Event: Palestinians

The Listening PostAs Washington escalates threats of military action against Iran, negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme continue behind the scenes. But while the Trump administration insists that the standoff is about security, Iran’s state media are pushing a very different narrative: that the crisis is a deliberate distraction from the Epstein scandal that continues to implicate the US president.Contributors: Dina Esfandiary – Middle East Lead, Bloomberg Economics Fereshteh Sadeghi – Iranian journalist Jamal Abdi – President, National Iranian American Council Sina Toossi – Senior Fellow, Centre for International PolicyOn our radar:Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Israel this past week in a carefully choreographed display of solidarity. While Modi’s trip was celebrated in the Israeli media, criticism by Indian journalists was blocked back home. Leaving the two leaders to sign arms deals that will boost an already significant military partnership.The Rise of Digital Micro-BolsonarosNearly two years after Jair Bolsonaro’s fall from power in Brazil, the movement he built is searching for a new figurehead. A rising generation of young, evangelical, and hyper-online politicians is stepping in.They are leveraging a sophisticated, decades-old religious media machine that evolved from radio and television into a powerful force on social media. Brazil’s political right is being reshaped for the digital age.Featuring: Anna Virginia Balloussier – Journalist, Folha de Sao Paulo Caro Evangelista – Executive Director, ISER Magali Cunha – Editor-in-Chief, Berreia Project

Skip linksSkip to Content Live Navigation menuNewsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionSportVideoFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravel Live Live updates, Pakistan said it targeted Taliban forces in Afghanistan’s Kabul and border regions; UN chief says civilians also impacted.liveThis video may contain light patterns or images that could trigger seizures or cause discomfort for people with visual sensitivities.Al Jazeera LiveBy Lyndal RowlandsPublished On 28 Feb 2026 Iran’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” amid Pakistan, Afghanistan clashes and called for “immediate” dialogue. Residents of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul and border regions described panic and injuries following Pakistani Air Force attacks.

The search of CK Hutchison’s subsidiary marks the latest flashpoint in the rising US-China tensions over control of Panama’s vital trade canal.Authorities in Panama have reportedly searched and removed property from the subsidiary of a Hong Kong company that has been at the heart of recent tensions between the United States and China over the Panama Canal.In a statement on Friday, the Panama Ports Company (PPC), part of the Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison, said the Panamanian government “acted in disregard for the rule of law”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Greenland’s strategic position in seven maps: Why Trump wants the islandlist 2 of 3Panama court rules Chinese control of canal ports unconstitutionallist 3 of 3Shipping giant Maersk to take over Panama Canal ports after court rulingend of listIt decried what it called “the latest steps to invade and ⁠take the property of PPC” during a search on Thursday. It also accused authorities of entering a private storage site without notice and ignoring requests to safeguard sensitive corporate data.Panama Ports Company has been under increased scrutiny following US President Donald Trump’s claims that China was asserting too much influence over the arterial trade canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic.Panama’s government has robustly denied Chinese control of the waterway.But last month, the country’s Supreme Court annulled deals that gave the Panama Ports Company control over two canal ports. The court ruled that the concessions provided to the company were unconstitutional.China has alleged that the court case was a reaction to “hegemonic” pressure.It condemned Panama’s seizure of the ports as well as its decision to temporarily tap the Danish Maersk company and Switzerland-based MSC to run the ports until a new agreement is reached.Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino, meanwhile, warned China to “be careful” in its manoeuvring.“They…

China is delivering “offensive” weapons as well as additional “defensive” arms to Iran, with the US on the cusp of launching an attack on the Islamic Republic, three officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. One Arab official familiar with the deliveries described the offensive weapons as “small” systems. Another regional intelligence official said Beijing had sent loitering munitions, or Kamikaze drones, to the Islamic Republic. A second Arab official who spoke with MEE confirmed the deliveries of “offensive” weapons as well as the air-defence systems. Reuters reported in September that Chinese Kamikaze drones appeared in Sudan's battlefield. MEE revealed exclusively in July that China had supplied surface-to-air missile batteries to Iran following the 12-day war that culminated in the US striking three Iranian nuclear facilities. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The two Arab sources and a regional intelligence official familiar with the matter told MEE that China has continued to supply air defence assets to Iran since the summer. The regional intelligence official listed the Chinese systems in Iran’s possession as the HQ-16 and HQ-17AE. Supplying attack drones could also be a way for Beijing to provide some offensive support to Iran while it weighs selling more sophisticated missiles. Reuters reported this week that China is in discussions with Iran to provide CM‑302 anti‑ship cruise missiles. The CM-302 is both ship and ground-launched with a range of about 290 kilometres. The weapon could target US vessels in the Arabian Sea or closer to Iran’s shoreline in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf. The regional intelligence source told MEE that the two states are also in discussions over Iran purchasing China’s DF-17 hypersonic glide missile. Although Iran’s ballistic missiles…

Who: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka What: ICC 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights Where: Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Pallekele in Sri Lanka When: Saturday, February 28, at 7pm (13:30 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 10:30 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.Pakistan face a make-or-break finale to the Super Eights stage at the 2026 T20 World Cup when they must overcome already-eliminated Sri Lanka by a significant margin if they are to reach the semifinals.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4City vs Real Madrid and PSG vs Chelsea to headline Champions League last 16list 2 of 4Barca look to tighten grip on top spot in La Liga with win over Villarreallist 3 of 4Cristiano Ronaldo buys 25 percent stake in Spanish second-tier club Almerialist 4 of 4Real Madrid bans club member over Nazi salute during Benfica matchend of listNew Zealand currently hold second spot in the four-team group, but their defeat by England on Friday has opened the door to Pakistan to climb into second spot.Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match and what Pakistan must do if they are to progress to the knockout stage.How have Pakistan fared at the T20 World Cup?Pakistan’s campaign started on a nervy note with a three-wicket win in a thrilling last-over finish against the Netherlands before overcoming the United States and Namibia.In between, they lost heavily to India in a highly anticipated clash in Colombo.Pakistan’s first Super Eight match against New Zealand was washed out in Colombo before they lost to England, and Harry Brook’s sparkling century in Kandy on Tuesday.How have Sri Lanka fared at the T20 World Cup?Sri Lanka stormed to victories against Ireland and Oman before upsetting, and eliminating, Australia to seal their qualification from…

The Iranian government allowed universities to reopen for in-person classes for only five days after weeks of nationwide protests that were violently suppressed. On Thursday, one university after the other announced that classes would again move online. During the short week that students were back on campus, clashes broke out between protesting students and members of Basij forces at several universities. Azad University, which has branches in most cities across Iran, along with Kurdistan, Zanjan, Science and Culture, Kharazmi and Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi universities, said in-person classes would be suspended until the end of the current Iranian year on 21 March, after which universities will close for the two-week Nowruz holiday. At Al-Zahra University, students tore down a flag adopted after the 1979 revolution and chanted “Death to Khamenei, Curse on Khomeini,” referring to the current and first leaders of the Islamic Republic. In Tehran, clashes also took place between students and paramilitary Basij forces at Sharif, Khajeh Nasir, and Elmo Sanat universities in the capital. Some students were later suspended. The confrontations began when students held gatherings to mark the 40th day since the recent deaths of protesters. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters A 21-year-old student at Tehran University, one of the main centres of the protests, told Middle East Eye that students are angry and grieving over the large number of people killed by security forces. He said they are using university space to speak out at a time when the establishment has shut down protests elsewhere. “We are tired and angry about all this killing,” the student said. “Like everyone who joined last month’s protests, we went to the streets, but we were met with bullets and death.…

A group of western nations intend to form an atrocity prevention coalition for Sudan following a scathing UN report that concluded the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary committed genocide during hostilities in Darfur late last year. On Thursday, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway appeared to endorse the conclusions of the UN fact-finding mission on Sudan, which accused the RSF of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide primarily targeting non-Arab communities in the North Darfur capital el-Fasher during its 18-month siege and capture of the city in October. The five European states are members of the Sudan Core Group at the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, an informal coalition of states that leads on drafting and advancing resolutions addressing the human rights situation in Sudan. In their statement, the countries noted the UN report’s warning of the risk of further genocidal conduct in the absence of preventive measures and accountability. “We, the international community, must redouble our efforts to prevent a repeat of the atrocities committed in el-Fasher, and the Sudan Core Group calls on the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law,” they wrote. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters “We implore all states to consider closely the important recommendations the report lays out: Civilians must be protected; the UN arms embargo must be expanded and enforced; and restrictions of humanitarian access and accountability mechanisms must end.” The report by the UN fact-finding mission for Sudan marked the first time UN investigators concluded that the RSF had committed the crime of genocide. Previous reports had accused both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of…

China urged its citizens to leave Iran as soon as possible on Friday amid the growing risk of US air strikes after the latest round of talks ended without a deal.The foreign ministry in Beijing warned there had been a “significant increase in external security risks” in Iran and said its citizens should not travel to the country.It also said those who were already there should “strengthen their security precautions and evacuate as soon as possible”.“Chinese embassies and consulates in Iran and neighbouring countries will provide necessary assistance to Chinese citizens for relocation via commercial flights or land routes,” it said in a social media post.Escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran and the build-up of US military forces in the region have prompted several countries – including Australia, India, South Korea and Sweden – to issue similar travel or evacuation warnings.Also on Friday, the Chinese embassy in Israel urged its citizens to closely monitor security alerts issued by the Israeli government.It told them to strengthen emergency preparedness, familiarise themselves with nearby bomb shelters and evacuation routes, and avoid designated extreme high-risk areas, including the northern border and the region near Gaza.

Global debt climbed to a record high in 2025, rising at the fastest pace since the pandemic, with China and the United States accounting for a large share of the increase, according to a new report.Total global debt surged to US$348 trillion last year, with nearly US$29 trillion of new debt added over the year, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) said.Government borrowing accounted for more than US$10 trillion of the increase, with the United States, China and the euro zone together responsible for roughly three-quarters of the rise, according to the banking trade group’s latest “Global Debt Monitor” report released on Wednesday.The report came at a time when China’s fiscal health and corporate debt levels are facing greater scrutiny from international investors, with Beijing under mounting pressure to balance short-term growth targets with the long-term goal of deleveraging and transitioning to a more sustainable economic model.A new wave of capital expenditure “super cycles” is driving growth in global debt markets, including large-scale investment in artificial intelligence data centres, energy security and climate change adaptation, and resilient infrastructure, according to the IIF.“Looking ahead, global debt accumulation is set to remain robust amid rising government borrowing needs – particularly in the US, China, Germany, Japan and India,” it said.The IIF’s latest report showed that China’s government debt level rose from 88.4 per cent of gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 96.8 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025.

China has stepped in to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan following an escalation of their conflict, urging both sides to end the fighting and settle their disputes through dialogue.This comes after Pakistan bombed major cities in Afghanistan on Friday, including the capital Kabul, and declared “open war” with its neighbour after months of deadly clashes.Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday that as a neighbour and a friend to both countries, China was closely following developments. She added that Beijing was deeply concerned about the escalation and saddened by the casualties.“China has been working for mediation on the conflict via its own channels, and stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in de-escalation and the improvement of bilateral ties,” Mao said.Mao added that the Chinese foreign ministry and embassies in both countries were working to address the conflict.“China supports combating all forms of terrorism and calls on the two sides to remain calm, exercise restraint, properly settle differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation, end the fighting at an early date, and avoid more suffering for the people,” Mao said.

Palestinians make their way in a devasted neighborhood, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City. | Photo Credit: Reuters Gaza's civil Defence Ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least five people on Friday (February 27, 2026).Violence has continued in the Palestinian territory despite a U.S.-brokered truce that entered its second phase last month, with Israel and Hamas trading accusations of violating the agreement.The civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authorities, told AFP that an air strike in the early hours of Friday (February 27) morning killed at least two people and seriously injured one in central Gaza.A drone strike in the south of the strip shortly after midnight killed three and injured several more people, the agency added.Under the terms of the ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, Israeli troops withdrew to positions behind a so-called "Yellow Line", though they remain in control of more than half of the territory.Gaza's Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas authorities, has previously said at least 601 people had been killed since the truce began.The Israeli military says at least four of its soldiers have been killed in the same period.Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the fighting. Published - February 27, 2026 09:37 am IST