Rising anger over ‘lop-sided’ and ‘immoral’ US health funding pacts with African countries

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Zimbabwe refuses to sign agreement and Kenya faces a court case over data sharing as new aid deals come under scrutiny

A series of bilateral health agreements being negotiated between African countries and the administration of President Donald Trump have been labelled “clearly lop-sided” and “immoral” amid growing outrage at US demands, including countries being forced to share biological resources and data.

It emerged this week that Zimbabwe had halted negotiations with the US for $350m (£258m) of health funding, saying the proposals risked undermining its sovereignty and independence.

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Canada’s Carney visits India to boost trade, mend ties on latest ‘middle powers’ trip – Reuters

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  1. Canada's Carney visits India to boost trade, mend ties on latest 'middle powers' trip  Reuters
  2. Energy-hungry India tells Carney 'we are willing to buy whatever Canada is offering'  CBC
  3. Canadian Sikh activist faces fresh death threats on eve of Carney visit to India  The Guardian
  4. ‘No longer a threat’: How Canada U-turned on India ahead of Carney visit  Al Jazeera
  5. Canada says India no longer linked to violent crime ahead of Carney trip  BBC
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Gorton and Denton by-election: Result imminent, with Labour’s Powell suggesting Green victory – BBC

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  1. Gorton and Denton by-election: Result imminent, with Labour's Powell suggesting Green victory  BBC
  2. Nobody wants to defend Britain’s voting system any more – but here’s why I will | Gaby Hinsliff  The Guardian
  3. It’s a three-horse race! First Past the Post isn’t fit for purpose in Gorton and Denton  Electoral Reform Society
  4. UK's Starmer faces latest test in tight-run local vote  Reuters
  5. The Gorton and Denton By-Election Comes at a Bad Time for Keir Starmer - The New York Times  The New York Times
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Firefighters in Sicily rescue 400 rare library books from precipice after landslide

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Landslide in Niscemi in January tore away entire slope of town and carved 4km chasm

Firefighters in Sicily have rescued about 400 rare books from a library in Niscemi that hangs on the edge of a mudflow, after a devastating landslide in January tore away an entire slope of the town and carved a 4km chasm.

The library stands on the lip of the precipice gouged out by the landslide, with part of the building in effect hanging in mid-air. The recovery operation, which began on Monday, was preceded by a detailed study of floor plans and interior photographs to map the position of the books.

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Firefighters in Sicily rescue 400 rare library books from precipice after landslide

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Landslide in Niscemi in January tore away entire slope of town and carved 4km chasm

Firefighters in Sicily have rescued about 400 rare books from a library in Niscemi that hangs on the edge of a mudflow, after a devastating landslide in January tore away an entire slope of the town and carved a 4km chasm.

The library stands on the lip of the precipice gouged out by the landslide, with part of the building in effect hanging in mid-air. The recovery operation, which began on Monday, was preceded by a detailed study of floor plans and interior photographs to map the position of the books.

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North Korea’s ‘most beloved’ child: what the key congress revealed about Kim Jong-un’s succession plans

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Many observers believe North Korean leader has decided daughter Kim Ju-ae will succeed him, but others say gender politics could block her path to power

When North Korea’s ruling party held a top-level meeting this month there were predictable boasts of unstoppable nuclear development and, more unexpectedly, a suggestion by Kim Jong-un that his country and the US “could get along” – provided that Washington recognised North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power.

But for many North Korea watchers, the Workers’ party congress – held over several days just once every five years – was a rare opportunity to speculate over the identity of the country’s future leader.

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North Korea’s ‘most beloved’ child: what the key congress revealed about Kim Jong-un’s succession plans

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Many observers believe North Korean leader has decided daughter Kim Ju-ae will succeed him, but others say gender politics could block her path to power

When North Korea’s ruling party held a top-level meeting this month there were predictable boasts of unstoppable nuclear development and, more unexpectedly, a suggestion by Kim Jong-un that his country and the US “could get along” – provided that Washington recognised North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power.

But for many North Korea watchers, the Workers’ party congress – held over several days just once every five years – was a rare opportunity to speculate over the identity of the country’s future leader.

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Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 26, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War

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  1. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 26, 2026  Institute for the Study of War
  2. Russia pounds Ukraine with missiles and drones, injuring at least 26  Reuters
  3. Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,464  Al Jazeera
  4. Russia Launches Big Strikes Before U.S.-Ukraine Talks in Geneva  The New York Times
  5. Ukraine says Russia launched a major aerial attack before Kyiv’s talks with US  Defense News
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South Korea set to finally get a fully functioning Google Maps – Reuters

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  1. South Korea set to finally get a fully functioning Google Maps  Reuters
  2. South Korea Clears Way for Google Maps to Fully Operate  The New York Times
  3. Google Wins Conditional Nod From Seoul to Offer Precision Maps  Yahoo Finance
  4. Google Maps makes another pitch for better South Korean data  The Economist
  5. South Korea allows Google to export map data after years of frustration over Google Maps  AP News
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‘A living, moving exhibition’: Ukraine Museum opens in Berlin air-raid bunker

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Exhibits pay homage to Ukrainians’ resilience and bring home the reality that war is going on in Europe

Descending into the windowless basement of a second world war air-raid bunker built for civilians in central Berlin is arguably an eerie enough evocation of what it means to endure life in a conflict.

But in a modern twist, before they have even walked into the first room of the city’s new Ukraine Museum inside the bunker, visitors are “targeted” by a Russian drone just before its operator prepares to release the lethal shot, and see themselves in the firing line on the screen of the weapon’s camera.

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‘A living, moving exhibition’: Ukraine Museum opens in Berlin air-raid bunker

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Exhibits pay homage to Ukrainians’ resilience and bring home the reality that war is going on in Europe

Descending into the windowless basement of a second world war air-raid bunker built for civilians in central Berlin is arguably an eerie enough evocation of what it means to endure life in a conflict.

But in a modern twist, before they have even walked into the first room of the city’s new Ukraine Museum inside the bunker, visitors are “targeted” by a Russian drone just before its operator prepares to release the lethal shot, and see themselves in the firing line on the screen of the weapon’s camera.

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China sacks 9 senior military officers as Xi Jinping widens crackdown – Financial Times

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  1. China sacks 9 senior military officers as Xi Jinping widens crackdown  Financial Times
  2. China removes nine military officials ahead of key political meeting  BBC
  3. How Xi's military purges could hamper China's ability to fight  NBC News
  4. Xi fires army commander as Taiwan invasion plans take hit  The Telegraph
  5. The Purges Within China’s Military Are Even Deeper Than You Think  ChinaPower Project
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Reeves and Svantesson: Don’t believe Putin’s lies. Economic pressure is working – politico.eu

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  1. Reeves and Svantesson: Don’t believe Putin’s lies. Economic pressure is working  politico.eu
  2. Deep Inside Putin’s War Machine, the Pain Is Starting to Show  Bloomberg.com
  3. Russia’s Regions Post Largest-Ever Budget Deficit in 2025  The Moscow Times
  4. Three myths about the Russia economic war  Al Jazeera
  5. Russia Remade Its Economy for War, but It’s Come at a Huge Cost  The New York Times
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Texas airspace closed after military reportedly downs US drone on accident

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Federal Aviation Administration bars flights around Fort Hancock after reported use of anti-drone military laser

The Federal Aviation Administration barred flights on Thursday in an area around Fort Hancock, Texas, after congressional aides told Reuters a military laser-based anti-drone system was believed to have accidentally shot down a US government drone.

The FAA and Pentagon did not immediately comment but the FAA cited “special security reasons” in its notice about the restrictions on the airspace near the Mexican border posted on its Notam alert system, shorthand for “Notice to Air Missions”.

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Afghan Taliban attacks met with Pakistani strikes on Kabul – DW.com

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  1. Afghan Taliban attacks met with Pakistani strikes on Kabul  DW.com
  2. Afghanistan and Pakistan exchange cross-border strikes in escalating retaliatory attacks  CNN
  3. Pakistan strikes Afghan cities as cross-border attacks escalate  BBC
  4. Afghanistan launches attacks against Pakistan, draws ‘immediate response’  Al Jazeera
  5. Pakistan, Afghan forces clash after days of hostilities  Reuters
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