The Palestinian group Hamas has alleged that Israeli military operations are continuing across the Gaza Strip despite the formation of a peace board. In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the ongoing attacks indicate disregard for mediation efforts and the board’s activities. He claimed that destruction and killings against Palestinians have not stopped, adding that although the nature of attacks has changed, their objective remains the same.

According to Hamas, assurances from guarantor countries to implement a ceasefire have not produced effective results. The group reported that since the ceasefire took effect, at least 650 Palestinians have been killed, including 198 children and 85 women, while 1,662 others were injured. Hamas further stated that since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and around 172,000 injured, with over 8,000 still missing.

The organization also claimed that about 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. Preliminary United Nations estimates suggest reconstruction of the enclave could require around 70 billion US dollars.

Russia has returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, according to a Moscow official cited on Thursday. In exchange, Ukraine handed over the remains of 35 Russian soldiers. The exchange reportedly took place near Kyiv, as confirmed by Russian mediator Vladimir Medinsky in a social media post.

The report, carried by AFP from Moscow, marks another instance of body repatriation between the two sides amid the ongoing conflict. Such exchanges are typically coordinated through intermediaries to ensure the return of fallen soldiers to their respective countries.

No further details were provided about the process or the conditions under which the exchange occurred.

A total of 175 Bangladeshi nationals who had been detained or living in distress in Libya were repatriated to Bangladesh. The return was coordinated by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, with assistance from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The group arrived in Dhaka on Thursday, February 26, 2026, aboard a Buraq Air flight.

Among the returnees, 30 had been held at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi, while 145 were impoverished, vulnerable, or ill individuals residing in Benghazi and nearby areas. All were irregular migrants who voluntarily chose to return home. Many had reportedly entered Libya through human traffickers while attempting to reach Europe by sea and faced abduction and abuse.

Officials from the ministries and IOM welcomed the returnees at the airport. IOM provided each person with travel allowances, food, basic medical care, and temporary shelter if needed. The ministries and IOM continue joint efforts to ensure the safe repatriation of other detained Bangladeshi citizens in Libya.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest US aircraft carrier deployed to pressure Iran, departed the US Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base in Crete on Thursday, according to an AFP photographer. Its departure coincided with the start of a new round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.

The carrier had been stationed at the Crete base since Monday. The US Embassy in Athens declined to comment on the vessel’s presence. The report recalled that President Donald Trump had previously ordered an attack on Iran and repeatedly warned Tehran of military action if it refused to agree to a new nuclear deal. Western countries have expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear program may be aimed at developing weapons.

Washington currently maintains more than a dozen warships in the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, nine destroyers, and three additional warships, underscoring its continued military presence in the region.

Bangladesh has entered the race for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the 2026–2027 term after Palestine withdrew its candidacy. The election is scheduled to take place on June 2 at the UN headquarters in New York. Bangladesh’s interim government initially nominated former foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, but later replaced him with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman. Cyprus has emerged as Bangladesh’s rival candidate for the position.

According to the established regional rotation policy, the presidency for this term will be selected from the Asia-Pacific Group of States. The 81st UNGA session will begin in September 2026, and before that, current UNGA President Annalena Baerbock will hold informal consultations with candidates in May 2026.

Bangladesh last held this prestigious position during the 1986–1987 term, when then Foreign Minister Humayun Rashid Choudhury served as president of the 41st session. The country now hopes to regain the post after nearly four decades.

Russia carried out overnight attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities, injuring at least 23 people including a child. The strikes occurred ahead of a scheduled meeting in Geneva between Ukraine and the United States to discuss ending the ongoing war. Kyiv’s military administration chief Tymur Tkachenkо reported that drones and ballistic missiles were used in the assault, urging residents to remain in shelters until air raid alerts were lifted.

Police in Kyiv said the attacks caused fires in non-residential buildings, shattered windows in a multi-story apartment, and set a two-story house ablaze. No deaths were reported. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv and a nearby village, 14 people were injured, while seven others were hurt in Zaporizhzhia where 19 apartment buildings, four houses, and other structures were damaged. Two more people were injured in Kryvyi Rih.

The assault comes as the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion four years ago, continues to devastate Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. Washington has reiterated its desire for an end to the conflict.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his country will not pursue nuclear weapons, citing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s religious decree banning weapons of mass destruction. Pezeshkian emphasized that this decree clearly means Tehran will not develop nuclear arms. His remarks were reported as Iran and the United States prepare for indirect negotiations in Geneva.

The report notes that Khamenei issued the religious ban on nuclear weapons in the early 2000s. Both sides are expected to focus on diplomatic solutions during the Geneva meeting, though Washington has recently imposed new sanctions on Iran and continues to expand its military presence in the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said before the talks that a fair and balanced agreement is within reach, reiterating that Iran is not building nuclear weapons but will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance accused Iran of trying to restart its nuclear program following American strikes on Iranian facilities, warning that any attempt to rebuild nuclear arms would pose a problem for Washington.

A report by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated that 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025 while performing their professional duties. The organization said that Israel was responsible for two-thirds of these deaths, with Israeli forces killing 86 journalists, most of whom were Palestinians in Gaza. The report also noted that 31 media workers were killed in an attack on a Houthi media center in Yemen.

According to CPJ, no government has killed as many journalists in a single year since the organization began keeping records in 1992. The report further revealed that at least 47 journalists were deliberately targeted, with Israel accountable for 81 percent of those cases. CPJ expressed concern that the actual number of deaths could be higher due to restricted access and verification challenges in Gaza.

The Israeli military did not issue any immediate comment on the findings, the report added.

Iranian security forces conducted an operation near the country’s southeastern border, killing three foreign nationals and arresting eight others accused of links to foreign intelligence agencies, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. Authorities did not disclose the nationalities of those killed or detained. Weapons seized from their hideout reportedly included RPG-7 launchers, U.S.-made M4 rifles with night-vision devices, AK-47 rifles with grenade launchers, and handguns.

Initial interrogations indicated that the detained suspects confessed to involvement in a recent attack on a police checkpoint in the central city of Kerman, which left three officers and one civilian dead. The operation took place shortly before indirect nuclear talks between Iran and other parties were set to begin in Geneva, mediated by Oman.

The report also noted that the United States has recently expanded its military presence in the Persian Gulf, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has conducted several military drills in preparation for potential conflict.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has called on Iranians to secretly contact the agency if they possess skills or information of interest to the United States. According to a report by Middle East Monitor, the CIA released a video on social media platform X on Tuesday, lasting more than two minutes, in which a message in Farsi stated that the agency is ready to listen and assist. The video provided detailed instructions on how Iranians could communicate securely with the CIA.

The instructions advised avoiding the use of workplace computers and phones, recommending instead the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) or the Tor network for secure communication. The video was released at a time when the United States is increasing its military presence across the Middle East.

The development comes ahead of a third round of indirect talks between US and Iranian diplomats scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Several countries have also urged their citizens to leave Iran due to fears of possible US military action.

Four people were killed and six others injured when Cuban security forces clashed with a US-registered speedboat near the island’s northern coast. The incident occurred about one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Cuba’s Interior Ministry. The ministry claimed the vessel entered Cuban waters and opened fire on its security forces.

Cuban authorities said the speedboat was registered in Florida and alleged that those on board were Cuban residents of the United States attempting to infiltrate the country for terrorist activities. The ministry confirmed it had the vessel’s registration number but did not release details about the individuals involved.

Following the incident, the United States announced it would conduct its own verification of the events. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the operation was not a US government mission and that no government personnel were involved. He added that authorities were checking whether those aboard were US citizens or permanent residents.

Saudi Arabia has announced a new record for the highest number of Umrah pilgrims in a single day during the holy month of Ramadan. On Saturday, February 21, 2026, a total of 904,000 people performed Umrah, surpassing the previous record of 500,000 pilgrims set on March 7, 2025. The surge in attendance at the Grand Mosque in Mecca prompted authorities to implement strict safety and crowd management measures.

To manage the large influx, the open marble courtyard around the Kaaba, known as the Mataf area, was reserved exclusively for Umrah pilgrims throughout the day. Saudi authorities reported that the Grand Mosque experiences particularly heavy crowds during Friday prayers and the Maghrib, Isha, Tarawih, and late-night Tahajjud prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan. Worshippers were urged to follow official guidance and pray in designated open areas when the mosque reaches capacity.

Authorities also enforced directional signage for entry and exit, banned gatherings on walkways and roads, and introduced special traffic controls around the mosque. Unauthorized motorcycles and bicycles were prohibited, and improperly parked vehicles posing safety risks faced legal action under traffic laws.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a deal with the United States to avoid war is now within reach. He made the remarks ahead of a scheduled meeting between the two countries in Geneva, Switzerland. Araghchi referred to ongoing threats of attack from U.S. President Donald Trump and said Tehran is moving toward a historic agreement, depending on how much Washington prioritizes diplomacy.

In a statement on social media, Araghchi reiterated that Iran will never produce nuclear weapons under any circumstances but maintains its right to benefit from peaceful nuclear technology. The upcoming Geneva meeting on Thursday marks the third round of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, with Oman mediating the discussions. Muscat has expressed hope for positive progress toward finalizing the agreement.

Araghchi is leading the Iranian delegation, while the U.S. side is represented by White House special envoy Steve Utkov and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Russia has issued a strong warning that it may consider using non-strategic nuclear weapons if Western countries provide Ukraine with nuclear weapons or related technology. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and former president, stated via the Max Messenger app that Russian intelligence indicates Britain and France are planning to transfer nuclear technology to Ukraine. He said such a move would dramatically alter the ongoing war and that Russia reserves the right to use any necessary weapons, including nuclear ones, to protect its security. Medvedev also warned that countries supplying such weapons could become potential targets.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that preventing nuclear proliferation in Europe is crucial amid the current conflict. He said transferring nuclear weapons or technology to Ukraine would clearly violate international law and nuclear non-proliferation agreements. Earlier, Russia’s foreign intelligence agency SVR alleged that Britain and France were showing interest in supplying nuclear weapons to Ukraine to strengthen Kyiv’s position in peace talks.

No immediate official response was reported from Britain, France, or Ukraine regarding these allegations.

The United States and Iran are set to begin their third round of nuclear discussions in Geneva today, focusing on finding a diplomatic solution to ongoing disputes over Iran’s nuclear program. The talks come as Washington has recently imposed new sanctions on Tehran and continues to expand its military presence in the Middle East, according to Al Jazeera.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Wednesday and met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who is mediating the indirect negotiations scheduled for Thursday. Before departing for Geneva, Araghchi stated that a fair and balanced agreement was within reach, emphasizing that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons and will not relinquish its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Earlier, U.S. Vice President JD Vance accused Iran of attempting to restart its nuclear program following American strikes on Iranian facilities. He reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and said President Trump prefers a diplomatic resolution but retains other options.