NEO MAG

By Michael Martina

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Just weeks after a dramatic purge of China's top general, the CIA is moving to capitalize on any resulting discord with ‌a new public video targeting potential informants in the Chinese military.

The U.S. spy agency on ‌Thursday rolled out the video depicting a disillusioned mid-level Chinese military officer, in the latest U.S. step in a ​campaign to ramp up human intelligence gathering on Washington's strategic rival.

It follows a similar effort last May that focused on fictional figures within China's ruling Communist Party that provided detailed Chinese-language instructions on how to securely contact U.S. intelligence.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement that the agency's videos had reached ‌many Chinese citizens and that it ⁠would continue offering Chinese government officials an "opportunity to work toward a brighter future together."

Last month, China's defense ministry announced that Zhang Youxia, second-in-command under Xi ⁠as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was under investigation, the highest-profile removal of a senior Chinese military leader in decades.

The short CIA video posted to its YouTube channel appeared aimed at exploiting domestic political ​fallout ​from Beijing's years-long crackdown on military corruption that has hit ​the upper echelons of the People's Liberation ‌Army (PLA) beyond Zhang.

"Anyone with leadership qualities is bound to be subject to suspicion and ruthlessly eliminated," the fictional officer in the video says in Mandarin. "Their power is built on countless lies," he says, referring to superiors.

The CIA has said it is confident that the online campaign is penetrating China's "Great Firewall" internet restrictions and reaching the intended audience.

"Our past videos reached millions of people and inspired ‌new sources," a CIA official told Reuters on condition ​of anonymity, without providing details.

The CIA has been investing ​heavily into countering China and has tried ​to rebuild its spy network in the country after Beijing crippled its reach ‌by killing or imprisoning numerous U.S. sources ​between 2010-2012, according to ​reports.

American officials say China's spy agencies have worked tirelessly to recruit current and former U.S. employees, and in recent years Beijing has published accounts of what it says are U.S. ​spy rings it has uncovered ‌in China.

The high-stakes spy games are part of an escalating military and technological rivalry ​that many observers deem to be a new form of cold war.

(Reporting by Michael ​Martina; Editing by Don Durfee and Nick Zieminski)

A US Navy destroyer and a support ship collided in the Caribbean on Wednesday, leaving two people with minor injuries.

• A US Navy destroyer and a support ship collided in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday.

• A military spokesperson said the incident occurred during a replenishment-at-sea.

• Two personnel were injured but are in stable condition.

The incident involving the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply occurred during a replenishment-at-sea, a spokesperson for US Southern Command confirmed to Business Insider.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the collision.

Two personnel reported minor injuries but are in stable condition, the official said, adding that both ships are sailing safely and that the incident is under investigation.

Areplenishment-at-seais a naval process in which one ship transfers supplies, such as fuel or munitions, to another while sailing closely alongside one another.

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It is a particularly dangerous job given the proximity of the two ships, and there have been accidents during resupply in the past, including a near-miss in 2024 that saw a skipper lose his command. It's unclear what caused the most recent incident.

The Navy deployedroughly a dozen warshipsto the Caribbean last year as part of a pressure campaign against Venezuela and its then-President Nicolás Maduro. Despitehis capture in early January, the massive naval force has remained in the region.

USS Truxtun is one of the Navy warships still deployed to the Southern Command area of responsibility, a defense official told Business Insider.

In recent weeks, the Navy and other US military forces haveseized several sanctioned oil tankersin the Caribbean, the Atlantic, and as far away as the Indian Ocean.

Read the original article onBusiness Insider

The Trump administration said Thursday it is ending its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Speaking at a news conference in the city, border czar Tom Homan said coordination with local law enforcement and success of immigration enforcement have contributed to the end of Operation Metro Surge.

"I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude," he said.

The announcement comes weeks after federal authorities shot and killed two U.S. citizens, sparking outrage around the nation and the world.

Homan said "a significant drawdown" will begin this week and will continue into next week. He said he will remain on the ground "for a little longer" to ensure a successful end to the operation.

On Nov. 29, the Trump administration began surging more than 3,000 immigration agents to Minneapolis, in what officials dubbed Operation Metro Surge. Homan said at a press conference last week that roughly 150 federal immigration agents were present in the city before the operation began. The city of roughly 400,000 people has a police force ofroughly 600 officers.

Homan, who is a former Obama staffer, said he is not removing all federal officers for safety reasons and that immigration enforcement will continue.

"If you're in this country illegally, you're not off the table," he said.

Immigration officers and agents have arrested 4,000 people since the operation began, the Department of Homeland Securitysaid last week. DHS did not provide a breakdown of how many of those had criminal charges. Federal authorities have arrested more than 200 people for impeding the work of law enforcement officers, Homan said Thursday.

Amid the crackdown, immigration authorities shot and killed two U.S. citizens — Renee Good, 37, a mother of young children, and Alex Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse at a local Veterans Affairs hospital — in separate confrontations.

"I don't want to see any more bloodshed," Homan said. "I pray every night for the safety or law enforcement personnel and the safety of those in the community, whether you're here legally or illegally I don't want to say anybody harmed."

Authorities had already announced a drawdown of the operation in the days following Pretti's killing. Customs and Border Protection's Greg Bovino was removed from his post as commander at large and returned to his former post in El Centro, California. Homan then arrived to take control of the operation.

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Homan acknowledged those setbacks Thursday.

"As I said in my first press conference a couple weeks ago, President Trump didn't send me here because operation were being run and conducted perfectly," he said. "I came here to identify issues and implement solutions to improve our mission execution."

Homanannounced last weekthat the administration would send 700 agents home. He said the drawdown is partly a result ofcoordination between Minnesota county jails and federal immigration officials,making it easier for immigration authorities to apprehend targets.

Federal authorities alsoarrested and criminally charged several protesters last month for holding a demonstration during achurch service led by a pastor who is allegedly also an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was also arrested for covering the event. Lemon's attorney said his client would plead not guilty to charges against him.

Homan insisted that ICE agents had not gone into churches or schools to make arrests. In the same breath, he emphasized that "those locations are not off the table."

He also said there would be "zero tolerance" for residents interfering with the work of immigration authorities.

"While the Trump administration supports everyone's first amendment right to freedom of speech and assembly and to petition, it has to be done lawfully and peacefully, because we will not tolerate unlawful actions committed by agitators, who are just causing havoc," he said. "This is not the way to express your disagreement or try to reform federal laws."

Instead, he said, those objecting to the administration's policies should write to their lawmakers.

Minneapolis Mayor Jaocb Frey, a Democrat,said in a series of posts on Xthat the operation "has been catastrophic for our neighbors and businesses."

"They thought they could break us, but a love for our neighbors and a resolve to endure can outlast an occupation,"he said. "These patriots of Minneapolis are showing that it's not just about resistance — standing with our neighbors is deeply American."

New polling from the NBC News Decision Desk showsthat support for the the Trump administration's immigration policies has taken a significant hit since the killings occurred last month.

Forty-nine percent of adults strongly disapprove of how Trump has handled border security and immigration, up from 38% strong disapprovallast summerand 34%in April,according to the new poll.

Trump's overall approval rating has also declined slightly to 39% in the aftermath of the crackdown.

The Gist

• Jennifer Aniston turned 57 years old on February 11, and her boyfriend of nearly a year, Jim Curtis, paid tribute to the occasion on Instagram.

• Curtis shared two new photos of the couple, including a PDA-packed black-and-white shot.

• Aniston and Curtis went Instagram official back in November when the actress celebrated Curtis's milestone 50th birthday.

Jennifer Anistonand her boyfriendJim Curtiswent Instagram official onhis50th birthday last November, so there was no question that Curtis would return the favor when Aniston rang in her 57th birthday on February 11.

View this post on Instagram

And that he did in the form ofa sweet Instagram tributeshared on Wednesday, writing, "HBD MY ❤️" alongside two new photos of them. In one, the two laugh on a boat, and in another—a black-and-white shot—the two share a romantic kiss.

Curtis spoke about his relationship with Aniston recently onToday, telling host Craig Melvin on January 26 that they had been together for about a year and had been introduced by friends. "We found out that we had mutual friends, and we started to just chat," Curtis said.

"It took a long time," he added. "We chatted for a long time, and we became close."

Jim Curtis/Instagram

A source toldPeoplerecently that Aniston "feels really good about where things are with Jim," adding, "Jen's always been fine on her own and comfortable being single, but her relationship with Jim is just different. She's very happy and comfortable."

Adding that Curtis is "so sweet and supportive" of Aniston, the insider said, "He makes her everyday life better."

Curtis, a source told the outlet, is "very laid-back, but also focused and driven" and is someone who "does things in a very calm way."

"He brings good energy, and this is something Jen loves," the insider said. "Jen can be very Type A and takes on a lot. He's very steady and grounded. He's not a stressed out, high-intensity guy, and that balance works well for her."

"There's no drama, no emotional games, or whiplash," the source continued. "In many ways, it's the most mature relationship she's ever been in."

Back in November, as Curtis celebrated his milestone 50th birthday, Aniston wrote in her own birthday tribute, "Happy birthday my love. Cherished❤️." Though Curtis pinpointed their relationship's beginnings as right around now one year ago, Aniston and Curtis first sparked rumors of a relationship over the summer, when they were spotted in Mallorca, Spain in July alongsideJason Bateman, his wife Amanda Anka, andAmy Schumer.

"She took her time getting to know him," a source toldPeople. "She already knew she liked so many things about him before it turned romantic. She was actually a bit hesitant, because she really appreciated him as a friend and wanted to keep him around. But life is short, and her friends encouraged her to date him."

"She feels so grateful to share her life with him," the insider said. "She's enjoying every moment. And at this stage, that's enough for her. She's happy with where things are. She isn't really making big plans for the future. She's not chasing anything. She's just incredibly happy, comfortable, and proud to be dating him. And they're truly adorable together."

Aniston herself called Curtis "extraordinary" in an interview withEllelast year, adding, "He's very special, very normal, and very kind, and wants to help people heal, move through their trauma and stagnation into clarity. It's a beautiful thing to commit your life to."

Read the original article onInStyle

Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Justin Baldoni appeared in court for a separate lawsuit against former publicist Stephanie Jones

• Blake Lively is not involved in that case

• Baldoni and Lively failed to reach a settlement in her sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar after a six-hour mediation session on Wednesday

Justin Baldoniis back in court — but not for the case involvingBlake Lively.

Baldoni, 42, appeared in New York federal court on Thursday alongside hiswife, Emily, for a court-mandatory settlement conference tied to his ongoing litigation against his former publicist, Stephanie Jones.

Lively, 38, is not a party to this lawsuit and did not attend the hearing.

Jones first sued Baldoni and his crisis communications team in December 2024,alleging breach of contract and other claims, marking the start of what has since grown into a wide-ranging legal dispute involving multiple parties.

Then, in March 2025, Baldoni and his publicist Jennifer Abel filed their own lawsuit against Jones, alleging she violated client confidentiality by sharing private communications.

According to the filing, those communications later became central evidence in a separate lawsuit brought by Lively.

Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty

Baldoni's latest court appearance comes a day afterhe and Lively failed to reach a settlement in their own ongoing legal battle.

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The former costars attended a mandated mediation session in federal court in connection with Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Araya Doheny/Variety via Getty

The conference lasted approximately six hours before Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave, but the parties did not reach a resolution, a source confirmed to PEOPLE.

Settlement conferences are a standard part of federal civil litigation and are designed to determine whether a case can be resolved without going to trial.

The judge presiding over the case, Lewis J. Liman, has not yet ruled onBaldoni's pending motion for summary judgment.

Baldoni's attorney,Bryan Freedman, confirmed that no deal had been reached. When asked whether he expects the case — Lively v. Wayfarer Studios et al. — to go to trial, he said, "I do. We're looking forward to it," according toVariety.

Lively and Baldoni's legal dispute began in December 2024,when Lively filed a suit against the actor-director, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. Baldoni has denied the allegations and later filed a $400 million countersuit, which has since been dismissed.Lively has alleged she lost $161 millionas a result of what she describes as a retaliatory smear campaign.

A trial is currently scheduled for May 18.

Read the original article onPeople

Nicole Curtis'more than 15-year run on HGTV came to an abrupt end on Feb. 11 after the"Rehab Addict" hostallegedly made an"offensive racial comment,"according to the network.

HGTV said in a statement toThe Detroit Free Press,part of the USA TODAY Network, that it has removed Curtis and her show from the network after it learned of "an offensive racial comment made during the filming of Rehab Addict."

"Not only is language like this hurtful and disappointing to our viewers, partners, and employees — it does not align with the values of HGTV," the statement said.

Here's what to know about Curtis and her removal from the network.

Nicole Curtis apologizes for 'offensive racial comment'

A video released by Radar Online on Feb. 11 showed Curtis using a racial epithet, reportedly while filming "Rehab Addict" two years ago. HGTV did not specify whether this was the incident in question.

Curtis issued an apology on herInstagram storyon Feb. 11, writing that she is "grateful for the 15-year journey" on HGTV.

"My focus, at this moment is rightfully on my relationships, and my community — the people who truly know my character and where my heart is. I want to be clear: the word in question is wrong and not part of my vocabulary and never has been, and l apologize to everyone," she wrote in part.

The 49-year-old rose to fame with her show,"Rehab Addict,"which first aired on the DIY Network in 2010 before moving to HGTV. The show focused on Curtisrenovating historic homesfrom the 19th and 20th centuries across Minnesota and Michigan.

More:Nicole Curtis' 'Rehab Addict' removed from HGTV after 'racial comment'

Who is Nicole Curtis? A look at former 'Rehab Addict' host's career

Curtis is known for her HGTV show "Rehab Addict," which first premiered in October 2010. Itsninth season was set to returnon Feb. 11 after a hiatus last year, but will not return after being removed from the network.

The first four seasons of the show were filmed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before moving to Detroit, Michigan. Over the course of each season, Curtis and her team tackled the renovation of several historic homes.

According to herwebsite, Curtis was "working on old houses long before the show came calling."

When the show first premiered, Curtis says on her website, she "was hustling, as a young mother, burning both ends of the candle. Juggling, real estate, design, home restoration and selling garbage finds on Craigslist."

Curtis toldThe Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2014 that before her home renovation career, she went to school in Georgia, Florida and Michigan and originally intended to study law before switching to education. Afterward, she started a cleaning business to help pay for college, she told the Republic.

Later, Curtis said she turned to renovating homes — which she earnestly calls "rehabbing" them — because she was poor.

"Nothing motivates you to learn how to do something like not having the money to pay to have it done. I've never bought anything turnkey and never will. I've never 'flipped' a house in my life. I really don't feel that I fit in that category. I rehab houses out of necessity," she told the Republic.

However, Curtis' decades of renovating homes have not been without woes.The Detroit Free Press reported in 2015that some of the homes renovated on Curtis' shows hit snags with city policies like home inspections and work permits.

Nicole Curtis family: Former HGTV host has two sons

Curtis has two sons, 28-year-old Ethan and 10-year-old Harper.

She gave birth toher son Ethanon Dec. 24, 1997, when she was 21. Her second son, Harper, was born in May 2015.

In 2015, Curtis and former partner Shane Maguire began a custody battle over their son Harper, per theFree Press.

A look at Elfreth's Alley, one of America's oldest streets

Last year,Curtis addressed the tumultin an interview with People,

"Our family went through a lot over the years, and so that's definitely something that I have done my best to keep my family out of the public eye and focus on the houses," she told People. "That's always where we wanted that focus to be."

She also told the outlet that she wasn't planning to show much of her family in the new episodes of "Rehab Addict," though her older son appeared on the show in its early days.

"I think there's one gift we can give our children, and I give them privacy. They're out in public with me a lot, and I shield them," she said. "But I won't do that again. My boys are my most precious, precious things in the entire world to me."

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached atmelina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Who is Nicole Curtis? Fired 'Rehab Addict' host had long HGTV run

Valentine's weekend will be a soaker across the South, with locally heavy rain and a few severe thunderstorms possible from Texas to Florida to the Carolinas and Virginia.

While this wet weekend forecast sounds like a bummer, there are several "saving graces:"

1. It won't rain the entire weekend in any one area of the South.

2. There's no bitter cold air in place, so this isn't another southern winter storm the likes of the recent ice storm ("Fern") nor the Carolinas clobbering ("Gianna").

3. This doesnotappear to be a significant severe weather outbreak, nor a major flash flood threat.

4. In fact, for much of the region, this rain is sorely needed. (More on that later.)

When Will It Rain?

The maps below show the timing of the rain through Sunday.

In general, rain moves into the Southern Plains Friday and Friday night, spreads into the Mississippi Valley Saturday, then into the Southeast Sunday, then should be off the East Coast by Monday.

(MORE MAPS:Daily US Rain, Snow Forecast)

Severe Threat

In general, we expect the severe weather threat with this system to be rather low and isolated.

- Friday night: A few severe storms in western Texas and southwest Oklahoma could produce large hail and strong wind gusts.

- Saturday - Saturday night: The area shown below has at least a chance of a few severe storms Saturday and Saturday night. Strong thunderstorm wind gusts and perhaps an isolated tornado are the main threats.

- Sunday - Sunday night: This isolated severe threat will sweep across the Deep South and northern Gulf Coast from southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia during the day, then across parts of the Florida Peninsula Sunday evening. Again, strong wind gusts and isolated tornadoes are possible.

(MORE:15 Severe Weather Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life)

Heavy Rain Threat

Parts of the South may be soaked by locally heavy rain this weekend.

The Ozarks into the Mid-South region, and from the Florida Panhandle to the Carolinas, could pick up 2 inches or more of rain, which could triggerlocalized flash flooding.

While this doesn't appear to be a widespread flash flood danger, keep this in mind if you're driving in these areas this weekend. Never try to drive through a flooded stretch of road. Turn around, instead.

(MORE:Flooding Is One Of Most Deadly Weather Phenomena)

'Goldilocks' Rain?

Given the relatively low threats of both severe weather and flash flooding, this might be a near-ideal case of drought relief.

As you can see in the map below, much of the South is currently in drought. Parts of Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas are in extreme drought as of mid-February.

Over the past few days, fires have burned in parts ofFlorida,western North Carolina,near Shawnee, Oklahoma, and theTexas Panhandle.

It's also been among thefive driest winters-to-datein over a dozen cities including Charlotte, Dallas, Little Rock, Raleigh and West Palm Beach, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him onBluesky,X (formerly Twitter)andFacebook.