Cartel attacks kill more than two dozen people in Mexico
NewsFeed Cartel reprisals for the killing of drug lord Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera killed at least 25 Mexican National Guard soldiers, a prison guard, a state official, and a civilian, according to the country’s security secretary. Published On 23 Feb 202623 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Putin’s strategy is that Ukraine will fall before he does: Ex-FM Kuleba
As Ukraine marks four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion on Tuesday, Dmytro Kuleba, the war-torn nation’s former foreign minister from 2020 until 2024, talks to Al Jazeera about how early expectations of a short war gave way to a grinding conflict with no clear end in sight. From shifting definitions of victory and growing fractures among Ukraine’s allies to negotiations with Moscow and lessons learned in the Global South, Kuleba reflected on what survival, realism and resolve mean for Ukraine today. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The 44-year-old, who is now an associate professor at Sciences Po in France and a non-resident senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, spoke to Al Jazeera via video-link from Kyiv, where he resides. Here’s our interview, which has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. Al Jazeera: As the war enters a fifth year, is there any room for optimism? Dmytro Kuleba: Optimism should be rooted in reality, and there will be no ceasefire until the end of winter in Ukraine. I do not mean the calendar winter; I mean the temperatures and the weather. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has been ruthlessly destroying our energy system and plunging millions of Ukrainians into cold and darkness to break them down, not to make a good deal with them. After winter ends, there will be a slim chance for a ceasefire, and whether the slim chance can become real, will depend on two factors. First, whether Russia will be able to make advances on the battlefield, because if it does, it will have zero incentive to stop. Advertisement And secondly, whether the Russian economy will cripple under the pressure of mounting problems. Al Jazeera: Is Russia negotiating in good faith or buying time with the current talks? Kuleba: Russia, throughout its history, has not been particularly famous for negotiating in good faith. They are testing how much they can achieve at the negotiating table instead of achieving the same goals on the battlefield. Secondly, they are engaging in meaningful conversation, trying to understand how a potential ceasefire could work from a technical perspective, just to have that frame on the table. But meaningful does not mean in good faith. Putin believes he can win the war. He believes he’s making progress on the battlefield and that he can manage problems in the Russian economy. His strategy is that Ukraine is going to fall before he does. Al Jazeera: Is the current situation something you imagined back in February 2022? Kuleba: When war breaks out, your first instinct is to believe that it’s not going to last long … and all you have to do is just to survive the first attack, and then the attacking side will realise that it failed to achieve its goals. But while keeping this instinctive scenario on your mind, you always have to also remember that things may last longer than you expect. Did I expect the war to last for four years? No, I didn’t. But was I preparing myself for a long war? Yes, somewhere in the back of my mind, I was keeping that option open. Al Jazeera: What does victory mean to you now? Kuleba: It started as a nightmare, and by the end of [2022], we captured half of the territories Russia had captured in the first months of the invasion, and we were pushing them back on old fronts. [Russian troops] were struggling to stabilise the front line; a sense of euphoria dominated in Ukraine, both among the decision-makers and the population. This was the moment when victory was defined as regaining control of the 1991 border, which had existed before Russia annexed Crimea and intervened in the east of Ukraine in 2014. But this hope … did not pass the reality check by the end of 2023, when our big counteroffensive failed to deliver. Since then, politicians and people in Ukraine find it more and more difficult to redefine victory and speak about it, which I think is a big problem, because if you do not define what your final goal is, you will never get it. So I offer my understanding of victory today, which would be to cease fire along the existing front line to stop hostilities and introduce a provisional truce between Russia and Ukraine to receive a long multi-year programme of military support to Ukraine; to launch a multi-billion recovery plan for Ukraine, and to see Ukraine as a member of the European Union. Advertisement Victory should always be defined, not only against your own goals, but also against the initial goals of your enemy. So if I look back at 2022 and assume that Russia’s main objective was the demolition of the Ukrainian statehood and the return of Ukraine under its full control, then … Russia failed. Al Jazeera: Do you feel the West and your vision are aligned? Kuleba: The West doesn’t really exist anymore in the form we are used to thinking about it. Europe is aligned. Some countries outside of Europe, which belong to what used to be the West, are aligned as well, such as Japan, Australia, and other nations. The United States holds a different view now; they just want to end hostilities at any cost. Al Jazeera: What security guarantees does Ukraine need for a potential ceasefire to hold? Kuleba: It would be Russia accepting that Ukraine has a right to exist as an independent, sovereign and European nation. Everything in between a potential ceasefire and the acceptance of this fact will be a conflict, taking one form or another. Al Jazeera: Is there still defiance among Ukrainians? Kuleba: We won the winter battle. It was the battle for our resolve and stamina, and Putin hoped we would be broken. We are exhausted, but not broken. Al Jazeera: What would you say to Ukraine’s backers who have expressed concern about recent corruption scandals? A big corruption case always triggers two reactions. If you want to argue, if your goal
Israel bans 5 Palestinian media organisations from occupied East Jerusalem
NewsFeed Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued an order banning the work of five Palestinian local media organisations based in occupied East Jerusalem, accusing them of links to Hamas and causing “incitement”. Published On 23 Feb 202623 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
EPFO Refund: Govt simplifies withdrawal process for PF account holders; Who can benefit? Check details
According to official figures, more than seven lakh inoperative accounts fall under this category. Accounts that are already Aadhaar-linked will receive the money immediately, while transfers to the remaining eligible accounts will be processed in phases.
Tejas crash: HAL clarifies ‘minor technical issue on ground, no airborne accident’
The tragic crash involving the LCA Tejas aircraft was limited to a minor technical issue on the ground, and there was no airborne accident, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said in a filing to the stock exchange. The company also said that the issue is being analysed and HAL is working closely with the Indian Air Force(IAF) for speedy recovery.
Panipat refinery protest: Workers turned violent, throw stones at security, know what happened
Harayana witnessed a massive violence at Panipat Refinery and Petrochemical Complex at Baholi, when the protesting workers started throwing stones at the security officers on Monday. The protest turned violent after a standoff with the security officials.
Indian Railways to scrap UTS, enable unreserved ticket bookings on single ‘RailOne’ app
The Indian Railways will now shut down its long time Unreserved Ticketing System mobile app from March 1, 2026, changing the digital process of railway ticket booking. The discontinuation of the app is part of a strategy to make the ticketing process smoother.
The border wall is closing in on Big Bend, sparking opposition by locals
Residents and elected officials are speaking out against a proposed border barrier through Texas’ biggest state park and one of the jewels of the national park system.
Trump fires judge-picked US attorney as top DOJ official warns courts to stay in their lane
The Justice Department announced Friday the firing of a second court-appointed U.S. attorney in as many weeks, revealing the swift removal of another prosecutor selected by federal judges to lead a district. The judges in the Eastern District of Virginia had chosen veteran lawyer James Hundley to fill the vacancy left by Trump-appointee Lindsey Halligan, who stepped down from the role last month after the court said she was illegitimately serving. A top DOJ official quickly announced Hundley’s termination on social media, intensifying the ongoing fight between the executive and judicial branches over who has authority to choose the top prosecutors in each of the 93 federal court districts. “Here we go again. EDVA judges do not pick our US Attorney. POTUS does. James Hundley, you’re fired!” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X. FEDERAL JUDGE DISQUALIFIES US ATTORNEY, TOSSES SUBPOENAS TARGETING NY AG LETITIA JAMES Blanche’s comment echoed a similar one he made when announcing the termination of Donald Kinsella after judges in the Northern District of New York chose him to replace Trump appointee John Sarcone, whom they also disqualified. Constitutional scholar John Yoo recently told Fox News Digital that while the law gives judges the authority to choose a lawyer to fill a U.S. attorney vacancy, the Constitution and court precedent clearly grant the president — not the attorney general or deputy attorney general — the power to dismiss U.S. attorneys at will. Underscoring that the decision had come from the president was Dan Scavino, the head of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, who told Hundley through a social media post, “Check your email James,” after Blanche announced Hundley’s termination. Halligan’s and Sarcone’s absences have left DOJ leadership, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Blanche, to serve as signatories on court filings in those districts as the Senate fails to confirm Trump’s preferred nominees to serve in them and several other blue state districts, where the home state senators must approve of the nominees under the upper chamber’s blue slip tradition. In a similar scenario, the court disqualified Trump appointee Alina Habba, and DOJ leadership responded by assigning three department officials to assume the duties of the U.S. attorney there. The DOJ initially also appealed the decision to disqualify Habba, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld a lower court ruling on it, and the department has not at this stage sought relief from the Supreme Court.
Reporter’s Notebook: Trump’s State of the Union becomes political boxing match as Democrats boycott
Imagine a boxing match. A boxing match may only go a few rounds. But it’s a big production. There’s a massive buildup for weeks in the press. There’s the weigh-in. Both fighters enter the ring to fanfare. Everyone scans the crowd to see “who” is there or nabbed seats close to the ring. Celebrities. Actors. Musicians. Models. Other famous athletes. There’s a lot to see. And that’s why the president’s State of the Union speech is similar. DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS INTO WEEK TWO AS IRAN THREAT, SOTU CLASH COMPLICATE HILL TALKS Yeah, there’s the speech. But there’s a lot more on which to focus when President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address on Tuesday night. It may range from what “trunks” the fighters wear when they enter the ring to who is serving as their cornermen. Do you train your attention on the speech itself and what the president says? Does he deliver a stemwinder of an address, veering off into any number of political tributaries and addressing countless grievances? Do you observe the delivery of a president who maintains a mostly loyal MAGA base but struggles with soaring disapproval ratings? What about the presence of Supreme Court justices who ruled against the president last week on tariffs, one of the most seminal issues of his administration? How about his push to double down on tariff policies, despite the decision by the High Court? We haven’t even discussed what the president may say about ICE, unrest in the Twin Cities, the stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. And that’s to say nothing about the possibility of invading Iran or new questions emerging about Greenland. This is just an incomplete list regarding the speech. But State of the Union messages are now laced with theater and performance. It extends well beyond what the president may say or do. Lawmakers were practically props a few decades ago, applauding and cheering when they heard the president tout a policy or achievement they endorsed. Or, sitting silently if something came up which they opposed. Now, State of the Union is a participatory if not contact sport. The president’s most ardent opponents are expected make noise, heckle, boo, shout or even upbraid the president. Think of the iconic photo depicting Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, waving his cane at Trump before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., banished him from the address last year. Or former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., on their feet, jeering former President Joe Biden a few years ago. BILL MAHER CALLS FOR COMPLETE END TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AHEAD OF TRUMP SPEECH Tuesday night will serve as a test for Congressional decorum. Expect outbursts and shouted retorts. But we’ll see if anyone raises – or lowers – the bar when it comes to their conduct compared to Johnson bouncing Green from the chamber last year. Then there’s the old “look who I brought” to the speech watch. Democrats may gravitate toward pillars of their community, local heroes, or those wronged by ICE. Republicans may bring along local law enforcement officials helpful toward the detention and deportment of those in the country illegally. Or, the relatives of those harmed by illegal immigrants. There’s also a question whether some lawmakers will show up. Some Republicans representing vulnerable districts or competitive states may skip out to build distance between themselves and the largely unpopular president. Meantime, a growing number of Democrats plan to attend an alternative to the president’s address. They are eschewing the speech in exchange for what they call the “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall. Some Democrats may pull double duty. One wonders if some lawmakers — of both parties — will use travel issues posed by the East Coast blizzard as a convenient excuse to skip out. Someone who might not skip out: former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y. The House expelled Santos in late 2023. Only the sixth Member ever kicked out of the House. But as a former Member, Santos still has privileges to come and go from the Capitol as he wants. So Santos showed up for Biden’s State of the Union in 2024. Santos pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in 2024. But Trump commuted Santos’ sentence last fall. And then there is who reacts to Trump. Virginia Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger, delivers the official Democratic response. She’s a moderate former Congresswoman who prevailed last fall by campaigning on “affordability.” Republicans will focus on Spanberger and plans to redraw House districts in Virginia to offset prospective gains by GOPers through redistricting — at the president’s behest — in Texas. WATCH: TOP 5 MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS IN AMERICAN STATE OF THE UNION HISTORY Three other prominent Virginians have delivered rebuttals to State of the Union messages in recent years. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., was Virginia’s Governor when he responded to then President George W. Bush in 2006. Democrats drafted then Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., to deliver the response to Mr. Bush’s 2007 speech. Republicans tapped then Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell to speak after Obama’s 2010 oratory. Most responses to presidential State of the Union addresses either don’t go well or are barely remembered. It may be noteworthy if Spanberger hacks through the noise at all and people remember anything from her presentation. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., will deliver the Democrats’ response in Spanish. This will be Padilla’s highest profile moment since guards protecting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem threw the senator to the ground when he interrupted her remarks about ICE during a news conference in Los Angeles in June. The president will be on screen most of the time during the speech. But the two men who likely rival Trump for screentime are Johnson and Vice President JD Vance. Or at least their torsos will as they’re half visible in the frame, sitting above Trump on the House dais. Johnson will run the show, as he is Speaker