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Foreign Affairs (News/Activism)

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  • Russia and Ukraine exchange more than 1,000 soldiers' bodies

    02/26/2026 8:28:41 AM PST · by McGruff · 6 replies
    BBC ^ | Feb 26, 2026 | Paulin Kola
    Russia says it has handed over the remains of 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine and has received the bodies of 35 Russian soldiers in return. Vladimir Medinsky, a top aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced the exchange of bodies in a short announcement on Telegram. He gave no details, but included an image showing bodies being unloaded from a truck. Hours later, Ukraine said it had received 1,000 bodies which, "according to prior information from the Russian side, may belong to Ukrainian defenders".
  • World Economic Forum head Børge Brende steps down following pressure over Epstein links

    02/26/2026 7:49:36 AM PST · by bitt · 21 replies
    https://www.bostonherald.com ^ | February 26, 2026 | Associated Press
    The former Norwegian foreign minister said he had decided “after careful consideration” to step down as president and chief executive of the forum. GENEVA (AP) — World Economic Forum head Børge Brende said Thursday that he is stepping down after facing pressure over his contacts with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, said in a statement that he had decided “after careful consideration” to step down as president and chief executive of the forum, known for its annual January summit in the Swiss Alpine resort of Davos. “I am grateful for the incredible collaboration...
  • Iran waged decades-long revolutionary terror war against U.S. in Middle East — and here at home

    02/26/2026 6:42:08 AM PST · by bitt · 11 replies
    https://justthenews.com/ ^ | February 25, 2026 | Jerry Dunleavy
    Iran killed hundreds of Americans across the Middle East, with its Hezbollah proxy being the most effective terrorist group against the U.S. prior to Al-Qaeda's terror attacks on 9/11. The revolutionary Iranian regime — which may possibly find itself in a war with the United States in the coming days — has positioned itself as an adversary of the U.S. ever since it came into power decades ago in 1979. President Donald Trump appears to be moving toward striking Iran, with the U.S. military moving significant military assets into the region, insisting he would prefer to strike a deal with...
  • Cuba’s Self-Induced Crisis May Be Its Worst Yet {23rd Feb 2026)

    02/26/2026 4:39:51 AM PST · by Cronos · 21 replies
    Cato insitute ^ | 23rd February 2026 | v
    Cuba’s economy is on the verge of collapsing. True, the standard of living has deteriorated under communism—most notably after the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the subsidies it provided to the regime, which meant that Cuba’s GDP shrank by half during the 1990s. But this time, the crisis may be worse. It is hard to collect trustworthy data on the country, as Communist authorities routinely hide or manipulate statistics to conceal the true extent of the country’s crisis from the rest of the world. The regime says the economy declined by 5 percent last year, with...
  • Americans Are Leaving The U.S. In Record Numbers

    02/26/2026 2:07:16 AM PST · by 4Runner · 81 replies
    The Wall Street Journal on MSN ^ | February 25, 2026 | Drew Hinshaw, Joe Parkinson
    Last year the U.S. experienced something that hasn’t definitively occurred since the Great Depression: More people moved out than moved in. The Trump administration has hailed the exodus—negative net migration—as the fulfillment of its promise to ramp up deportations and restrict new visas. Beneath the stormy optics of that immigration crackdown, however, lies a less-noticed reversal: America’s own citizens are leaving in record numbers, replanting themselves and their families in lands they find more affordable and safe.
  • Panama Canal Operations Continue Normally After Port Takeover Officials Say

    02/26/2026 12:03:56 AM PST · by nickcarraway · 4 replies
    Tico Times ^ | February 25, 2026
    The Panamanian government said Tuesday that trade has not been affected after it took control of two ports operated by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings at the Panama Canal. Authorities moved in Monday to take over the Balboa port on the Pacific side and the Cristóbal port on the Atlantic side, after a court annulled the contract that had allowed Hutchison to run the terminals under concession for nearly three decades. Under new 18-month agreements signed with the Panamanian government, Balboa will be operated by APM Terminals, a subsidiary of Denmark’s Maersk, while Cristóbal will be run by Terminal Investment...
  • The United States seized a tanker that had escaped the Caribbean blockade

    02/25/2026 10:19:46 PM PST · by nickcarraway
    The United States intercepted in the Indian Ocean a third tanker accused of violating the blockade against sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean, after it fled the region, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.“From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we pursued it and intercepted it,” the Pentagon said, accompanied by a video showing soldiers rappelling from a helicopter onto the deck of the tanker Bertha. “The vessel was operating despite the blockade established by President Trump against sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and was trying to escape,” it added, referring to the overnight operation. The Defense Department “will deprive illicit actors and...
  • Hungary's opposition Tisza party widens its lead ahead of Orban's Fidesz

    02/25/2026 9:07:37 PM PST · by MinorityRepublican · 12 replies
    Reuters ^ | February 25, 2026
    Hungary’s centre-right opposition Tisza party has widened its lead over Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz in February, a highly regarded poll showed on Wednesday, ahead of an April 12 election in which ​the veteran nationalist is seeking reelection. Orban, seeking to retain his 16-year grip on ‌power, is facing a strong challenger for the first time in a parliamentary vote, with the outcome having major implications not only for Hungary but for Europe and its far-right political forces. The poll showed Fidesz losing ground, while Tisza is gaining supporters, despite numerous voter-pleasing measures announced by the government ‌after ​three years...
  • US Air Force stealth fighters land in Israel, official says

    02/25/2026 3:12:38 PM PST · by Mariner · 45 replies
    ABC News ^ | February 25th,, 2026 | ByLuis Martinez and Chris Looft
    Around a dozen U.S. Air Force F-22 fighters have landed in Israel, according to a U.S. official.The fighters were spotted taking off from the Royal Air Force base Lakenheath in the UK on Tuesday morning before they flew to Israel.The base has in recent weeks been a waypoint for U.S. military aircraft on their way to the Middle East as part of an ongoing military buildup.
  • Four dead after U.S. speedboat enters Cuban waters, opens fire: Cuba officials

    02/25/2026 12:25:47 PM PST · by sopo · 75 replies
    CP24 ^ | AFP
    Cuba’s coastguard shot dead four people and injured six others travelling in a U.S.-registered speedboat in an exchange of fire off the Cuban coast on Wednesday, the interior ministry in Havana said. The “illegal” Florida-registered boat was detected one nautical mile from Falcones Cay in Villa Clara province, the ministry said in a brief statement. As a coastguard vessel approached to identify the boat “shots were fired from the boat,” injuring the commander of the Cuban vessel, the ministry added. “As a result of the clash, at the time of this report, on the foreign side, four aggressors were killed...
  • The USA men’s hockey team utterly failed to meet the cultural moment

    02/25/2026 10:19:00 AM PST · by where's_the_Outrage? · 107 replies
    For The Win ^ | Feb 24, 2026 | Mary Clarke
    ....So, to see the United States men's hockey team finally win Olympic gold in my lifetime was a dream come true. What has happened since has been nothing short of a disappointment. As the celebrations from the 2-1 overtime win over Canada spilled off the ice and behind closed doors, FBI director Kash Patel joined Team USA in the locker room in a leaked video that has since gone viral. In the video, Patel is seen celebrating and drinking beer with the team, whose victory came on the same day an armed man breached the perimeter at President Donald Trump's...
  • Anthropic: Chinese AI firms created 24,000 fraudulent accounts for 'distillation attacks'

    02/25/2026 5:50:24 AM PST · by Twotone · 40 replies
    Mashable ^ | February 23, 2026 | Timothy Beck Werth
    Anthropic is accusing three Chinese artificial intelligence companies of "industrial-scale campaigns" to "illicitly extract" its technology using distillation attacks. Anthropic says these companies created 24,000 fraudulent accounts to hide these efforts. In a blog post detailing the attacks, Anthropic named three AI firms, including DeepSeek, the maker of the popular DeepSeek AI models. Anthropic explicitly framed the attack as an issue of national security. "We have identified industrial-scale campaigns by three AI laboratories—DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax—to illicitly extract Claude’s capabilities to improve their own models," reads the blog post. "These labs generated over 16 million exchanges with Claude through approximately...
  • The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored

    02/24/2026 9:20:06 PM PST · by SeekAndFind · 21 replies
    New York Times ^ | 02/24/2026 | Tripp Mickle
    If China invades Taiwan and cuts off its chip exports to American companies, the tech industry and the U.S. economy would be crippled.Federal officials have for years tried to wean Silicon Valley from its dependence on Taiwan, an island democracy roughly the size of Maryland that makes 90 percent of the world’s high-end computer chips. In secret briefings held in Washington and Silicon Valley, national security officials warned executives from companies like Apple, Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm that China was making plans to retake Taiwan, which Beijing has long considered a breakaway territory. A Chinese blockade of Taiwan, the...
  • Ilhan Omar Melts Down When Trump Calls for Protecting Americans over Illegal Aliens

    02/24/2026 8:48:42 PM PST · by Mr. Mojo · 43 replies
    Breitbart ^ | 24 Feb 2026 | NICK GILBERTSON
    WASHINGTON — Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) melted down at the State of the Union after President Donald Trump said it is the American government’s duty to protect Americans and not illegal aliens. Trump challenged all lawmakers to stand if they agreed with his statement, but all Democrats appeared to remain seated. “I’m inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” he said, prompting a lengthy applause from...
  • American Airlines jet lands in Miami with bullet holes after trip to Colombia

    02/24/2026 7:30:59 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 10 replies
    New York Post ^ | Feb. 24, 2026 | Ronny Reyes
    Bullet holes were found on the wing of an American Airlines Boeing jet after landing in Miami from Colombia, according to a report. Flight AA923 landed at the Miami International Airport on Monday when a routine post-flight inspection found the puncture marks on the 737 MAX 8’s right aileron, which is responsible for lateral balance, AirLive reported. Despite the puncture marks, the aircraft flew and landed safely.
  • ‘Alpha-male’ influencer Nick Adams dropped as US ambassador to Malaysia, claims he has been promoted

    02/24/2026 7:20:06 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 3 replies
    Adams’ nomination by US President Donald Trump last year had sparked controversy due to reportedly misogynistic remarks the right-wing commentator has made, as well as his public support for Israel in 2024.Right-wing influencer and self-described “alpha male” Nick Adams has reportedly been dropped as the United States’ pick for ambassador to Malaysia. Adams confirmed he would not become US ambassador to Malaysia in an email to the Sydney Morning Herald and said his new role would soon be revealed. “Brilliant detective work, Mick! I’ve been promoted from the role of ambassador!” Adams said in the email, addressing the Sydney Morning...
  • Nigeria: Government denies it paid ransom money to Boko Haram militants

    02/24/2026 6:37:19 PM PST · by nickcarraway
    The Nigerian government has denied it gave ransom money to free dozens of children and staff taken from a catholic school by Boko Haram jihadists. The kidnapping occurred back in November in north-central Niger state. It was one of the country’s largest mass abductions Nigeria’s government made the comments in response to an AFP investigation released on Tuesday stating that the government funnelled a ‘huge’ ransom of millions of dollars to the jihadist group. According to the report, the government also freed two commanders from the jihadist group. Nigeria’s information minister insisted that the student’s release was due to ‘professional...
  • North Korea's Lazarus Group targets healthcare orgs with Medusa ransomware

    02/24/2026 5:35:48 PM PST · by nickcarraway · 1 replies
    The Register ^ | Tue 24 Feb 2026 | Jessica Lyons
    New ransomware of choice, same critical targetsNorth Korea’s Lazarus Group appears to have added another tool to its kit. It has begun using Medusa ransomware in extortion attacks targeting at least one US healthcare organization and an unnamed victim in the Middle East, according to Symantec and Carbon Black threat hunters. The US healthcare attempt failed, while the Middle East organization was hit with the Medusa strain, the researchers said. Of the nearly 30 victim organizations listed on the Medusa data-leak site since November 2025, four are healthcare and nonprofit organizations in the US, including a mental health nonprofit...
  • 1,000 Tourists Got Stuck in Guadalajara Zoo During Mexico Cartel Terror Spree

    02/24/2026 2:01:50 PM PST · by dynachrome · 14 replies
    Breitbart ^ | 2-24-26 | Christian K. Caruzo
    The Mexican newspaper El Financiero reported on Monday that CJNG’s wave of terrorist violence forcefully left 1,080 tourists stranded at the Guadalajara Zoo. The stranded visitors reportedly came from other states neighboring Jalisco and had arrived on Sunday morning before the violent acts broke out. The visitors were unable to return to their places of origin due to the “narco-blockade” roadblocks that CJNG deployed across the city and were reportedly placed under law enforcement protection at the zoo. “We have 1,080 people of all ages, from babies to seniors, sheltered at the Guadalajara Zoo. They are people from other states...
  • Canada plans to assist Cuba while Washington squeezes the island

    02/24/2026 11:49:14 AM PST · by Twotone · 47 replies
    Reuters ^ | February 23, 2026 | Kanishka Singh
    Canada said on Monday it plans to provide assistance to Cuba while the island grapples with fuel shortages after Washington moved to choke off Cuba's oil supplies. Washington has escalated a pressure campaign against the Communist-run island and long-time U.S. foe in recent weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has moved to block all oil from reaching Cuba, including that from ally Venezuela, pushing up prices for food and transportation and prompting severe fuel shortages and hours of blackouts. "We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any further details of an...