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Chinese expert notices remarks 'unilateral,' no confirmation from Indian sideTHE GUARDIANUS accused of ‘shameless exploitation’ over proposed Zambian health aid dealTHE DIPLOMATSoutheast Asia’s Grab Finally Turns a ProfitTHE GUARDIANTwo women arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public could face life sentenceLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEGaza: from witness to resistanceMAIL & GUARDIANEconomists split on whether 2026 budget marks a real turning pointTHE INDEPENDENTNearly blind refugee abandoned by border patrol agents found dead in BuffaloLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe United States' history of regime change — revisitedBRASIL WIREAnalysis: NYT’s bizarre coverage and omissions of Bolsonaro’s murderous coup plotBRASIL WIREMinister warns of “industrial-scale” organized disinformation campaign, hindering disaster effortsTHE DIPLOMATPro-Trump Influencer Nick Adams Dropped as US Ambassador to Malaysia, Report SaysLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEFebruary: the longer viewMAIL & GUARDIANPolitical parties criticise budget speech amid stagnant growthTHE GUARDIANRoyal Artillery under fire after denying access to looted Asante treasureLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEMajor arms sellers and buyersTHE DIPLOMATCambodia Rejects Thai Claims It Launched a Grenade at Thai TroopsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEIran unravelled, a littleTHE GUARDIAN‘A devastating force’: how recent Mediterranean storms turned to tragediesTHE INDEPENDENTTwo British men arrested in Benidorm after ‘staging fake kidnapping’ to extort £725BRASIL WIRENathália Urban Presente!THE DIPLOMATThai Election Body Certifies Most Parliamentary Seats, Affirming Bhumjaithai VictoryTHE INDEPENDENTFour US residents killed, six captured after attempted ‘armed infiltration’ of Cuba, interior ministry saysBRASIL WIREBolsonaro Takes Stand in Coup TrialBRASIL WIREInside Brazil’s X Ban: How Elon Musk Started–and lost–a Fight With Brazil’s JudiciaryTHE GUARDIANRobert Mugabe’s son charged with attempted murder over Johannesburg shootingMAIL & GUARDIANGodongwana financially backs Ramaphosa’s tough talk on crimeTHE INDEPENDENTEpstein trafficked women ‘through UK airports until month before arrest’ in 2019THE INDEPENDENTMamdani says he will not ban snowball fights after police targetedMAIL & GUARDIANSocial Grants get R292.8bn boostMAIL & GUARDIANEkurhuleni’s moment: Why a University of Applied Science cannot waitGLOBAL TIMESTrump claims India will buy Venezuelan oil, welcomes China's investment; Chinese expert notices remarks 'unilateral,' no confirmation from Indian sideTHE GUARDIANUS accused of ‘shameless exploitation’ over proposed Zambian health aid dealTHE DIPLOMATSoutheast Asia’s Grab Finally Turns a ProfitTHE GUARDIANTwo women arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public could face life sentenceLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEGaza: from witness to resistanceMAIL & GUARDIANEconomists split on whether 2026 budget marks a real turning pointTHE INDEPENDENTNearly blind refugee abandoned by border patrol agents found dead in BuffaloLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEThe United States' history of regime change — revisitedBRASIL WIREAnalysis: NYT’s bizarre coverage and omissions of Bolsonaro’s murderous coup plotBRASIL WIREMinister warns of “industrial-scale” organized disinformation campaign, hindering disaster effortsTHE DIPLOMATPro-Trump Influencer Nick Adams Dropped as US Ambassador to Malaysia, Report SaysLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEFebruary: the longer viewMAIL & GUARDIANPolitical parties criticise budget speech amid stagnant growthTHE GUARDIANRoyal Artillery under fire after denying access to looted Asante treasureLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEMajor arms sellers and buyersTHE DIPLOMATCambodia Rejects Thai Claims It Launched a Grenade at Thai TroopsLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEIran unravelled, a littleTHE GUARDIAN‘A devastating force’: how recent Mediterranean storms turned to tragediesTHE INDEPENDENTTwo British men arrested in Benidorm after ‘staging fake kidnapping’ to extort £725BRASIL WIRENathália Urban Presente!THE DIPLOMATThai Election Body Certifies Most Parliamentary Seats, Affirming Bhumjaithai VictoryTHE INDEPENDENTFour US residents killed, six captured after attempted ‘armed infiltration’ of Cuba, interior ministry saysBRASIL WIREBolsonaro Takes Stand in Coup TrialBRASIL WIREInside Brazil’s X Ban: How Elon Musk Started–and lost–a Fight With Brazil’s JudiciaryTHE GUARDIANRobert Mugabe’s son charged with attempted murder over Johannesburg shootingMAIL & GUARDIANGodongwana financially backs Ramaphosa’s tough talk on crimeTHE INDEPENDENTEpstein trafficked women ‘through UK airports until month before arrest’ in 2019THE INDEPENDENTMamdani says he will not ban snowball fights after police targetedMAIL & GUARDIANSocial Grants get R292.8bn boostMAIL & GUARDIANEkurhuleni’s moment: Why a University of Applied Science cannot waitGLOBAL TIMESTrump claims India will buy Venezuelan oil, welcomes China's investment; Chinese expert notices remarks 'unilateral,' no confirmation from Indian sideTHE GUARDIANUS accused of ‘shameless exploitation’ over proposed Zambian health aid dealTHE DIPLOMATSoutheast Asia’s Grab Finally Turns a ProfitTHE GUARDIANTwo women arrested in Uganda for allegedly kissing in public could face life sentence
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Military5 days ago1
LebanonIsraelRussiaPalestineUSA

Drums of War and Failed Bets: Has Trump Miscalculated?

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Drums of War and Failed Bets: Has Trump Miscalculated?

Drums of War and Failed Bets: Has Trump Miscalculated?

While Western capitals buzz with the language of "deadlines," those who read history in our region understand that American threats are no longer destiny; they are the echoes of an empire attempting to repair its crumbling prestige.

Strategic Facts & Field Data:

• The Hollow Ultimatum: Donald Trump has set a "10-15 day" deadline for Iran to reach a new nuclear deal, warning of "really bad things." This rhetoric ignores that Tehran has weathered far more intense pressure for decades and emerged more resilient.

• Military Posturing: The presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, alongside the deployment of the USS Gerald Ford toward the region, is a desperate "Show of Force" against a resistance front stretching from Tehran to Beirut.

• The Iranian Response: Tehran’s formal warning to the UN was blunt: any U.S. aggression will render every U.S. base in the region (from Al-Udeid to Diego Garcia) a "legitimate target."

• The Eurasian Pivot: While Trump issues threats, the Iranian Navy is conducting joint drills with Russia in the Gulf of Oman (featuring the Russian corvette Stoykiy). This signals the birth of a new regional security order that rejects unilateral hegemony.

Strategic Conclusion:

History is accelerating. Those who survived the previous "Maximum Pressure" campaigns will not be intimidated by carrier groups operating in waters now dominated by precision missiles. Betting on the collapse of the Axis of Resistance under the weight of arbitrary deadlines is an academic delusion that fails the test of reality.

#AxisOfResistance #Iran #Trump #Geopolitics #GulfOfOman

Gaza & Lebanon:

This Week’s Bloodshed Debunks the "Ceasefire" Myth

While political salons fixate on "fragile agreements," the Zionist enemy continues its habit of breaching treaties and spilling blood. The past seven days (Feb 13-20, 2026) have been nothing but a new chapter of systematic genocide and aggression.

The Weekly Toll of Crimes:

• Gaza: In the last week alone, over 121 Palestinians were martyred in strikes targeting shelters in Deir al-Balah and Northern Gaza. This brings the total death toll since the "October Understandings" to 722 martyrs.

• The Hidden Data Scandal: A peer-reviewed study in The Lancet Global Health (published Feb 18, 2026) estimates the true death toll in Gaza has surpassed 75,200. This reveals that over 25,000 souls—largely under the rubble—remain unaccounted for in official counts due to the occupation’s blockade on recovery efforts.

• Lebanon: A severe escalation occurred on Feb 15 when a Zionist drone targeted a vehicle at the Masnaa border crossing, resulting in 4 martyrs. This is a desperate attempt to sever the resistance’s strategic depth.

• The Attrition Count: Since the alleged ceasefire began in Nov 2024, more than 370 Lebanese have been martyred. International reports (as of Feb 19) indicate that January and February saw the highest frequency of strikes since the truce, with over 50 airstrikes in the last few weeks alone.

Strategic Conclusion: Anyone betting on the resistance disarming amidst this expansionism is delusional. Field data confirms that the "calm" is merely a Zionist tactical repositioning. The response from the Axis fronts will remind the occupier that the policy of "nibbling at land and blood" carries an existential price.

#Gaza #Lebanon #AxisOfResistance #TheLancet #TheObserver #ResistanceUntilVictory

The Quran and Gunpowder: Khamenei Anchors the Creed Amidst "Deadlines"

While the dark rooms in Washington and Tel Aviv are busy drawing up "timetables" for aggression, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Ali Khamenei, appeared on the first day of Ramadan (February 2026) to reaffirm that the strength of the Axis stems from the "Firm Revelation" before its missile silos.

Strategic Implications of Timing:

• Ideological Resilience: On the first day of the holy month, amidst escalating U.S.-Zionist threats, the Leader chose the "Quranic Gathering." A blunt message to the enemy: Those anchored in a thousand-year legacy of steadfastness are not intimidated by Trump's "15-day" ultimatum.

• Defying the Siege: The gathering was broadcast globally via the internet, a technical and media challenge to the isolation policies the "Global Arrogance" attempts to impose on Tehran.

• The Strategic Response: The presence of reciters and the public is a "psychopolitical" rebuttal; while the occupation threatens to strike facilities, Iran displays its internal stability and the cohesion of its spiritual and military fronts.

Geopolitical Conclusion: The Islamic Republic does not manage its battles through emotional outbursts, but through long-term strategic patience. The scene of Quranic recitation in the Leader’s presence is a reminder that this Axis possesses a "surplus of moral power" that renders American aircraft carriers mere floating iron in a sea of conviction. History teaches us that invaders vanish, but the Quran and its people remain.

#Khamenei #Ramadan2026 #Iran #AxisOfResistance #HolyQuran #TheObserver

The "Board of Peace":

Financial Shrouds for Liquidation and Subjugation

In Washington this week, Donald Trump inaugurated the so-called "Board of Peace" (BoP)—a brutal "neoliberal" vehicle designed to enforce American hegemony under the guise of investment. Trump is not selling peace; he is selling political indulgences for billions of dollars.

Strategic Data & Facts (February 2026):

• Membership for Sale: Trump has set a $1 billion "entry fee" for permanent seats on the board. While Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, and Indonesia have joined, major European powers like France and Britain have flatly refused. They view the BoP as a "hostile takeover" of global governance, lacking checks and balances and operating entirely outside the UN framework.

• Dubious Funding: Gulf states have pledged over $4 billion (with $1 billion each from Riyadh, Doha, and Kuwait, and $1.2 billion from Abu Dhabi) for "Gaza reconstruction." However, the BoP charter designates Trump as "Chairman for Life" with absolute veto power, ensuring these funds serve as a political leash rather than genuine relief.

• Liquidating the Cause: The initiative seeks to replace Palestinian national aspirations with a "technocratic committee" overseen by Trump. This is a transparent attempt to bypass historical Palestinian rights and the legitimacy of the resistance.

• Imperial Hypocrisy: While peddling "peace" in Washington, Trump continues to mass naval fire-power and threaten Iran with "bad things." The BoP is merely a front to secure Zionist interests and funnel regional wealth into the U.S. treasury.

Strategic Conclusion: History shows no mercy to those who purchase "security" from their enemy. The "Board of Peace" is an attempt to privatize conflict and turn the blood of martyrs into figures on Trump’s balance sheet. Those who defeated the first "Deal of the Century" will dismantle this distorted investment scheme. Peace is not brokered by middlemen; it is forged by the rifles that refuse to bargain.

#BoardOfPeace #Trump #AxisOfResistance #Gaza #Geopolitics #TheObserver

Global Market Impact

As of February 20, 2026, geopolitical tensions involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel have driven significant volatility in energy and precious metals.

Commodity Performance

• Oil (Brent Crude): Prices rose to a seven-month high, trading between $71 and $72 per barrel. The surge is tied to military buildups in the Persian Gulf and fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.

• Gold: The metal has reclaimed the $5,000 per ounce threshold after a period of extreme volatility. It hit an all-time high of $5,595 in late January before stabilizing at current levels as a primary safe-haven asset.

• Silver: Trading in the upper $77 range, also buoyed by regional instability.

Market Drivers

• U.S.-Iran Standoff: Naval deployments and diplomatic friction in Geneva regarding nuclear verification have increased the "geopolitical risk premium."

• Supply Constraints: OPEC+ production cuts, particularly from Russia and Kazakhstan, are tightening the market despite rising non-OPEC output from North America.

• Economic Impact: Analysts warn that prolonged high energy prices may stall anticipated interest rate cuts by central banks due to inflationary pressure.

Forecast Context While current prices are elevated, the EIA and major banks like J.P. Morgan had previously projected an average Brent price of $58 for 2026, suggesting that the current $70+ range is a direct result of temporary geopolitical shocks rather than long-term demand fundamentals.