Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.
Five things you need to know
The King's brother, Andrew, has been arrested on his 66th birthday in the UK on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – formerly Prince Andrew, the Duke of York – has long been under the microscope because of his friendship with child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, but the situation has worsened with the latest release of Epstein files in the US. King Charles said today that "the law must take its course."
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the BBC understands https://t.co/6qVtVZJ5GQ
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) February 19, 2026
The US State Department is creating a website – "freedom.gov" – to enable Europeans and others around the world to see content banned by their governments, according to a report by Reuters. It will include material banned for "alleged hate speech," the report claims. It comes after the White House has repeatedly berated its allies, particularly in Europe, for censoring their citizens' speech.
Exclusive: The US State Department is developing an online portal to enable people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda, sources told Reuters https://t.co/IPFDgr54bz
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2026
Canada has made international news this week, with many foreign publications highlighting the country's controversial MAID euthanasia program. It comes after 26-year-old Kiano Vafaeian – who was blind, suffered seasonal depression and had diabetes – was killed by doctors in Vancouver in December, prompting his mother to allege that he was coached "on how to deteriorate his body" so he qualified for the procedure.
SYSTEM FAILURE: Margaret Marsilla says doctors helped their son Kiano, who suffered from diabetes and blindness, to meet criteria for MAID in Canada despite history of mental illness. https://t.co/eKXxAQe3UR
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 17, 2026
The former director of policy at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – the Ottawa department responsible for migration – has caused a stir by accusing the Immigration and Refugee Board of going rogue, developing its own policy and ultimately approving tens of thousands of refugees without asking the applicants "a single question." James Yousif, writing in the Globe and Mail newspaper, said that, under pressure to clear a backlog, the board ended up boosting its approval rate to 80 per cent. Yousif explained: "Negative decisions – rejecting asylum claims – consume time and resources because they must be carefully written in anticipation of appeal. By contrast, positive decisions can be made rapidly and in large numbers."
Opinion: Canada has a hidden asylum-policy problem https://t.co/WFbIBlh2xc
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) February 17, 2026
The CBC has chosen to interview and feature a basketmaker who is upset after Doug Ford complained that students are choosing to study "basketweaving courses" when "there’s not too many baskets being sold out there.” Spencer Lunham Jr. of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation was not amused by the Ontario premier's remarks, telling CBC: "He doesn't know what he's talking about. It's actually disrespectful to the people that live it every day."
"Indigenous artist slams Ontario Premier's basket weaving comments
— Canuk2006 (@canuk2006) February 19, 2026
An Indigenous basket maker says he makes a good living off the traditional craft"
https://t.co/5x5ZGXkuSi
