied beating and coercing witnesses and suspects — saying he favors a more gentle approach — even as defense attorneys grilled him about a history of internal complaints and lawsuits.
Through Zuley, the unusual post-conviction case has linked the troubled U.S. detention center in Cuba with the shooting death of a child in Cabrini Green in 1992. The retired detective’s account followed testimony by former Guantanamo detainee Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who in November said a team led by Zuley tortured him in the early 2000s until he falsely confessed to planning to attack the CN Tower in Canada.
Read the full story from the Tribune’s Madeline Buckley.
Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including a replacement for the Columbus statue at Arrigo Park, 5 questions for the Bulls to answer in their final 27 games and why David Schwimmer is doubling down on Lookingglass Theatre.
Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History
Then-Britain’s Prince Andrew, left, and Britain’s King Charles III leave after the Requiem Mass service for the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral in London, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Joanna Chan)
Former Prince Andrew arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Jonathan Jackson, center, steadies his brother Yusef Jackson as they address the press on Feb. 18, 2026, about the passing of their father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, outside the family home in Chicago. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)
Family of Rev. Jesse Jackson honors legacy of civil rights icon
Born in the throes of Jim Crow, the Rev. Jesse Jackson “quickly became maladjusted to injustice. On the field of his life, his shoes were well-worn. His uniform, dirty with the stripes of imperfection as he did his best to live up to his Christian calling.”
Those were the words of Jackson’s son Yusef, speaking about his father’s legacy on the steps of the family home in Chicago’s Jackson Park Highlands area yesterday morning. All of Jackson’s children were there, sharing thanks for the prayers and support the family has received since the Rev. Jackson, a mainstay in the Civil Rights Movement and founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, died “peacefully” and “surrounded by his family” Tuesday at 84.
Chicago funeral arrangements set for civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson
Sports helped shape Rev. Jesse L. Jackson’s career and inspired the ex-quarterback to fight for equal rights
Aldermen Scott Waguespack, 32nd, from left, Greg Mitchell, 7th, Bennett Lawson, 44th, and Andre Vasquez, 40th, talk outside of the Chicago City Council chambers on Feb. 18, 2026. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Zoning Committee stalemate continues under Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with other vacancies
Divided by competing personal ambitions and ethnic caucuses once again, the Chicago City Council failed to find its next Zoning Committee chair yesterday.
Empty space remains after the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed by the city for public safety at Arrigo Park, July 24, 2020. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune)
Mother Cabrini statue to replace Columbus at Arrigo Park, city officials say
A statue of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini will be installed at Arrigo Park in Little Italy to replace a removed one honoring Christopher Columbus, Chicago Park District and city officials announced yesterday.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: Mother Cabrini’s Chicago milestones on her path to sainthood
Chicago police officers carry Bernie Sanders, 21, to a police wagon from a civil rights demonstration at West 73rd Street and South Lowe Avenue in August 1963. He was charged with resisting arrest, found guilty and fined $25. He was a University of Chicago student at the time. (Tom Kinahan/Chicago Tribune)
Today in Chicago History: Young Bernie Sanders arrest photo emerges
On this day in 2016: A Chicago Tribune archival photo of a young man being arrested in 1963 at a South Side protest shows U.S. senator from Vermont and then-Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, his campaign confirmed, bolstering the candidate’s narrative about his civil rights activism.
The black-and-white photo shows a 21-year-old Sanders, then a University of Chicago student, being taken by Chicago police toward a police wagon. An acetate negative of the photo was found in the Tribune’s archives, said Marianne Mather, a Chicago Tribune photo editor.
Passenger disembark Southwest Airlines flight 3869 at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fla., from Chicago’s Midway International Airport on Dec. 11, 2025. (Todd Panagopoulos/Chicago Tribune)
‘I would definitely fly them less:’ Southwest customers grouse about new seating reality
Southwest Airlines first announced the switch to assigned seating in 2024, part of a series of moves the carrier made to increase revenue. But judging by a public outcry that’s gone viral on social media, the transformative switch is off to a turbulent start.
United States’ Tage Thompson, right, celebrates with Dylan Larkin after Larkin scored against Sweden during the second period of a men’s ice hockey quarterfinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Overtime hockey: US defeats Sweden and Canada beats Czechia to reach the semifinals at the Olympics
The U.S. and Canada are moving on to the semifinals at the Olympics. Each needed extra hockey to get through the quarterfinals.
Jordan Stolz began skating on a frozen pond in Wisconsin. He seeks a 3rd Olympic gold today.
Can Alysa Liu end a 24-year drought for US women in Olympic figure skating? ‘Free range, no rules.’
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis and guard Josh Giddey high-five in the second quarter against the 76ers on Dec. 26, 2025, at the United Center. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
5 questions for Chicago Bulls to answer in final 27 games, including how high they can get in lottery order
The final countdown is on for the end of the NBA regular season. But this year looks different for the Bulls.
Lookingglass Theatre artistic director Kasey Foster and ensemble member and co-founder David Schwimmer in Chicago on Feb. 13, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
David Schwimmer is doubling down on Lookingglass Theatre
David Schwimmer, long a close friend of the Lookingglass Theatre, is re-engaged, reenergized and determined to coax the struggling Chicago theater company where he began his career back to life.
The 59-year-old actor, who shot to fame playing Ross on the hit sitcom “Friends,” has joined the Lookingglass board of directors, grabbed a spot on its finance committee, started taking meetings with everyone from the arts booster Lou Raizin to the mayoral candidate Alexi Giannoulias and brought in a fancy new website development team.
Brandi Carlile performs “America the Beautiful” during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
What to do in Chicago: Brandi Carlile, Andrea Bocelli and a muddy trail run
Here are our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
Garth Brooks, Ed Sheeran, Post Malone will headline Summerfest 2026 in Milwaukee
Milwaukee’s Summerfest has announced its lineup for this coming summer. Headliners include Garth Brooks (playing two nights), Ed Sheeran, Post Malone, Megan Moroney, Don Toliver, Jelly Roll, Carín León, Muse, Cody Johnson and Alex Warren
Summerfest 2026 will take place on Milwaukee’s downtown lakefront at Henry Maier Festival Park over three consecutive Thursday-to-Saturday weekends: June 18-20, June 25-27 and July 2-4.
Other music guests include Megadeth, Louis Tomlinson, Subtronics, Tucker Wetmore, Ella Mai, Sean Paul, Amyl and The Sniffers, Passion Pit, Hot Mulligan, Tash Sultana, Halestorm, Spoon, All Time Low, Echo & The Bunnymen, Styx, Charlie Wilson, Father John Misty, Audrey Nuna, Flo Rida, Sam Barber, Marcus King Band, The Revivalists, Whiskey Myers, Grouplove, Elderbrook, The Roots, Buju Banton, KALEO, Jeremih, Nate Smith, flipturn, Third Eye Blind, The Temper Trap, Russell Dickerson, Wolfmother, David Lee Roth, Gene Simmons Band, The Academy Is…, Pepper, Christopher Cross, Candlebox, Goldfinger, Cameron Whitcomb, The Beths, Holly Humberstone, BØRNS, Jonah Kagen, Rev Run of Run DMC, The Mountain Goats, Mariachi Sol De Mexico, The Family Stone and others.
Chicago’s own Lollapalooza lakefront festival has not yet announced its 2026 lineup; expect that news in mid-to-late March.
Summerfest, an independent music festival first held in 1968, has music in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater and a half-dozen other stages, plus in lounges and pavilions around the 75-acre festival grounds. Tickets (general admission and multiday passes) are on sale now. Early Bird general admission is $25 through Feb 28; then $28 from March 1 to April 30; $30 from May 1 to June 18, and $33 June 19 to July 4. A T-Mobile 9-Day Power Pass is available for $58 through Feb. 25; www.summerfest.com.
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com
Niles shoe store using ‘love month’ of Feb. to collect shoes for charitable giveaway
For the past few years, a local Niles business has been part of an annual shoe drive, collecting scores of shoes to help people, including Niles Family Services – which offers social assistance to residents.
Megan Sajdak Holtan, co-owner and director of marketing of Midwest Shoe Merchants, told Pioneer Press that Waxberg’s Walk Shoppe has participated in the “Share-A-Pair Shoe Drive” since her Wisconsin-based company acquired the store on Dempster Street in December 2022.
“We’ve been doing this for 20 years,” Sajdak Holtan said. “Corporate-wide to date we’ve collected over 400,000 pairs of shoes.”
Midwest Shoe Merchants is formerly Stan’s Bootery Inc. The company owns several shoe stores in Wisconsin, along with Waxberg’s in Niles.
As part of the drive, which is running throughout the month of February, people who donate new or gently used footwear for men, women or children – or even new socks – receive a $10 thank-you coupon. It is good for savings off the donor’s next purchase of a regular price shoe or handbag at Waxberg’s, Sajdak Holtan explained.
“February is the love month, the soulmate month, the month to think about others,” Sajdak Holtan said. “It’s a great month to think about something outside of ourselves and to give back.”
She said the corporate goal for Share-A-Pair donations in February is 25,000 new or gently used shoes. Donations may be dropped off daily at Waxberg’s, 7013 W. Dempster St.
Citing winter weather, Sajdak Holtan said February temperatures make it a good time for the monthlong Share-A-Pair push.
“Having it be a colder month, it’s a great opportunity to get boots and shoes and socks so we can donate them and they’re used right away,” she said.
Although all donations are welcome, she explained that men’s and women’s shoes, as well as larger sizes and smaller sizes, are always needed.
One of the heartwarming stories Sajdak Holtan relayed was that of a recent Waxberg’s customer who bought two pairs of shoes and placed them in the Share-A-Pair donation bin.
“It’s just amazing that someone would take that next step to do that,” she said.
Waxberg’s collected about 3,500 shoes in 2025 and Niles Family Services received hundreds of shoes throughout that year as the social services department of the village of Niles requested and needed to increase their supply, according to Sajdak Holtan.
“Having a pair of shoes can really make a difference,” she said. “Our corporate mission is improving lives from the ground up.
According to the corporate website, the belief is that shoes are a life essential and are the foundation of health, mobility and dignity, and provide comfort, protection and confidence.
“We also work with Soles4Souls, a national nonprofit. They donate all over the world,” Sajdak Holtan said. “We’re always looking for more nonprofits in the Niles area as well.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/19/waxberg-walk-shoppe-hosts-shoe-drive/
