Herel Hughes

A total hardliner. Whose father, mother, wife, and son we just killed.

As part of the two-day festival, participants in full protective gear stand in front of towers full of rockets that once lit, shoot out like a swarm of bees from a nest. The explosions are believed to help drive away bad luck and misfortune, and being struck means blessings for the year ahead.

Lunar New Year has come to an end in southern Taiwan with one of the world’s most dangerous festivals, the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival 鹽水蜂炮. 🐝 🧨

Each year, thousands of people travel to the small town of Yanshui 鹽水 in the hopes of being struck by exploding bottle rockets.

New U.S. Boat Strike Kills 3 in the Caribbean The attacks since early November had specifically targeted suspected drug smuggling boats in the Pacific Ocean.

A U.S. military strike killed three people and blew up a boat in the Caribbean Sea on Friday, the U.S. Southern Command said, raising the death toll in the Trump administration’s five-month-old campaign against suspected drug smugglers at sea to 133.

US military says it struck a vessel in Caribbean, killing three The U.S. military said in a social media post that it had struck a vessel in the Caribbean on Friday, killing three people, the latest such incident in recent months.

US military says it struck a vessel in Caribbean, killing three reut.rs/4auNge2

Japan seizes a Chinese fishing boat and arrests its skipper, an incident that could deepen a spat between the Asian giants

u.afp.com/S6JU

This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.

Finally sharing this story: www.herelhughes.com/writing/one-...

Live Updates: F.A.A. Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days

The total lack of explanation or comprehension from all sources contacted I this article is really unsettling - nobody has any idea why a major city was just suddenly grounded - with lethal force authorized against any aircraft that didn’t get the memo.

www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...

FAA Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days: Live Updates No flights are allowed to or from the airport until Feb. 20 under a flight restriction order that cited unspecified “special security reasons.”

The FAA on Tuesday halted all flights to and from El Paso Airport in Texas for 10 days for “special security reasons,” isolating a major U.S. metropolitan area from air travel. Follow live updates.

"A modern-day concentration camp ... People have been killed by the staff here." Irish citizen Seamus Culleton has been in ICE detention since September, despite having a valid work permit and his own business in the US.

China to support 'reunification forces' in Taiwan, go after 'separatists' China will offer firm support for "patriotic pro-reunification forces" in Taiwan and strike hard against "separatists", the top Chinese official in charge of policy towards the democratically-governed island said in comments published on Tuesday.

China to support 'reunification forces' in Taiwan, go after 'separatists' reut.rs/4aoBrWL

新年快樂 from Taipei’s traditional Dihua Street 🏮

This is literally what CURRENT LAW requires. It’s in the Constitution! www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

New flavors spotted

Lunar New Year preparations are underway at Longshan Temple 龍山寺 in Taipei. 🇹🇼

Ahead of the holiday, visitors bring offerings and pray for a prosperous year. For the zodiac signs facing an unlucky upcoming year 🐴 🐀 🐂 🐇 , they have to “A Tai Sui” 安太歲, or pacify this year’s guardian deity.

Taipei winter 🇹🇼

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Post says one-third of its staff across all departments, not just the newsroom, is being laid off.

Anyone a fan of takoyaki?

Agreed easily my favorite

It’s so good and the chips flavor did an amazing job replicating it

Need to try this one too

Vegemite flavor when

The cilantro one is lowkey the best one (unless you have the 🧼)

Paging Doritos

Agreed although I think the 皮蛋 could use more 皮蛋 flavor! Waiting for the 臭豆腐 🤞🏻

And cannot forget these other amazing flavors

Shout out to Taiwan’s unhinged Doritos flavors

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal immigration officers tried to enter Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis but were stopped, foreign minister says www.axios.com/2026/01/28/i...