10 Things Global News - 27th February 2026
Succinct, unbiased news from around the world
Pakistan Declares ‘Open War’ After Kabul Airstrikes
US-Iran Talks Conclude This Round as Strike Threat Looms
China Culls Nine Military Lawmakers Ahead Of Two Sessions
China Courts Germany But Merz Presses Trade Grievances
IMF Backs Ukraine With $8.1bn Four-Year Loan
Anthropic Rejects Pentagon Push To Broaden AI Use
UN Says Sudan Civilian Killings Surged In 2025
World Economic Forum Chief Steps Down After Review Of Epstein Links
Clinton Alleges Cover-Up, Democrats Demand Trump Testify
Netflix Withdraws Clearing Path For Paramount Deal
Coming this Sunday, the first edition of 10 Good Things, a monthly addition to the 10 Things News stable - ten succinct, good news stories about the world. A counterbalance to some of the less uplifting news we get to consume on a daily basis. Available to regular 10 Things subscribers.
Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Afghanistan’s capital Kabul and other cities on Friday, escalating months of tensions into open conflict. The strikes targeted Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia province, according to officials from both countries, and followed Afghan attacks on Pakistani border positions. Pakistan said its actions were retaliation for cross-border attacks, while Afghan officials described their own strikes as a response to earlier Pakistani operations.
Pakistan’s defence minister said the country’s patience had “run out” and declared that “now it is open war between us,” marking a sharp escalation in rhetoric. Relations had already deteriorated over accusations that Afghanistan’s Taliban government was providing sanctuary to militant groups targeting Pakistan, which the Taliban deny.
Both sides reported heavy casualties and military losses, but their claims could not be independently verified. The escalation undermined previous ceasefire efforts mediated by regional powers and signalled the collapse of recent attempts to stabilise the volatile border.
Sources: Associated Press, New York Times
U.S. and Iranian officials completed a round of indirect nuclear talks in Geneva on Thursday as the White House weighed diplomacy against the option of strikes. Oman’s foreign minister, who is mediating, said the sides made “significant progress” and agreed to meet next week to discuss technical details in Vienna.
Iran’s foreign minister said “good progress” was made and described the talks as “one of our most intense and longest rounds of negotiations”, but there was no deal and no immediate evidence the two sides had drawn closer on Iran’s right to enrich uranium or the future of its highly enriched uranium stocks. An Iranian spokesman called the U.S. position “confusing” and complained of inconsistencies in U.S. demands.
The talks unfolded in the shadow of an unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the region, including two aircraft carrier strike groups and scores of aircraft shifted to bases in Europe and the Middle East.
Sources: The Guardian, Washington Post
China removed 19 officials, including nine from the military, from its list of lawmakers ahead of its biggest annual political meeting next week. The decision was announced by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, with no official reason given.
The move came weeks after President Xi Jinping removed Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking general and a close ally, after accusations of “serious violations of discipline and law”. State media said those removed included Li Qiaoming, commander of the PLA Ground Force, and Shen Jinlong, a former navy commander.
Thousands of delegates will travel to Beijing for the Two Sessions from March 4 to 11, when the government will set annual economic targets and outline a five-year plan. Xi has said the anti-corruption battle “remains grave and complex”, while critics say the drives can be used to purge political rivals.
Sources: Bloomberg, BBC
China’s leader urged Germany to see opportunity in deeper economic ties during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s first visit to Beijing since taking office in May. Merz promoted cooperation across trade and technology, and his trip included a showcase linked to German industry and a visit to a robotics start-up where he watched humanoid robots perform.
Merz also aired concerns about China’s trade practices and the impact of a flood of Chinese exports, calling for fair competition, transparency, reliability and adherence to jointly established rules. He said Chinese overcapacity was creating problems for Europe because supply exceeded market demand.
China pledged to buy up to 120 additional Airbus aircraft, and both sides backed open dialogue to address differences. The visit ended with stronger ties but no breakthroughs, as Berlin sought to stabilise relations while a looming trade battle with Washington shaped Europe’s room to manoeuvre.
Sources: South China Morning Post, New York Times
The IMF’s executive board approved a four-year financing program for Ukraine worth $8.1 billion and cleared an immediate disbursement of about $1.5 billion. The arrangement replaces a $15.5 billion program approved in 2023 and is intended to help keep the government running as the war continues.
The IMF said the package would help anchor an estimated $136.5 billion international support plan over four years. The Fund calculated a financing gap of around $136.5 billion over the program period, and said Ukraine’s financing gap in 2026 was estimated at $52 billion. The program includes quarterly reviews, with nine reviews planned.
The decision came as Hungary held up a €90 billion European Union loan package, though the European Commission president said Kyiv would receive the funds “one way or another”. The IMF said risks to the arrangement were “exceptionally high”.
Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg
Anthropic’s chief executive, Dario Amodei, said the company “cannot in good conscience accede” to Pentagon demands that would allow broader use of its Claude model, in a clash that could cost the company its contract. He said Anthropic is still negotiating but argued new contract language made “virtually no progress” on preventing use for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum after meeting Amodei on Tuesday: accept Pentagon use “for all lawful purposes” by Friday or risk losing the contract. Officials warned they could also label Anthropic a supply chain risk or invoke the Defense Production Act.
A Pentagon spokesman said the military has no interest in mass surveillance of Americans or weapons without human involvement. Amodei said the company would enable a smooth transition to another provider if talks fail.
Sources: Associated Press, BBC
The UN’s human rights chief said documentation by his office points to an over two and a half times increase in killings of civilians in Sudan in 2025 compared with the previous year. Latest data indicates at least 11,300 civilians were killed last year, while many thousands are still missing or unidentified.
He said both the army and the Rapid Support Forces used explosive weapons in densely populated areas, often without warning, and that attacks hit schools, hospitals, markets, religious sites and critical infrastructure. He also said more than 500 victims of sexual violence were identified in 2025, including rape, gang rape, sexual torture and slavery.
The UN described “carnage” linked to the RSF in North Darfur, and warned the war’s shift toward Kordofan carried a risk of repeating patterns of “heinous, ruthless brutality”. Drone strikes and blockades have killed or injured nearly 600 civilians since the beginning of the year.
Sources: RFI, UN News
The World Economic Forum’s president and chief executive, Borge Brende, said he would step down after an independent investigation into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein concluded. The forum’s co-chairs said the review identified no additional concerns beyond what had previously been disclosed.
The review followed disclosures that Brende attended three business dinners with Epstein in 2018 and 2019 and communicated with him by email, text and messages. At least one dinner took place at Epstein’s home in New York, emails show, weeks before he was arrested on federal charges of child sex trafficking. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting sex from a minor and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The forum named Alois Zwinggi as interim president and chief executive while it seeks a permanent successor.
Sources: The Independent, CNN, WEF Press Release
Hillary Clinton told House investigators in a closed-door deposition that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes and did not recall encountering Epstein. She said she had no new information about Epstein’s criminal activities and described the questioning as repetitive.
The deposition lasted more than six hours and is part of a House Oversight Committee investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Proceedings were briefly paused after an unauthorised photo of Clinton was shared on social media.
Clinton accused the committee chairman of running a one-sided investigation and called it an institutional failure designed to protect one political party and one public official. Democrats called for President Donald Trump to testify as part of the inquiry, while the chairman said the committee cannot depose a sitting president.
Sources: Associated Press, Axios
Netflix has withdrawn its bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery after refusing to match a higher offer from Paramount Skydance, clearing the way for a takeover of one of Hollywood’s largest studios. Executives said the revised price required to compete was no longer financially attractive and declined to increase their proposal.
Paramount raised its offer to $31 per share and agreed to pay billions in termination fees if the merger fails. Warner Bros said the Paramount proposal offered superior value, certainty and speed to closing, and shareholders are expected to vote on the deal. If approved, Paramount would gain control of Warner Bros’ film studios, streaming business and television networks, including CNN.
The transaction still faces regulatory scrutiny from US and European authorities, and state officials warned the merger is not yet complete. The takeover could significantly reshape the media landscape and concentrate ownership across major entertainment and news brands.
Sources: BBC, The Guardian
On this day ….
On this day in 1951 the United States ratified the 22nd Amendment to its Constitution, formally limiting presidents to two elected terms in office.
The amendment followed Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four-term presidency during the Great Depression and World War II. Lawmakers argued that codifying a term limit would reinforce constitutional balance and prevent excessive executive concentration of power.
Since ratification, no U.S. president has been eligible to serve more than two full terms. The amendment remains a defining feature of the American political system.
Given recent chatter from the Republican Party will the 22nd Amendment be challenged in the not too distant future?