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Samba schools honor Black Brazilian female authors during their Carnival parades

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Samba and literature rarely share the same stage, but at this year'sCarnival in Rio de Janeiro, two samba schools used their parades to tell the stories of Black Brazilian female authors. It's an unusual recognition of writers who have been historically marginalized due to their race and gender.

Brazilian writer Conceicao Evaristo is honored by the Imperio Serrano samba school during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

A performer from the Imperio Serrano samba school parades during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Performers from the Imperio Serrano samba school parade on a float during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Performers from the Imperio Serrano samba school parade during Carnival celebrations at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, early Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Brazil Carnival

On Saturday, 79-year-old Conceição Evaristo, a writer from Minas Gerais known for her powerful works centering on Black women's experiences, sat majestically atop a float designed by samba school Imperio Serrano atRio's famed Sambodrome. Two days later, the samba school Unidos da Tijuca dedicated its parade to the late Carolina Maria de Jesus, a favela-based diarist who died nearly five decades ago, and also featured Evaristo.

"For Black women in Brazil everything is very difficult," Evaristo said during an interview at the school's warehouse while preparations were in full swing. The parade, she said, "presents other forms of knowledge that are born in Black communities" while celebrating Brazil's diversity.

Sambais a Brazilian music and dance genre driven by syncopated rhythms that grew out of Afro-Brazilian traditions. Every year, schools based in low-income neighborhoods spend monthspreparing a paradecomplete with a samba song, towering floats and dazzling costumes, which they then present to judges at afierce competitionduring Carnival.

Themes are often entwined with political messaging. This year, Porto da Pedraadvocated for greater rights for sex workers, while schools in previous years have criticized former PresidentJair Bolsonaroor called attention to the plight of theYanomami Indigenouspeople.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, dancers, performers and percussionists from the Unidos da Tijuca school made their way down the Sambodrome's central alley while a song about de Jesus rang out across the grounds. Books of all shapes, sizes and colors featured prominently on the floats and costumes.

It was "an act ofhistorical reparation," according to a leaflet presenting the parades at the venue, which also said that de Jesus died poor and forgotten in 1977.

'No single writing style'

Both de Jesus and Evaristo rose from humble backgrounds. In the 1950s, de Jesus kept a diary that chronicled her struggles to earn an income and feed her three children in a poor,urban communityknown as a favela in Sao Paulo.

Her diary has sold more than a million copies since its 1960 publication, according to a website dedicated to de Jesus run by the prestigious museum Instituto Moreira Salles.

While some critics have dismissed de Jesus' work as simplistic, Evaristo defends her unconventional style.

"The Brazilian model cannot choose a single language model ... based, for example, on European cultures," said Evaristo, whose acclaimed works include the 2003 novel "Poncia Vivencio," about a Black woman who leaves rural Brazil to try her luck in a city, and the 2014 collection of short stories "Water Eyes."

For actor Maria Gal, who portrays de Jesus in an upcoming film and during the parade, the late author remains relevant in contemporary Brazil because of her focus on education, gender equality and sustainable development.

"We are a country that often ends up forgetting our own history. And yet we have an incredibly rich cultural history. Carolina illustrates this very powerfully," Gal said.

Black women in Brazil continue to face systemic discrimination. They are more likely than white women to be poor, illiterate and to suffer from hunger. They are also at greater risk of being avictim of gender-based violence.

Last year, Ana Maria Gonçalves became the first Black womanto earn a seatat the Brazilian Academy of Letters, the country's most exclusive literature body. Yet, despite the milestone, scholars argue that racial and gender bias still define the academy's history.

"I have no doubt about the fact that if Conceição Evaristo were a white man, she would already be a part of the Brazilian Academy of Letters," said Felipe Fanuel Xavier Rodrigues, a literature professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

The parades are a transformative political act, Rodrigues said. "Carnival suspends everyday rules, including those of a structurally racist society like ours. It's when a crack appears."

Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean athttps://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

byDonna Devi

in

February 17, 2026

Samba schools honor Black Brazilian female authors during their Carnival parades

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Samba and literature rarely share the same stage, but at this year'sCarnival in Rio de Janeiro...

Pre-historic frozen bacteria could unlock antibiotic breakthroughs

Bacteria frozen for thousands of years could hold the key to developing new antibiotics, researchers have found.

Scientists have discovered a new strain of bacteria hidden in a 5,000-year-old Romanian ice cave that could play an "essential" role in tacklingantibiotic resistant superbugs.

The study, published in the journalFrontiers in Microbiology, found the bacteria known as Psychrobacter SC65A.3 contained genes that could potentially kill or stop the growth of common antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The discovery could pave the way for developing new treatments to combat the growing risk of drug-resistant bacteria, which are responsible for more than one million deaths a year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Dr Cristina Purcarea, one of the study's authors, said the bacteria showed "significant potential" for drug manufacturers as it contains genes that can "inhibit the growth of several major antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs'".

"They produce unique enzymes and antimicrobial compounds that could inspire new antibiotics, industrial enzymes and other biotechnological innovations," she said.

Psychrobacter SC65A.3 is a strain of Psychrobacter bacteria, which are adapted to cold environments. Some species can cause infections in both humans or animals.

Able to inhibit E. coli and MRSA

The research team from Bucharest drilled a 25-metre ice core from an area of Romania's Scarisoara ice cave known as the Great Hall, which contains one of the oldest and largest underground glaciers in the world.

The ice fragments taken from the core, which are up to 13,000 years old, were placed in sterile bags and kept frozen on their way back to the lab to avoid contamination.

The research team isolated various bacterial strains from the sample and sequenced their genomes to determine which genes confer antimicrobial resistance and activity.

In the Psychrobacter SC65A.3 genome, they found 11 genes that are potentially able to kill or stop the growth of 14 bacteria, fungi and viruses.

They include genes that inhibit MRSA, a bacteria picked up from contaminated surfaces that can cause skin infections, and E. coli, a common cause of food poisoning.

Other genes also helped to combat a range of pathogens that causeurinary tract infections(UTIs).

Such potential is becoming ever more important in a world where antibiotic resistance has become a "global crisis", according to Dr Purcarea.

One in six bacterial infections are nowresistant to common antibiotics, according to the WHO, making illnesses such as UTIs and sexually transmitted diseases including gonorrhoea increasingly difficult to treat.

In addition to the 11 anti-microbial genes, the researchers also found almost 600 genes with unknown functions, suggesting a yet untapped source of potential for manufacturing new drugs.

Ice caves are only one of the extreme environments hosting a wide range of microorganisms that have not yet been studied extensively.

Researchers said that bacteria have evolved to adapt to all of earth's most extreme conditions, from scorching heat to temperatures well below zero.

Double-edged sword

Dr Purcarea told The Telegraph: "Extreme environments like Polar regions, ice caves and alpine glaciers are important reservoirs of microbial communities that can produce special biomolecules with unique structures and activities, including antimicrobial agents effective against a variety of pathogens."

The new bacterial strain represents a double-edged sword, however, as it also showed resistance to existing antibiotics.

The researchers found the SC65A.3 strain was resistant against 10 antibiotics across eight classes that are routinely used to treat bacterial infections.

They included rifampicin, cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones, which are used to treat diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), colitis, and UTIs.

Dr Purcarea said: "If melting ice releases these microbes, these genes could spread to modern bacteria, adding to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance.

"These ancient bacteria are essential for science and medicine, but careful handling and safety measures in the lab are essential to mitigate the risk of uncontrolled spread."

Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.

byDonna Devi

in

February 17, 2026

Pre-historic frozen bacteria could unlock antibiotic breakthroughs

Bacteria frozen for thousands of years could hold the key to developing new antibiotics, researchers have found. ...

Factbox-From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access

Feb 17 (Reuters) - Australia in December became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook.

The ban comes amid mounting concerns over the impact of social media on children's ‌health and safety.

Below is a summary of what countries and companies are doing to regulate access to social media.

A landmark law forced major social ‌media platforms to block minors under 16 from December 10, 2025, one of the world's toughest regulations targeting major tech platforms.

Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($34.9 million).

Britain is considering an Australia-style ban on social media and tighter AI chatbots safety rules for children under 16 as early as this year, technology minister Liz Kendall said.

China's cyberspace regulator has put in place a so-called "minor mode" programme that requires device-level restrictions and app-specific rules to restrict screen time depending on age.

Denmark said in November it would ban social media for children under 15, while parents could provide access to certain platforms to kids down to the age of 13.

France's National Assembly in January approved legislation to ‌ban children under 15 from social media amid growing ⁠concerns about online bullying and mental health risks. The bill needs to pass through the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.

Minors aged 13 to 16 are allowed to use social media only if their parents provide consent. But child protection ⁠advocates say controls are insufficient.

Greece is "very close" to announcing a social media ban for children under 15, a senior government source told Reuters on February 3.

India's chief economic adviser called for age restrictions on social media platforms in January, describing them as "predatory" in how they keep users engaged online, two days after tourist state Goa said it was weighing restrictions akin to Australia's.

Children under the age of 14 need parental consent to sign up for social media accounts, while no consent is required above that age.

Malaysia ‌said in November it would ban social media for users under the age of 16 starting from 2026.

The Norwegian government in October 2024 proposed raising the age at which children can consent to the terms required to use social media to 15 from 13, although parents would still be permitted to sign off on their behalf if they are under the age limit.

The government has also begun work on legislation to set an absolute minimum age limit of 15 for social media use.

Slovenia is drafting a law that would prohibit children under 15 from accessing social media, Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon said in a news conference on February 6.

Spain will ‌ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said early in February.

It was unclear if the proposed ban would require approval by the country's highly fragmented lower house.

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act prevents companies from collecting personal data from children under 13 without parental consent. Several states ‌have passed laws requiring parental consent for minors to access social media, but they have faced court challenges on free speech grounds.

EU LEGISLATION

The European Parliament in November agreed on a resolution which is not legally binding calling for a minimum age of 16 on social media.

It urged a harmonised EU digital age limit of 13 for social media access and an age limit of 13 for video-sharing services and "AI companions".

TECH INDUSTRY

Social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and ‌Snapchat say people need to be at least 13 to sign up.

Child protection advocates say the controls are insufficient, and official data in several European countries shows huge numbers of children under 13 have social media accounts.

($1 = 1.4174 Australian dollars)

(Compiled by Christine Chen in Sydney, Hugo Lhomedet and Paolo Laudani in Gdansk; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak and Bernadette Baum)

byDonna Devi

in

February 17, 2026

Factbox-From Australia to Europe, countries move to curb children's social media access

Feb 17 (Reuters) - Australia in December became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16,...

FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says

The FBI notified Minnesota state investigators that it will not share information or evidence related to the fatalshooting of Alex Pretti by federal agentsin Minneapolis, the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a Feb. 16 statement.

The news comes after Minnesota Gov.Tim Walzand other officialsexpressed hope that federal authorities would cooperatewith the state in an investigation into the killing of Pretti, a37-year-old ICU nursewhose death triggered nationwide protests andbipartisan calls for an independent investigation.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which specializes in investigating police shootings and has often worked with federal authorities, vowed to move ahead with its own investigation but acknowledged the challenges posed by the FBI's decision to withhold evidence.

"While this lack of cooperation is concerning and unprecedented, the BCA is committed to thorough, independent and transparent investigations of these incidents, even if hampered by a lack of access to key information and evidence," the agency said.

The FBI, which is leading a federal probe into the Pretti shooting, declined to comment.

The scene of a shooting involving federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 24, 2026.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says it has also been blocked from evidence and case materials related to the fatal shooting ofRenee Nicole Good, a mother of three, and another Minneapolis shooting thatleft a Venezuelan maninjured. Both incidents involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Independent investigations have remained a central demand of Minnesota state and local officials, as well as federal lawmakers from both parties, amid outrage over the shootings. Walz reiterated those calls on Monday, Feb. 16.

"Minnesota needs impartial investigations into the shootings of American citizens on our streets,"he said in a post on X. "Trump's left hand cannot investigate his right hand. The families of the deceased deserve better."

While Minnesota authorities have pledged to investigate each shooting, it remains unclear whether state prosecutors will be able to bring charges against the federal agents, particularly without access to key evidence. Such cases are already difficult to pursue, as federal officers are granted broad legal protections that often shield them from prosecution.

People gather to mourn for Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7 during an immigration raid, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Feb. 7, 2026.

Pretti's death on the morning of Jan. 24 prompted intense outrage as footage of the incidentundermined assertions made by top Trump administration officialswho said Pretti had "brandished" a firearm and acted as an "assassin."

Videos show Pretti filming federal agents with his phone before he was taken to the ground, disarmed and shot in the back. The Department of Homeland Security said two agents opened fire, both of whom have beenplaced on leave.

Within hours of Pretti's death, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and a local prosecutor's office went to court to gain access to the scene and even obtained a search warrant, a move state officials described in court records as unusual but necessary.

"In my 20-plus years at the BCA, prior to 2026, I had never encountered a situation in which federal authorities blocked BCA access to an incident where there is concurrent federal and state jurisdiction," Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said in a federal court filing.

U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud issued a temporary restraining order barring federal authorities from "destroying or altering" evidence in the case. Tostrud later dissolved the order, writing there was no evidence to justify its extension.

TheU.S. Justice Department openeda civil rights investigation into the Pretti shooting, which could potentially lead to criminal charges against the officers involved, though there is a high legal bar to bring such a case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened a separate internal investigation into the incident.

(L/R) Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joseph Edlow, Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Todd Lyons, acting director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), testify during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026.

A staffer holds up a display of Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were both killed by ICE agents, during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons testifies during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

Chairman U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) speaks during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on Feb. 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism over law enforcement tactics targeting undocumented immigrants and the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.

Committee ranking member Representative Bennie Thompson, D-MS), speaks with a picture of Liam Ramos displayed behind him, a 5 year-old boy who was detained by ICE on January 20, during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026.

Rodney Scott, Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), testifies during a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2026.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow arrive for a House Homeland Security Committee hearing entitled

ICE, Border Patrol leaders face Congress over deadly Minnesota raids

The Justice Department previously declined to investigate the Good shooting, saying there's"no basis" for such an inquiry. That decision, as well as a push from top DOJ officials to instead investigate Good's wife, led to a wave of resignations at the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota, according to multiple news outlets, includingThe New York TimesandNBC News.

ICE said that as part of an internal investigation, it is reviewing the conduct ofJonathan Ross, the agent who shot Good.

The Justice Department and ICE are also investigating whether the two officers involved in a shooting that injured Venezuelan immigrantJulio Cesar Sosa-Celislied under oath. Federal authorities launched the probe after video evidence appeared to contradict the officers' initial statements about the Jan. 14 shooting in Minneapolis.

Contributing: Reuters

Christopher Cann is a national breaking news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him via email at ccann@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says

byDonna Devi

in

February 16, 2026

FBI won't share evidence related to Alex Pretti shooting, state says

The FBI notified Minnesota state investigators that it will not share information or evidence related to the fatalshooti...

'Tell Me Lies' Season 3 finale: Premiere date, how to watch

Season 3 of Hulu's "Tell Me Lies" is coming to a close − and with it possibly the end of the series.

Based on the book of the same name by Carola Lovering, "Tell Me Lies" follows the eight-year, tumultuous relationship between Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White), who meet as college students.

The show's third season sees Lucy and Stephen rekindling their relationship in time for the spring semester. But the honeymoon period is, as always, short-lived.

While no official word has been released on the series' future, showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimertold Us Weeklyin January that it's "impossible to know" what's next.

"I certainly had always thought this was always more or less the ending I'd had in mind," she said.

Here's what to know about catching the season (and potentially series) finale of "Tell Me Lies."

Hulu's "Tell Me Lies" is back with Season 3, and believe it or not, the drama series is more deranged and twisted than ever.

Hulu premiered three episodes on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and so far, we're seeing an unraveling of the web of lies between Lucy (played by Grace Van Patten) and her friend group. Fans can expect major reveals, the start of new friendships, the fizzling out of other relationships, a new romantic pairing, a surprise pregnancy, and so much more drama.

To celebrate the new season, the cast of "Tell Me Lies," including stars Grace Van Patten and Jackson White, hit New York City for a screening hosted at The Corner Store on Jan. 12, 2026.