Tesla shifts part of Fremont plant to Optimus production

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Tesla announced it will convert part of its Fremont, California facility from electric vehicle manufacturing to the production of its humanoid robot, Optimus. The company said production of the Model S and Model X will end in the second quarter of 2026. The freed production space is to be repurposed for manufacturing robots developed by Tesla’s robotics and artificial intelligence division.

Optimus is a bipedal humanoid robot equipped with vision systems and software based on Tesla’s AI technologies. The project was first introduced in 2021 as a platform intended to perform repetitive and potentially hazardous tasks. Tesla has stated that a new generation of the robot is being developed with serial production in mind. Planned capacity in the converted section of the plant is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of units annually. The company has not disclosed a detailed timeline for the full launch of the new production line.

Tesla Optimus Humanoid Robot. Fot. Steve Jurvetson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Bepirovirsen met primary endpoints in Phase III HBV trials

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GSK reported results from two Phase III clinical trials, B-Well 1 and B-Well 2, evaluating bepirovirsen in people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The primary endpoint was met in both studies. The trials enrolled more than 1,800 participants across 29 countries. Bepirovirsen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide administered for a defined treatment period in combination with standard therapy. The primary endpoint was defined as loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and sustained undetectable HBV DNA after completion of treatment.

The company said it plans to submit regulatory applications in selected markets from the first quarter of 2026. Detailed data are expected to be presented at an upcoming scientific congress. Chronic HBV infection remains a major cause of liver disease worldwide.

Albanese backs change to line of succession

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of his government’s position regarding plans to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the British throne. The notification was delivered in a letter addressed to the British Prime Minister. The Australian government expressed support for the proposed changes to the rules of royal succession.

Australia is one of the Commonwealth realms that recognise the British monarch as head of state. Changes to the line of succession require agreement among these states. Details concerning the timetable and further procedural steps have not been made public.

Wave of violence in Mexico after CJNG leader’s death

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Members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) carried out coordinated violent actions in 20 Mexican states following the death of their leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”. Oseguera Cervantes died on Sunday during a military transport from Tapalpa to Mexico City after being detained by special forces. He had been wounded during an exchange of fire in the arrest operation.

At least six of his bodyguards were killed in the operation, and three soldiers were injured. After news of his death was announced, cartel members set fire to buildings and blocked roads using burning vehicles and scattered nails. In Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, movement restrictions were introduced, and the airport in Puerto Vallarta was evacuated and placed under police security.

Authorities recorded more than 250 road blockades, most of which have been cleared. Twenty-five people were detained in connection with violence and looting. In the state of Jalisco, an emergency alert was declared and public transport, mass events and school classes were suspended. The United States government had offered a reward of 15 million US dollars for information leading to Oseguera Cervantes’s capture. The President of Mexico stated that most of the country is operating without disruption.

Currency and precious metal rates (2026-02-17 06:00 UTC)

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Currency rates (2026-02-17 06:00 UTC)
1 EUR = 4.2160 PLN
1 USD = 3.5604 PLN
1 CHF = 4.6278 PLN
1 GBP = 4.8447 PLN
1 EUR = 1.1842 USD

Precious metals (2026-02-17 06:00 UTC)
GOLD = 4889.90 USD/oz
SILVER = 74.11 USD/oz

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Data: foreign exchange – interbank FX market, metals – XAU/USD and XAG/USD spot (OTC). Values represent a market snapshot at the time of publication and do not constitute investment advice.

Kacper Tomasiak wins bronze on large hill

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At the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Predazzo, Italy, Polish ski jumper Kacper Tomasiak won the bronze medal in the individual large hill event. Domen Prevc of Slovenia won the competition, with Ren Nikaido of Japan finishing second.

Another Polish representative, Paweł Wąsek, placed 14th, while Kamil Stoch finished 23rd in the same event. In the earlier normal hill competition, Tomasiak won the silver medal individually. In the mixed team event, Poland finished 11th and did not qualify for the final round. Polish ski jumpers Pola Bełtowska and Anna Twardosz also competed in the women’s normal hill event.

UK Foreign Office: Navalny poisoned in penal colony

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The UK Foreign Office announced on 14 February 2026 that Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned while serving a sentence in a penal colony, where he died in February 2024. The department stated that the findings were based on laboratory analysis of biological samples. The tests detected the presence of epibatidine, a toxic substance of natural origin. The ministry reported that the substance was used against Navalny during his imprisonment.

The information was presented at the Munich Security Conference. The United Kingdom referred the matter to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons as a breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. According to the UK Foreign Office, the findings were also shared with international partners involved in analysing the test results.

Alexei Navalny, 20 February 2021. Photo: Evgeny Feldman / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Władimir Semirunnij won silver

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Vladimir Semirunnij, representing Poland, won the silver medal in speed skating in the 10,000-metre event at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan–Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The athlete led for much of the competition, however in the penultimate pair a better time was recorded by Metodej Jilek of the Czech Republic – 12:33.44 – securing the gold medal.

It was Poland’s second medal at these Games, following Kacper Tomasiak’s silver in ski jumping on the normal hill. Semirunnij has represented Poland since 2025 and previously won medals at the World and European Championships.

Mechanism of VITT identified in international study

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Researchers from several universities have published findings on the mechanism behind the rare syndrome of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT). The study was published on 12 February 2026 in The New England Journal of Medicine. The analysis covered documented cases of VITT observed after exposure to adenovirus-based vaccines and after natural adenovirus infection. The researchers found that the condition is associated with an immune response initially directed against the adenoviral protein pVII.

In rare cases, a specific somatic mutation in antibody genes caused the antibodies to bind to platelet factor 4 (PF4) instead of the viral antigen. This reactivity to PF4 leads to platelet activation and the formation of blood clots. The identified mutation was present in all analysed antibodies obtained from patients with VITT. Reverting the mutation to its original form removed the ability to induce clot formation.

The findings provide a molecular explanation for how a normal immune response to adenovirus can, in rare cases, shift towards autoimmunity targeting PF4.

NASA lunar spacesuit completes readiness testing phase

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NASA has completed a key testing milestone for the lunar spacesuit intended for use in the Artemis programme. The tests were conducted in the United States under conditions simulating the lunar surface environment. The trials assessed mobility, life support systems and material resistance to lunar dust. The suit is designed to enable astronauts to conduct extravehicular activities during future crewed Moon missions.

The project is being carried out in partnership with a commercial provider selected by the agency. Completion of this phase is required before the system proceeds to further certification tests. NASA plans to use the suit during the Artemis III mission, which aims to land humans on the Moon. Upcoming testing will include integration of the suit with other mission systems.

NASA lunar spacesuit test. Photo: NASA