The Week of February 8, 2026 by CoenM

Donald Trump announced that what AGENCY was repealing the endangerment finding, the legal basis for its ability to regulate greenhouse gases? Its administration, Lee Zeldin, also announced with Trump that it would remove greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles.

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's decision to call a snap election paid off, as what PARTY that she leads won 316 seats of the 465 in the lower house of the Diet? The party as been in power almost continuously since its 1955 founding.

The United Nations confirmed that the Rapid Support Force killed over 6000 people in a three day period during its massacre in El Fasher in what troubled REGION OF SUDAN?

Russia announced a total block on what Meta-owned MESSAGING PLATFORM, purchased by Facebook in 2014? Russia also attempted to limit access to Telegram, pushing users of both to move to Max, a state-supported messaging system.

A court in what SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION of China handed down a 20 year sentence against Jimmy Lai, a media tycoon and pro-democracy figure? It is the longest sentence issued under a 2020 security law that muzzled pro-democracy protest.

The lack of a Congressional agreement for funding led to a partial government shutdown, focused on what CABINET DEPARTMENT? The shutdown impacts the TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and several other agencies, while ICE and CPB can continue to operate with pay due to a funding mechanism in the "big beautiful" spending and tax cut bill.

The US Food and Drug Administration refused to consider the application for a flu vaccine developed by what COMPANY, using the mRNA technology it developed for its Covid-19 vaccine? The agency called the clinical trial run by the company a "brazen failure," while others see the move as evidence of growing anti-vaccine sentiment at the agency.

Elections in what ASIAN COUNTRY saw the BNP win 212 seats, in its first elections since the Gen Z protest overthrow of Sheikh Hasina? The Gen Z-supported NCP party only won six seats.

While his speech was less combative that JD Vance's at the same venue last year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's address at the annual security conference in what GERMAN CITY still stressed the US's plan to redefine the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe, and the need for Europe to take more responsibility for its defense?

Your HallR Memorial Mini-Theme of the Week: No Fly Zone. The US Federal Aviation Administration announced a 10 day closure of the airport in what TEXAS CITY, only to rescind it hours later? The closure, originally blamed on an incursion by drug cartel-run drones, was later attributed to an anti-drone laser firing upon balloons.

What CARIBBEAN COUNTRY notified airlines that it would not be able to refuel planes due to a shortage of fuel? The shortage is due to the US cutting off the country's supply of oil from Venezuela and tariff threat against any country that supplies the country with oil.

What ACTOR, best known for playing Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek and films like Varsity Blues passed away from colorectal cancer at 48?