Tet 2026

Friday, March 6th, 2026 

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani dissolves the Kuvendi, attempting to set new parliamentary elections within 45 days. Vetëvendosje maintains that the constitution allows parliament 60 more days to try to elect a president, seeking to challenge Osmani’s decree to dissolve the Kuvendi at the Constitutional Court.  (Balkan Insight) 

Astronomers announce the discovery of TIC 120362137, the tightest known quadruple star system, using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(Space.com) 

U.S. president Donald Trump dismisses Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security and nominates Oklahoma senator Markwayne Mullin to replace her. (The Independent) 

The United States and Venezuela agree to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations. (AFP via RFI) 

Anonymous state intelligence sources tell The New York Times that the Iranian intelligence ministry have signalled to the United States Central Intelligence Agency an openness to talks on ‌bringing an end to the war. (Reuters) 

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says that Iran is not seeking a ceasefire or negotiations with the United States. (CNBC) 

U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth announces that the U.S. Air Force will have uncontested air supremacy of Iranian airspace within days, and that Iran’s military capabilities are “evaporating by the hour” due to constant U.S. and Israeli strikes. (The Guardian) 

United States president Donald Trump says U.S. Air Force jets will provide “extensive air cover” for Kurdish forces in any ground offensive against the Iranian government. (The Telegraph) 

It is reported that China is in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters) 

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports that an explosion struck a tanker anchored in waters about 60 kilometers off the coast of Kuwait, causing an oil spill from a damaged cargo tank. (AFP via The New Zealand Herald) 

The Lebanese cabinet bans activities by members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps within Lebanon and instructs authorities to detain and deport individuals linked to the group. The cabinet also introduces a visa requirement for Iranian nationals entering the country. (AFP via Al-Ahram) 

The Bahraini military reports that 74 Iranian missiles and 117 hostile drones have been intercepted and destroyed. A missile hit an oil refinery, causing a fire.  (Al Jazeera) 

Iraqi forces shoot down a drone that attempted to attack the United States’ airbase near Baghdad. (Al Jazeera) 

Suspected Iranian drones strike Nakhchivan International Airport in Azerbaijan, targeting the passenger terminal. At least two people are injured. (Euronews) 

Spain announces that the frigate Cristóbal Colón will join French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and Greek Navy ships to protect the British military bases in Cyprus. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

Italy announces that it will dispatch naval assets to Cyprus. The Dutch navy is also joining the European naval task force. (Euronews) 

Australia and New Zealand deploy military assets, including two RNZAF aircraft, and crisis response teams to the Middle East to assist and evacuate their respective nationals. (AFP via Al Arabiya) 

The Qatari military says that the country was targeted today by 14 ballistic missiles and four drones coming from Iran; all of them were intercepted and no casualties were reported. (Al Jazeera) 

Qatari authorities evacuate residents near the United States embassy in Doha as a precautionary measure. (AFP via Gulf News) 

The Israeli military issues an evacuation order for Dahieh, Beirut, Lebanon, a densely populated suburb which is also a stronghold of Hezbollah, telling residents to “save your lives and evacuate your homes immediately”. Thousands of people flee following the warning.  (The Los Angeles Times) 

Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war, with 200 soldiers returned to each side. (Meduza) 

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko pardons 18 political prisoners, including 15 for political charges and three who were convicted of unspecified crimes. (Reuters) 

The Ukrainian Navy shoots down a Russian Naval Aviation Kamov Ka-27 helicopter over the Black Sea. (RBC-Ukraine) 

Ecuador declares Cuba’s ambassador to the country a persona non grata and orders him and all his diplomatic staff to leave the country within 48 hours. Shortly after the announcement, a man was filmed by the Associated Press on the roof of the Cuban embassy in Quito burning a bag of papers. (AP) 

South Korean president Lee Jae Myung orders the activation of a ₩100 trillion (about US$68 billion) stabilization fund to address volatility in the country’s financial markets linked to the Iran war. (AFP via The Economic Times) 

At least six people are killed, eight others are rescued, and six are trapped when a nursing home collapses in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. (Xinhua) 

Two people are killed and four others are injured when a Beechcraft 1900 of the Algerian Air Force crashes at Boufarik Airport near Boufarik, Blida Province, Algeria. (ASN) 

Around 24 U.S. states file a lawsuit against the Trump administration after president Trump imposed a 10% global tariff, the first lawsuit challenging those tariffs. (Reuters) 

Nepalis vote to elect 275 seats of the House of Representatives nearly six months after the Gen Z protests(AP) 

In Kosovo, the 120 members of the Kuvendi fail to elect the president. The Kuvendi is expected to dissolve, with parliamentary elections scheduled to be set within 45 days. (DTT-NET) (RKS) 

The End

new above Friday

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte states that NATO has no plans to be involved in the conflict, while praising Israel and the United States for their strikes against Iran. (Reuters) 

The Iranian frigate IRIS Dena is torpedoed and sunk by a U.S. Navy submarine in waters off Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 of the 180 people on board, while 32 others are rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy with 61 remaining missing. (Reuters) 

An American submarine has attacked the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in waters off Sri Lanka, causing a sinking. Of the 180 people on board, only 32 are rescued alive. Bodies have been found. (Reuters) 

An Iranian ballistic missile strikes the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest U.S. military base in the region. (The Wall Street Journal) 

An Israeli F-35 shoots down an Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran with an air-to-air missile(The Times of Israel) 

Turkey and NATO forces shoot down an Iranian ballistic missile that was about to enter Turkish airspace(Türkiye Today) 

Israeli strikes on a hotel and residential areas in the towns of Aramoun and Saadiyat, in the south of Beirut, kill eleven people and injure four others. (Al Jazeera) 

Three people are killed and six more injured during two Israeli strikes on the road to the airport in Beirut. (Al Jazeera) 

An encounter between gunmen and state authorities left five cartel members killed. Goverment sources confirmed that the incident took place in the municipality of Rayones, Nuevo León, after a group of policemen were attacked in the vicinity of the locality. (Milenio Noticias) 

A multitask operative against Iván Mordisco´s dissidents took place in the localty of Puerto Valencia, El RetornoGuaviare Department left two minors rescued, two militants arrested, two more surrendered, 25 assault rifles, 5 M60 machine guns, undetermined amount of explosives, and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered. (Agencia API) 

A major blackout across much of western Cuba, including Havana, leaves millions without power, following a fault at the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas. Officials estimate it will last at least 72 hours. (AP) 

Air France announces the suspension of flights between France and Cuba, starting from March 29 until at least June 15 due to a jet fuel shortage in Cuba. (AFP via Jamaica Observer) 

Several of the United Arab Emirates stock exchanges will resume, including Nasdaq DubaiDubai Financial Market, and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, after being put on pause for two days due to the Iranian strikes(Reuters) 

At least six people are killed and 15 others are injured when a passenger bus and a semi-trailer truck collide in TamacineTouggourt Province, Algeria. (Xinhua) 

A nationwide blackout occurs in Iraq with the Ministry of Electricity saying the power grid has gone down entirely, and that the cause is under investigation. (Philenews) 

4 people are injured after an explosion at the Savita Naturals plant in Logan Township, New Jersey. (CBS Philadelphia

The Supreme Court of Brazil orders the arrest of former Banco Master president and major shareholder Daniel Vorcaro in a fraud investigation of potentially up to 12 billion reals in missing funds. (AP) 

The Central Criminal Court in London, United Kingdom, charge two British Chinese nationals of violating the National Security Act for spying on diasporic Hong Kongers on behalf of the China-appointed Hong Kong government. (AP) 

Taiwanese prosecutors indict 62 people, including Chen Zhi, for their alleged links to the Prince Group, a multinational criminal network that operates scam centers in Cambodia. They also charge 13 companies with offences related to the criminal organization and money laundering. (DW) 

The Tokyo High Court in Japan orders the dissolution of the Unification Church(BBC News) (Japan Times) 

Slovak prime minister Robert Fico announces that his government will repeal a law abolishing the country’s whistleblower protection office after the Constitutional Court suspended the measure and the European Commission opened infringement proceedings against Slovakia. (AFP via Indo Premier) 

The United States Senate rejects a War Powers Resolution that would check president Donald Trump’s power in the Iran war, making it the first vote on the conflict in U.S. Congress. (AP)(Reuters) 

Several of the United Arab Emirates stock exchanges will resume, including Nasdaq DubaiDubai Financial Market, and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, after being put on pause for two days. (Reuters) 

The KAIROS rocket developed by private spaceflight company Space One suffers its third launch failure from Spaceport Kii in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, while carrying a small government test satellite. The flight was terminated two minutes after launch.  (Space.com) 

The End Thursday 

Yashica FX-3 Yashica 50mm f/2 (cheap, light, small and not a good lens) – Portra 800

Qatar announces it has arrested 10 people from two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cells for espionage and sabotage. (Gulf Times) 

Airstrikes hit the Assembly of Experts building in Qom, Iran. The building appears to have been severely damaged in the attack. (Al Arabiya) 

Following a series of drone and rocket attacks by Hezbollah, the Israeli military launch a ground offensive into Lebanon, capturing several positions along the Israel—Lebanon border. (7 Israel) (Turkiye Today) 

The United Kingdom announces that it will stop issuing student visas to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan and suspend work visas for Afghan nationals, citing a rise in asylum applications from individuals entering through legal visa processes. (AFP via CNA) 

Jordan reopens their airspace to civilian aviation traffic, including for transits, arrivals, and departures, after a closure that has been in effect since Monday evening. (Ammon News) 

The Taliban confirms 28 Afghan troops have been killed in recent clashes with Pakistani forces along their border. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reports at least 42 civilians have been killed. (Hasht-e-Subh Daily) 

The U.S. Southern Command announces that the U.S. military has joined the Ecuadorian Armed Forces against narcoterrorists and drug cartels in the country. (Politico) 

Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Metagaz catches fire in the Mediterranean Sea after being struck by a Ukrainian naval drone. (Kyiv Independent) 

The End Wednesday 

new above Wednesday

The Taliban confirms 28 Afghan troops have been killed in recent clashes with Pakistani forces along their border. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reports at least 42 civilians have been killed. (Hasht-e-Subh Daily) 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discloses that the initial U.S. attack on Iran was due to an Israeli intention to attack Iranian leadership, which would have jeopardized U.S. forces in the region. (DW) 

The Israeli Air Force strikes the presidential administration and Supreme National Security Council buildings in Tehran, Iran, with “multiple munitions”. (BBC News) 

Explosions and fires are reported at the United States embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a series of Iranian drone strikes. (YnetNews) 

A large fire is reported at an oil terminal in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, following an Iranian Shahed drone attack. (Sky News) 

An Iranian drone strike damages Al Minhad Air Base, the headquarters of the Australian military’s Joint Task Force 633. Australian defence minister Richard Marles confirms that there were no casualties in the strike. (Reuters) 

France deploys Rafale fighter jets to the UAE in response to Iranian attacks, according to French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot(France 24) 

British prime minister Keir Starmer says he has approved the deployment of Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon to Cyprus to protect Akrotiri and Dhekelia from further Iranian attacks. (Cyprus Mail) 

The Iranian Red Crescent Society says the death toll from Israeli and American airstrikes in Iran has risen to 787 with thousands more wounded. (AP) 

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirms the entrances to the underground Natanz Nuclear Facility in Iran have been bombed. However, there are no signs of any increase in radiation at the facility. (Reuters) 

Airstrikes hit the Assembly of Experts in Qom, Iran, as a meeting was being held to elect a new supreme leader. The building appears to have been severely damaged in the attack. (Al Arabiya) 

Two people are killed and three others are critically injured after a helicopter crashes in PilillaRizal, Philippines. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

Trinidad and Tobago declares a new state of emergency in response to a wave of violent crime in the country. (AP) 

A total lunar eclipse occurs in eastern Asia, Oceania, Pacific, and the Americas. (EclipseWise) 

Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam bans Hezbollah’s military activities following an attack on Israel. (Al Jazeera) 

As a response to Israel’s attacks against Iran and Israel’s occupation of parts of Lebanon, Hezbollah fired two projectiles targeting an Israeli military base near Haifa. Israel then responded with attacks in Beirut and across many villages in Lebanon. At least 52 people are killed and 149 more are injured. (Al Jazeera) 

Dubai International Airport resumes limited flights for stranded passengers, with the first flights cleared to depart Dubai. (CNBC) 

Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides confirms that an Iranian drone struck the British base RAF Akrotiri last night. Paphos International Airport is evacuated after a “drone threat”, while Greece deploys two frigates and F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus amid rising tensions.  (Reuters) 

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reports three more U.S. soldiers have been killed, bringing the death toll among U.S. forces to six, since the start of the conflict with Iran.  (CBS News) 

Iran launches a missile and drone attack on the Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, causing several large fires at the facility, and forcing its closure by Saudi authorities. (The Caspian Post) 

Three U.S. Air Force F-15E fighter jets crash in Kuwait during combat operations against Iran after being mistakenly shot down by the Kuwaiti military. All crew members survive. The U.S. CENTCOM confirms the loss of the three aircraft in a friendly fire incident.  (CNN) 

Two Kuwaiti navy members are killed amid Iranian attacks, according to the Kuwaiti defence ministry. (The Times of Israel) 

U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer strategic bombers carry out strikes targeting above-ground ballistic missile launch sites and command and control centres in Iran. (Devdiscourse) 

Iranian drones strike the U.S. embassy in Kuwait City. (AFP via NDTV) 

The Qatari air force says it shot down two Iranian Su-24 jets over the Persian Gulf. (AP) 

The U.S. military says it has struck IRGC Navy drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri(The Times of Israel) 

Ukrainian drones strike an oil terminal in the Russian port city of Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai. Four residential buildings in the area are reportedly damaged in the attack. (Kyiv Independent) 

The Taliban says the Afghan military has successfully repelled Pakistani warplanes with surface-to-air missiles that were attacking Bagram Airfield as explosions are reported in several cities, including Kabul. (The Guardian) 

Iranian semi-official news agency Mehr News Agency reports that the former royal residence and UNESCO World Heritage Site Golestan Palace is damaged by an airstrike. (WANA) 

Qatari-state owned QatarEnergy halts all LNG production at its Ras Laffan Industrial City following an Iranian drone attack. (Bloomberg News) 

A floor collapses in an under-construction building in Johannesburg, South Africa, killing nine people. (AP) 

Two people are killed and at least 19 others are injured when a tourist bus carrying Sunwing Vacations Group guests from Canada crashes near Punta CanaLa Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic. (CTV News) 

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi agree to a deal that would strengthen their economic partnership, aimed at boosting ties after two years of strained relationship between the two countries. (AP) 

French president Emmanuel Macron announces that France will increase its stockpile of nuclear weapons for the first time in decades citing global threats such as Russia’s war on Ukraine, China’s growing military power in Asia, and changing U.S. defense priorities as reasons for the nuclear build-up. (Politico) 

Denmark and France make an agreement on strategic nuclear deterrence. However, French nuclear weapons are not to be located on Danish territory. (Reuters) 

The U.S. Department of State imposes sanctions on the Rwandan military for allegedly supporting the March 23 Movement and violating a peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AFP via Barron’s) 

U.S. military aircraft begin to leave Spain after the Spanish government denied the U.S. permission to use their airbases for military operations against Iran. (Reuters) 

An ambulance operator is arrested in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, after being accused of intentionally murdering five elderly patients between February and November 2025. (Forlì Today) 

Lithuanian broadcaster Lithuanian National Radio and Television says it will not air the opening ceremony of the upcoming Winter Paralympics, citing the participation of athletes from Belarus and Russia(LRT) 

Saturday, March72026 

xxhttps://youtu.be/lC-mZ8PyDIk?si=BF76QIWF_NuBCmic__DeepFocusTheBride 

xxhttps://youtu.be/40spT_iFdzU?si=JxWA9_jomJHvK9Xn___CamCon_iPhone18 

03.01.2026 sunday

[i orig wrk]

A Greek court sentences four individuals, including Intellexa‘s Israel-based founder Tal Dilian, to eight years in prison for breaching data and violating privacy laws after they deployed the Predator spyware, targeting the mobile phones of more than 90 politicians, journalists, businesspeople, and military officials in 2022. (AFP via Times of Israel) 

A Tunisian court sentences former prime minister Ali Laarayedh, who has been detained since 2022, to 24 years in prison for facilitating the travel of Tunisian nationals to Syrian conflict zones during his premiership, while seven co-defendants, including former interior ministry officials, receive prison terms ranging from three to 24 years. (Reuters) 

A court in Jakarta, Indonesia, sentences nine individuals, including two former chief executives of subsidiaries of state-owned energy company Pertamina, to prison terms ranging from nine to 15 years in a corruption case involving alleged unlawful oil terminal leasing and crude oil imports that prosecutors say caused significant state losses. (Reuters) 

Clashes break out on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Pakistan launching airstrikes on several locations in Afghanistan, including the capital of Kabul, targeting Taliban government forces directly, in what Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif describes as “open war”. (Al Jazeera) 

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen calls a snap election for March 24 amid the Greenland crisis(AP via NBC News) 

Israeli air and drone strikes kill at least five people and injure several others in central and southern Gaza, despite an ongoing United States-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas. (AFP via The Hindu) 

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia accuses France and the United Kingdom of preparing to supply Ukraine with a nuclear weapon, prompting the Russian foreign ministry to warn that such a move would lead to a direct conflict between NATO states and Russia.  (Reuters) 

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán announces that Hungary has ended all support for Ukraine, including through European Union framework, until Ukraine resumes oil transfers via the Druzhba pipeline(AA) 

American technology company Meta agrees to purchase millions of artificial intelligence chips from AMD, with AMD committing to supply up to six gigawatts of graphics processing units and issuing Meta warrants convertible into 160 million shares as part of a long-term partnership. (AFP via The Peninsula Qatar) 

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama dismisses deputy prime minister and infrastructure minister Belinda Balluku after anti-corruption prosecutors indicted her on suspicion of interfering in the award of two public construction contracts worth more than €200 million. (Reuters) 

The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fines American social media network Reddit £14.5m for “using the data of children under the age of 13 unlawfully”, and potentially exposing them to “inappropriate and harmful content”, including pornography. (The Guardian) 

Bolivia resumes operational cooperation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat drug trafficking and organized crime after a 17-year suspension. Bolivia says the renewed collaboration will include efforts to address money laundering linked to the illicit drug trade. (Reuters) 

The Cuban coast guard trades fire with an American marked speedboat registered in Florida 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) off of Cuba. According to Cuban government sources, the boat’s occupants fired on coast guard personnel that approached it for identification, and injured a coast guard commander in the shootout, with returning fire killing four and injuring six unidentified gunmen. (CBS News) 

The United States announces that it will ease certain restrictions to permit Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba’s private sector for commercial and humanitarian purposes amid an energy shortage. (Reuters) 

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil sentences former Rio de Janeiro legislators Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão to 76 years and three months in prison each for ordering the 2018 killing of city councilor Marielle Franco and her driver, convicting them of double aggravated homicide, participation in an armed criminal organization, and attempted murder. (AFP via France 24) 

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index surpasses 6,000 points for the first time, crossing the threshold shortly after the opening of trading. (AFP via BSS) 

Afghanistan announces attacks against Pakistani military positions along their shared border in response to Pakistani air strikes launched in the week prior. Pakistan, in turn, says its forces have responded. (Al Jazeera) 

Humanzee

roll #6278 [i cmp]

[i cmp]

Israeli air and drone strikes kill at least five people and injure several others in central and southern Gaza, despite an ongoing United States-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas. (AFP via The Hindu) 

A court in Jakarta, Indonesia, sentences nine individuals, including two former chief executives of subsidiaries of state-owned energy company Pertamina, to prison terms ranging from nine to 15 years in a corruption case involving alleged unlawful oil terminal leasing and crude oil imports that prosecutors say caused significant state losses. (Reuters) 

A Tunisian court sentences former prime minister Ali Laarayedh, who has been detained since 2022, to 24 years in prison for facilitating the travel of Tunisian nationals to Syrian conflict zones during his premiership, while seven co-defendants, including former interior ministry officials, receive prison terms ranging from three to 24 years. (Reuters) 

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen calls a snap election for March 24 amid the Greenland crisis(AP via NBC News) 

A Greek court sentences four individuals, including Intellexa‘s Israel-based founder Tal Dilian, to eight years in prison for breaching data and violating privacy laws after they deployed the Predator spyware, targeting the mobile phones of more than 90 politicians, journalists, businesspeople, and military officials in 2022. (AFP via Times of Israel) 

Clashes break out on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Pakistan launching airstrikes on several locations in Afghanistan, including the capital of Kabul, targeting Taliban government forces directly, in what Pakistani defense minister Khawaja Asif describes as “open war”. (Al Jazeera) 

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia accuses France and the United Kingdom of preparing to supply Ukraine with a nuclear weapon, prompting the Russian foreign ministry to warn that such a move would lead to a direct conflict between NATO states and Russia.  (Reuters) 

American technology company Meta agrees to purchase millions of artificial intelligence chips from AMD, with AMD committing to supply up to six gigawatts of graphics processing units and issuing Meta warrants convertible into 160 million shares as part of a long-term partnership. (AFP via The Peninsula Qatar) 

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama dismisses deputy prime minister and infrastructure minister Belinda Balluku after anti-corruption prosecutors indicted her on suspicion of interfering in the award of two public construction contracts worth more than €200 million. (Reuters) 

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil sentences former Rio de Janeiro legislators Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão to 76 years and three months in prison each for ordering the 2018 killing of city councilor Marielle Franco and her driver, convicting them of double aggravated homicide, participation in an armed criminal organization, and attempted murder. (AFP via France 24) 

The Cuban coast guard trades fire with an American marked speedboat registered in Florida 1 nautical mile (1.9 km; 1.2 mi) off of Cuba. According to Cuban government sources, the boat’s occupants fired on coast guard personnel that approached it for identification, and injured a coast guard commander in the shootout, with returning fire killing four and injuring six unidentified gunmen. (CBS News) 

The United States announces that it will ease certain restrictions to permit Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba’s private sector for commercial and humanitarian purposes amid an energy shortage. (Reuters) 

The United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) fines American social media network Reddit £14.5m for “using the data of children under the age of 13 unlawfully”, and potentially exposing them to “inappropriate and harmful content”, including pornography. (The Guardian) 

Afghanistan announces attacks against Pakistani military positions along their shared border in response to Pakistani air strikes launched in the week prior. Pakistan, in turn, says its forces have responded. (Al Jazeera) 

Hernando de Soto is announced as the new prime minister of Peru(Gestión in Spanish) 

Denisse Miralles is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Peru, succeeding Ernesto Álvarez Miranda(Andina) 

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán announces that Hungary has ended all support for Ukraine, including through European Union framework, until Ukraine resumes oil transfers via the Druzhba pipeline(AA) 

South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index surpasses 6,000 points for the first time, crossing the threshold shortly after the opening of trading. (AFP via BSS) 

A Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashes in western Turkey, killing the pilot. (NOS) 

The United States announces that it will ease certain restrictions to permit Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba’s private sector for commercial and humanitarian purposes amid an energy shortage. (Reuters) 

Israel’s Knesset speaker Amir Ohana awards Indian prime minister Narendra Modi the newly established Medal of the Knesset to honor him for his “significant contributions to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.” (Times of Israel) 

Bolivia resumes operational cooperation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat drug trafficking and organized crime after a 17-year suspension. Bolivia says the renewed collaboration will include efforts to address money laundering linked to the illicit drug trade. (Reuters) 

Two people are killed, including the suspect, and two others are injured in a suicide bombing targeting a police car near the Savyolovsky railway station in Moscow, Russia.  (Xinhua) 

Four people are killed and another is critically injured from carbon monoxide poisoning at an apartment building in Kursk Oblast, Russia. (Xinhua) 

Four people are killed and several others are injured when an Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation Bell AH-1 SuperCobra helicopter crashes into a fruit market in Dorcheh, Isfahan province, Iran. (Reuters) 

Myanmar Air Force airstrikes on suspected rebel targets kill at least 17 in Rakhine state. (al Jazeera) 

Three Saraya al-Jawad gunmen and a soldier are killed in a shootout in Latakia, Syria(Al Jazeera) 

Five police officers are killed by the Pakistani Taliban during two ambushes in Kohat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (AP) 

Four police officers are killed and three civilians injured in a suicide bombing at a checkpoint in Bhakkar DistrictPunjab, Pakistan. (Xinhua) 

Thirty people are killed, 39 others are reported missing and at least 440 are displaced from their homes after heavy rain triggers flash flooding in Juiz de ForaMinas Gerais, Brazil.  (Reuters) 

Fourteen people are killled and at least 440 others are displaced from their homes after heavy rain triggers flash flooding in Juiz de ForaMinas Gerais, Brazil. (Reuters) 

The death toll from an explosion and fire at a six-story residential building in Chattogram, Bangladesh, rises to three. (News.Az) 

Sierra Leone says that Guinea has detained several of its army and police personnel and seized their ammunition during construction work on border facilities in Sulima Chiefdom, Falaba District. (Reuters) 

The death toll among Mexican National Guard troops in Jalisco rises to at least 25 with dozens more wounded amid clashes with Jalisco New Generation Cartel gunmen. (BBC News) 

Hugo César Macías Ureña, alias “El Tuli”, a right-hand man of El Mencho, who coordinated attacks after his death, is confirmed killed in a shootout with authorities. (The Guardian) 

In the United States, a major nor’easter snowstorm hits the East Coast, causing blizzard conditions and major transportation disruptions. (CNN) 

France restricts United States ambassador Charles Kushner‘s direct access to government ministers after he skipped a meeting requested by foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot to address comments concerning the killing of Quentin Deranque(Reuters) 

Three people are killed in an airstrike by the United States Southern Command on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean Sea(Al Jazeera) 

British politician Peter Mandelson is arrested on charges of misconduct in public office related to his links to convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. (BBC News) 

Canadian-American author and former researcher Peter Attia resigns from CBS News following backlash after lewd messages between him and Jeffery Epstein were released. (CNN) 

Rob Jetten is sworn in as the new prime minister of the Netherlands, becoming the country’s youngest and its first openly gay prime minister.  (BBC News) 

Slovak prime minister Robert Fico announces the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine amid the Russo-Ukrainian war unless oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline resumes, following a disruption that Slovakia attributes to Ukraine. (Al Jazeera) 

Nigerian Army troops kill five suspected Lakurawa insurgents near Mayama Hill, Kebbi State, Nigeria, and recover a cache of weapons. (Channels TV) 

Russian forces launch a wave of missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, killing four people, including two civilians in Odesa. (Al Jazeera) 

Three security personnel are killed and two others are injured in a quadcopter strike on a paramilitary fort in Karak District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (Xinhua) 

Three security personnel are killed and six others are injured, including some seriously, in an ambush on ambulances by unidentified gunmen in Karak DistrictKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. (AA) 

Chad closes its border with Sudan after five Chadian soldiers and three civilians are killed, and 12 others are injured, in clashes between the Rapid Support Forces and militia groups affiliated with the Sudanese government. (Reuters) 

At least 28 people are killed and 39 others are injured in an attack by the Rapid Support Forces in Misteriha, North Darfur, Sudan. (AP) 

In Ecuador, seven people are killed in a mass shooting in a rural area in Jama, while two people are killed at the seaside resort of San Vincente. (Xinhua) 

Four security personnel and an Islamic State gunman are killed in a shootout at a checkpoint in Raqqa, Syria. (AFP via Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Panama’s canal authority assumes control of the Balboa and Cristóbal ports on the Panama Canal after the Supreme Court of Panama annulled the concessions held by Hong Kong–based CK Hutchison, with an 18-month transition period and a new international tender process planned. (AFP via France 24) 

Seven people are killed when an air ambulance Beechcraft King Air crashes in Chatra district, Jharkhand, India. (Hindustan Times) 

A nationwide power outage occurs in the Dominican Republic, which the Ministry of Energy and Mines attributes to a transmission line switch malfunction that triggered system protection mechanisms. Power generation begins to recover later in the day, reaching about 30 percent of normal capacity. (Reuters) 

A bus plunges off a mountainous section of the Prithvi Highway near Benighat, Nepal, killing 19 people and injuring 25 others. (BBC News) (AP) 

Mil Mi-17 helicopter of the Peruvian Air Force that went missing the previous day is found crashed near Chala, Peru. All 15 people on board are confirmed dead. (AFP via Gulf News) 

Five people are killed and 45 others are injured when a double-decker bus overturns on the Purvanchal Expressway in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. (NDTV) 

A body of one of the three people that were reported missing after a garbage mound collapsed at a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines, three days ago, is recovered. The claims of up to 50 people missing are dismissed. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

Brazil announces that it will revoke a decree expanding the waterways in the Amazon rainforest under a federal privatization program following protests by Indigenous groups(Reuters) 

Seven police officers are injured, including two seriously, in a seperate bombing targeting police vehicles at a filling station in Mykolaiv, Mykolaiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Reuters) 

An armed man is killed after entering the Mar-a-Lago estate owned by US President Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. (BBC) 

A suspect is injured in a shootout with a United States Border Patrol agent near the Canada–United States border in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation says they are investigating. (CTV News) 

The Financial Times reports that Iran had signed a confidential 500 million (US$589 million) arms agreement with Russia in December 2025 to buy 500 9K333 Verba man-portable air-defense systems and 2,500 associated missiles, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029 under a contract negotiated between Iran’s defence ministry and the Rosoboronexport(Reuters) 

North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong Un, is re-elected as the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the most powerful position in the one-party state. (AFP via France 24) 

Secret Service and police officials kill an armed 21-year-old man who entered Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s estate in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. (BBC News) 

Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and six other gunmen are killed during a security operation carried out by the Mexican Armed Forces near Tapalpa, Jalisco. In response, CJNG members launched coordinated retaliatory attacks, including road blockades involving burning vehicles and improvised checkpoints across multiple states. (N+) (AP) 

The Winter Olympics conclude with Norway as the highest-ranked team in the medal table. The Olympic flag is handed over to the organizers of the 2030 Winter Olympics to be held in the French Alps(France 24) 

At least seven National Guard troops are killed in clashes with CJNG forces in Western Mexico. (AP) 

At the 2026 BAFTA Awards, the American film One Battle After Another wins the most awards with six, including Best FilmHamnet became the most-nominated film by a female director and Sinners became the most-nominated film by a Black director in BAFTA history. (The Hollywood Reporter) 

Search and rescue operations begin for three individuals who have been reported missing after a collapse of a landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal, Philippines, two days prior. There are other claims that up to 50 people are feared missing from the incident.  (Manila Bulletin) 

Laotians vote in a parliamentary election to elect the 175 members of the tenth National Assembly. The only legal party in Laos contesting the election is the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party(AFP via France 24) 

Russian forces capture the village of Karpivka in Donetsk OblastUkraine, as they attempt to advance towards Lyman(Devdiscourse) 

Ukrainian forces launch long-range FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles, striking the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant in Votkinsk, Udmurtia, Russia. Another missile strikes a natural-gas processing plant in Samara Oblast(The Telegraph) (DW) 

Pakistan conducts intelligence-based strikes on seven locations along the Durand Line in the Nangarhar and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan targeting alleged camps of the Pakistani Taliban and an affiliate of the Islamic State, resulting in dozens of fatalities and injuries. (NDTV) (AFP via The Straits Times) 

Two soldiers and five militants are killed in a shootout in BannuKhyber PakhtunkhwaPakistan(Reuters) 

The Islamic State claims responsibility for two attacks on security personnel in northern and eastern Syria, in which a soldier and a civilian were killed. (Reuters) 

A policewoman is killed and at least 15 others are injured, including some seriously, in two explosions at a shop in LvivLviv Oblast, Ukraine. The attacks are being treated as terrorism. (TRT World) 

At this year’s Berlin Film Festival, İlker Çatak‘s Yellow Letters wins the Golden Bear(AFP via The Philippine Star) 

United States president Donald Trump raises the global tariff on imports from 10% to 15% under emergency powers that permit the measure for up to 150 days after the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a 1977 law does not authorize the imposition of his earlier country-specific tariffs. The administration states that the new rate applies broadly, with exemptions for certain sectors and goods covered by existing trade agreements. (AFP via France 24) 

The state emergency service of Victoria, Australia, issues the highest-level emergency evacuation warning for areas surrounding the A1 Mine Settlement of Gaffneys Creek, as an uncontrolled bushfire burns the settlement. (Reuters) 

At least five bodies of refugees wash ashore near Tripoli, Libya. Residents also observe a child’s body carried back to sea by strong waves, prompting a coast guard search operation. (Reuters) 

Friday, February 20th, 2026 

At least 12 people are killed and 33 others are injured in multiple Israeli strikes targeting members of Hezbollah and Hamas across Lebanon. One Hezbollah leader has been reported deceased. (Al Jazeera) (IMEMC) (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

One person is killed and several buildings are damaged in Ukrainian drone strikes in Sevastopol, Crimea. (Reuters) 

Three people are killed in a strike by the United States Southern Command on an alleged drug trafficking vessel in an area of the eastern Pacific Ocean. (Al Jazeera) 

At least 50 people are killed and women and children are abducted in overnight attacks by gunmen on a village in Bukkuyum LGAZamfara State, Nigeria. (Reuters) (Xinhua) 

The Sagrada Família in BarcelonaSpain, reaches its designed height of 172.5 metres (566 feet) after beginning construction in 1882, ahead of the completion of the main building expected later in 2026. (The Guardian) 

Seven people are killed, including a pregnant woman, two children are injured and 3,000 are displaced in three landslides in the provinces of Davao Oriental and Davao de OroPhilippines(CTV News) (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

Seven Chinese tourists are killed after their van sinks into a frozen-over section of Lake Baikal on Olkhon IslandIrkutsk OblastRussia. One person managed to escape the vehicle and reach the surface. An investigation into criminal negligence and safety violations is opened. (The Moscow Times) (Reuters) 

Seven Chinese tourists are killed after their van sinks into a frozen over section of Lake Baikal on Olkhon IslandIrkutsk Oblast, Russia. One person managed to escape the vehicle and reach the surface. An investigation into criminal negligence and safety violations was opened. (The Moscow Times) (Reuters) 

Seven people are killed and two others are injured in a collision between a van and a truck in Valsad districtGujaratIndia(Hindustan Times) 

Seven people are killed, including a pregnant woman, two children are injured and 3,000 are displaced in three landslides in the Philippines. (CTV News) 

Five people are killed, another is injured and power outages are reported during a major snowstorm in Linz and TyrolAustria(AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

The French agriculture ministry authorizes the culling of around 200 wolves, raising the annual removal limit to 21% of the estimated population of over 1,000 animals, with a possible increase to 23%, citing rising livestock losses as wolf numbers expand into agricultural areas and regions near major cities(Reuters) 

The French agriculture ministry authorizes the culling of around 200 wolves, raising the annual removal limit to 21 percent of the estimated population of over 1,000 animals, with a possible increase to 23 percent, citing rising livestock losses as wolf numbers expand into agricultural areas and regions near major cities. (Reuters) 

Norway relocates some of its approximately 60 military personnel stationed in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East back to Norway and other regional locations, citing security concerns amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. (Reuters) 

The United States revokes the visas of three Chilean officials, including telecommunications minister Juan Carlos Muñoz, after Chile agreed to build a submarine cable with China(Bloomberg) 

Thai court sentences activist lawyer Arnon Nampa, who has been detained since 2023, to an additional two years and eight months in prison for violating the country’s lèse-majesté law over remarks made at a 2020 rally. (Reuters) 

A Thai court sentences activist lawyer Arnon Nampa, who has been detained since 2023, to an additional two years and eight months in prison for violating the country’s lèse-majesté law over remarks made at a 2020 rally. (Reuters) 

The United States Supreme Court rules in Learning Resources v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the President the power to impose trade tariffs(CNN) 

The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Learning Resources v. Trump case that the President of the United States does not have the power to unilaterally impose trade tariffs without congressional approval. (CNN) 

U.S. president Donald Trump signs executive orders aimed at implementing tariffs using Section 122 and Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974(Reuters) 

The Florida Legislature, in the United States, passes a measure to formally rename Palm Beach International Airport in Palm Beach County, Florida, as the “President Donald J. Trump International Airport”. (The Guardian)  

Norway breaks the record for most gold medals at a single Winter Olympics event after skier Johannes Dale-Skjevdal won the country’s 17th gold medal in MilanCortina, surpassing their own record of 16 gold medals. (The Independent) 

Norway break Winter Olympics gold medal record. (Independent)