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More than a third of the United States fleet positioned around Iran: open war imminent
An unprecedented deployment The United States has concentrated between 30 and 40 percent of its operational naval fleet in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, in a maneuver reminiscent of the preparations prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The scale of the deployment is not symbolic. It involves the…
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The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons needs a brother!
There are quite a few movies depicting nuclear war and its aftermath. One of them is based on Neil Shute’s “On the Beach”, a book that has awakened Helen Caldicott’s concern about nuclear weapons. The film “The day after” is said to have inspired President Ronald Reagan to de-escalate his arms race with the…
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The Pentagon v. Anthropic: AI between the sword and ethics
This Friday, February 27, 2026, marks the deadline set by the United States Department of Defense for Anthropic to remove the ethical restrictions from its Claude model within the framework of its military contract. The ultimatum was communicated only days earlier, in terms that resembled less an institutional negotiation than direct pressure: either the safeguards…
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The family of Francesca Albanese sued the Trump administration over the sanctions imposed
On the morning of February 26, 2026, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., Francesca Albanese’s husband, acting on behalf of their minor daughter —a U.S. citizen— filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent…
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‘You cannot tax poverty, you cannot extort the desperate.’
The Pamoja kwa Amani Coalition expresses its profound indignation and deep concern over the escalating economic oppression imposed on civilian populations by the AFC-M23 rebel movement in the areas under its de facto administration. Since the start of the aggression, the cities of Bukavu and Goma, along with their surrounding areas, have experienced a complete…
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Watchdog Finds Toxic Chemicals in Lipsticks, Warns of Risks to Health and the Environment
Toxics watchdog BAN Toxics once again warned the public about the presence of toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium in cheap lipsticks sold in local markets. This came after a recent market investigation conducted by the group on the sale of affordable lipsticks, with prices ranging from P50 to P70 per piece, sold…
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Reminder to Mothers and Caregivers: Be Wary of Baby Wipes with Allergy-Causing Ingredients
Groups warn against wet wipes with banned preservatives 26 February 2026, Quezon City. The breastfeeding advocacy group Arugaan and the toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition jointly reminded mothers and caregivers to pay attention to the list of ingredients of wet wipes, as some products may contain banned preservatives known to cause skin allergic reactions. “Consumers…
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US Announcement of 15% Global Tariff: Bangladesh Adopts a Cautious Stance
by Kawser Ahamed (Dhaka Bureau) Bangladesh’s newly appointed Commerce Minister, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, stated that the government is closely monitoring Washington’s escalating trade position following the U.S. announcement of a 15% universal tariff under Section 122. This move could have significant implications for export-dependent economies. Speaking to journalists, the Minister emphasized that this measure is…
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Bangladesh Bank in Sudden Leadership Shift
by Asif Showkat Kallol (Dhaka Bureau) Bangladesh’s central bank was thrown into uncertainty on Wednesday as reports emerged that its governor, Ahsan H. Mansur, had been removed from office, while the government moved to appoint Mostakur Rahman as his successor. For the first time, a businessman has been appointed governor of the Bangladesh Bank. Earlier…
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Iran, U.S. signal openness to diplomacy as nuclear talks approach
Iran expressed optimism on Wednesday over the upcoming nuclear talks with the United States, as both sides signaled a willingness to pursue diplomacy amid heightened regional tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi headed to Geneva on the same day to lead his country’s delegation in the third round of indirect nuclear talks with the…