Saturday, February 28, 2026
Geopolitics
AP News | Reuters
The U.S. and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions. President Trump confirmed "major combat operations" are underway, calling on Iranians to "take over your government." The operation targets Iranian leadership sites as Trump pursues regime change. Russia condemned the attack as "plunging the Middle East into abyss."
Geopolitics
BBC News | Reuters
Iran fired retaliatory missiles across the region, including hitting a US naval base in Manama, Bahrain—home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the area. Gulf states reported intercepting Iranian missiles. Israel has shut schools and banned gatherings as the conflict escalates.
Geopolitics
Reuters
Major airlines have suspended flights to the Middle East following the US-Israel attacks on Iran. Flight tracking services saw massive spikes in traffic, with Flightradar24 experiencing errors due to the surge. The aviation industry is adjusting routes to avoid Iranian airspace as tensions threaten to spread across the region.
Tech & Science
AP News | BBC
Trump ordered US government agencies to stop using Anthropic's AI technology, escalating a battle over AI safety. The move came after a standoff between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and the Pentagon. The order directly impacts government use of Claude and other Anthropic products, marking a significant shift in US AI policy.
Tech & Science
BBC | AP
US wholesale prices rose 0.5% in January from December and 2.9% year-over-year, coming in hotter than expected. The data adds to inflation concerns as the Federal Reserve navigates monetary policy. The reading suggests persistent price pressures may complicate efforts to bring inflation fully under control.
Geopolitics
BBC News
A military plane crashed in Bolivia while carrying banknotes, killing at least 20 people. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds allegedly attempting to steal banknotes from the crash site. The incident adds to Bolivia's ongoing economic challenges.