Headlines: 23-28 February 2026

Saturday, 28 February 2026

Israel renews attacks on Tehran as Iran vows to avenge supreme leader's death — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

— The United Arab Emirates said it has detected 165 ballistic missiles launched in its direction by Iran since yesterday, of which 152 were destroyed, and 13 fell into the sea.

Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

$100 oil? Prolonged Hormuz closure could spark a 1970s-style energy shock — (LINK)

UN: Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East [as delivered] — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

— "About 20 cities across Iran — including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Shahriar, and Tabriz — have reportedly been attacked. According to Israeli sources, 89 people have been injured in Iran's subsequent strikes on Israel and there were also impacts in the occupied West Bank."

U.S. Ambassador to NATO denies Zelenskyy's claim of a war end deadline — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

Russia to accept US security guarantees for Ukraine, Presidential Office Chief Budanov Says — (LINK)

'Kennedy Center Honors' programme will be renamed 'Trump Kennedy Center Honors,' with program moving to a smaller venue 'where ticket demand will be even higher' — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

Body of notorious cartel boss and former police boss "El Mencho" returned to family by Mexican authorities — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

Berkshire Hathaway operating earnings fell nearly 30% in Warren Buffett's final quarter as CEO — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

Bitcoin plunges as US and Israel launch military strike on Iran: dropping straight to $63,000 and extending daily losses to nearly 7% — 28 February 2026 (LINK)

Friday, 27 February 2026

WHO recommends updating all 3 viral strains to be included in fall flu shots, including new variant that started to increase last fall — 27 February 2026 (LINK)

Dow closes more than 500 points lower after hot inflation report, mounting concerns about AI impact — 27 February 2026 (LINK)

OpenAI strikes deal with Pentagon after Trump orders government to stop using Anthropic — 27 February 2026 (LINK)

— Anthropic had sought stronger guarantees that the Pentagon would not use its AI systems for autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance. Hours after the Trump administration's order, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted on X Friday night that the company had struck a deal with the Department of Defense to deploy its models on the department's classified networks.

Argentina Senate approves contentious Milei-backed labour reforms that relax hiring rules, allow for longer working days and impose new limits on the right to strike — 27 February 2026 (LINK)

Wall St extends losses as tech, financial shares hit by Wall St extends losses as tech, financial shares hit by UK mortgage firm Market Financial Solutions collapse — 27 February 2026 (LINK)

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Pakistan and Afghanistan "at war" — 27 February 2026 (LINK)

— A cross-border attack by Afghan forces on Thursday was followed by Pakistani air strikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.

Ukraine war briefing: IMF approves $8.1bn loan for Kyiv — 26 February 2026 (LINK)

Russia orders ceasefire to avoid nuclear disaster at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, preventing reliance on limited diesel generators. — 26 February 2026 (LINK)

Father of U.S.-based activist sentenced in Hong Kong under national security law — 26 February 2026 (LINK)

— Hong Kong court used the city's national security law to jail a 69-year old man for eight months, in the first case against a family member of a pro-democracy activist wanted by authorities. Kwok Yin-sang, the father of exiled pro-democracy activist Anna Kwok, 29, was convicted in early February, found guilty of handling financial assets belonging to his daughter.

The Epstein files just claimed WEF boss Børge Brende who interviewed Trump at Davos — 26 February 2026 (LINK)

— The forum launched the independent review earlier this month when it emerged that Brende had attended three business dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019, as well as communicated with him via emails and text messages. At least one of the dinners took place at Epstein's home in New York, emails show, just weeks before the financier was arrested on federal charges of child sex trafficking. In a statement earlier this month, after the WEF launched its probe, Brende said he had been "completely unaware of Epstein's past and criminal activities" and would not have communicated or attended dinners with him had he known. "I recognize that I could have conducted a more thorough investigation into Epstein's history, and I regret not doing so," he added.

Burger King's Whopper has changed for the first time in years — 26 February 2026 (LINK)

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

Louvre museum director resigns in wake of 'heist of the century' — 25 February 2026 (LINK)

— Laurence Des Cars became the first female director of the Louvre Museum in its 230-year history, when she took on the role in September 2021.

Facing tough odds, Hungary's Orbán stakes his reelection on anti-Ukraine message — 25 February 2026 (LINK)

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

On invasion anniversary, UN says Ukraine cannot be divided — 24 February 2026 (LINK)

ISW: Russian offensive campaign assessment, February 24, 2026 — (LINK)

Council of Europe: In a decision published today, the Committee of Ministers — which brings together representatives of 46 European countries — reiterated that the Russian Federation bears full responsibility for its war of aggression against Ukraine, in violation of international law, and for all the destruction and loss of life it has caused. It reaffirmed the Council of Europe's central role in advancing a comprehensive accountability framework in this regard. — (LINK)

Europe promises to 'stand firm' with Kyiv. US warned Ukraine not to hit US interests in strikes on Russia, envoy says.
The World Bank has updated its cost estimate for Ukraine's reconstruction, raising it to $588bn as of the end of last year from $524bn in its previous report.
US special envoy Witkoff plans to meet Ukraine's top negotiator in Geneva
Dozens of delegates have walked out of Russian ambassador Gennady Gatilov's speech to the UN conference on disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. They gathered outside the room holding the Ukrainian flag, returning once the ambassador had finished speaking.
Ukraine must defend 'territorial integrity', 'right to exist', G7 says
Italy will keep sending military aid to Ukraine in 2026, official says — (LINK)

Why did US abstain from UN General Assembly vote? Tammy Bruce, the US deputy ambassador to the UN, says she welcomed the General Assembly resolution's appeal for a ceasefire. But she said the resolution included "language that is likely to distract" from diplomatic efforts to end the war rather than support them — without explaining what specific language was at issue. The US delegation had pressed for a separate vote on paragraphs involving Ukraine's territorial integrity and international law, but its push was rejected. — (LINK)

Trump jabs, taunts Democrats in marathon State of the Union speech: nearly one hour and 50 minutes — 24 February 2026 (LINK)

— As Trump stopped to take photos with lawmakers, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) held up a sign behind the president that read "BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES," a reference to a video Trump posted of former President Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama that was later deleted. When Trump spoke about immigration enforcement and the border, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) yelled out, "You have killed Americans." Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) yelled, "You're killing Americans."

• Trump used his speech Tuesday night to emphasize he wants to reach an agreement with Iran on its nuclear program while outlining his arguments for using military force if necessary. "My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy—but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world's number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon," he said. "Can't let that happen." The president issued a stark warning, accusing Iran of developing long-range missiles that can reach U.S. territory.
• A federal judge has rejected the Department of Justice's request to search the electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter after they were seized last month as part of a leak investigation. Federal agents had taken a phone, two laptops, a recorder, a hard drive and a watch in the unprecedented search.
• A federal judge has rejected the Department of Justice's request to search the electronic devices of a Washington Post reporter after they were seized last month as part of a leak investigation. Federal agents had taken a phone, two laptops, a recorder, a hard drive and a watch in the unprecedented search.

The Hill Five takeaways from President Trump's State of the Union address — (LINK)

• Iran plans remain murky
• A confrontation on immigration
• He returned to a version of an attack he has made previously, contending that Democrats were, in fact, to blame for prices
• Supreme Court draws only a bit of ire
• Politically, both parties got what they wanted

At least 30 dead after 'massive landslide' wipes out hillside neighborhood of Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil as 39 people remain missing — 24 February 2026 (LINK)

North Korea's Kim Jong Un re-elected as chief of Workers' Party on 22 February — 24 February 2026 (LINK)

Kim Jon-Un's sister promoted in rare North Korea party congress — (LINK)

— She was educated in Switzerland alongside her brother and rose rapidly up the ranks once he inherited power after their father's death in 2011.

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