Pakistan has launched devastating airstrikes on major Afghan cities, including Kabul, with its defense minister declaring "open war" amidst escalating border tensions. This dramatic escalation follows a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks, where Afghan forces retaliated against Pakistani border troops after earlier Pakistani airstrikes, with both nations claiming significant casualties.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is introducing landmark legislation to prohibit large investment firms from purchasing single-family homes, directly addressing the nation's pressing housing affordability crisis. This significant move, following calls for limits on institutional investors, aims to curb big investors' market influence and make homeownership more accessible for individuals.
Indirect nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran concluded in Geneva with mediator Oman reporting "significant progress" and scheduling further technical discussions for next week in Vienna. Amidst a significant U.S. military buildup and escalating tensions, both nations, however, expressed a preference for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff.
South Korean stocks soared to an unprecedented record high, with the KOSPI index closing above 6,300, fueled by surging investor confidence in artificial intelligence prospects. This remarkable rally was sparked by Nvidia's stellar earnings report, propelling technology and automobile giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to lead the charge.
Aer Lingus has implemented stricter identification rules for UK flights, now mandating passports for all non-Irish citizens, even within the Common Travel Area, to streamline operations and minimize delays. This significant change coincides with the full activation of the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement today, February 26, 2026, which impacts 85 nationalities previously traveling visa-free.
A groundbreaking NASA study reveals that essential protein building blocks can survive for tens of millions of years within pure Martian ice, even amidst cosmic radiation, suggesting ancient life's traces might be remarkably preserved. This pivotal discovery urges future missions to prioritize drilling into buried ice caps rather than just rocks, offering a compelling new strategy to uncover definitive signs of extraterrestrial life.
