Feb 26 Starmer brings UK defense spending pledge to Washington to help sway Trump on Ukraine By Jill Lawless, Associated Press U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer flew to Washington on Wednesday after announcing a big increase in the British defense budget, an investment that he hopes will help persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to maintain support for Ukraine as Washington pushes to end the war. Continue reading
Feb 26 An unknown illness has killed more than 50 people in northwestern Congo. Here's what we do know By Chinedu Asadu, Jean-Yves Kamale, Associated Press The outbreaks in two distant villages in Congo's Equateur province began on Jan. 21 and include 419 cases and 53 deaths. Continue reading
Feb 26 Trump announces Zelenskyy visit to sign deal on Ukraine's minerals By Aamer Madhani, Hanna Arhirova, Justin Spike, Associated Press President Donald Trump said that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the White House on Friday. Continue reading
Feb 26 Iran speeds production of near weapons-grade uranium, IAEA says, as tensions with U.S. increase By Stephanie Liechtenstein, Associated Press The report says that as of Feb. 8, Iran has 605.8 pounds of uranium enriched up to 60%, up by more than 200 pounds since the IAEA's last report in November. Continue reading
Feb 26 U.S. and Ukraine near an economic deal with rare earth minerals but no security promise, officials say By Susie Blann, Hanna Arhirova, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Associated Press Three senior Ukrainian officials say that Ukraine and the U.S. have reached an agreement on a framework for a broad economic deal that would include access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. Continue reading
Feb 26 Pope Francis sits upright in an armchair as he is treated for double pneumonia, Argentines in Rome pray for his recovery By Nicole Winfield, Trisha Thomas, Silvia Stellacci, Associated Press The Vatican hopes to have information later Wednesday about the results of a CT scan taken Tuesday evening to check on the status of the complex lung infection. Continue reading
Feb 26 Tens of thousands of Israelis bid farewell to Hamas hostages Shiri Bibas and her 2 sons killed in Gaza By Melanie Lidman, Associated Press The Bibas family's plight has come to embody the profound sense of loss and grief still permeating Israel after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Continue reading
Feb 26 WATCH: Trump touts 'gold card' immigration visa at Cabinet meeting with Elon Musk By Associated Press “If we sell a million, that’s $5 trillion dollars,” President Donald Trump said during the first meeting of his second-term Cabinet, suggesting that the new revenue generated for federal coffers could be used to pay off the country’s debt. Continue reading
Feb 26 Hamas will return bodies of 4 Israeli hostages and receive hundreds of prisoners in exchange By Samy Magdy, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Israel has delayed the release of about 600 Palestinian prisoners since Saturday to protest what it says is the cruel treatment of hostages during their release by Hamas. Continue reading
Feb 25 Ukraine and U.S. agree on economic deal including rare earth materials, Ukrainian officials say By Susie Blann, Hanna Arhirova, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Associated Press The officials, who were familiar with the matter, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Continue reading