Pakistani raids on Afghanistan. Taliban: at least 18 dead

Today's headlines: Hong Kong Court of Appeal rejects appeal by 12 pro-democracy activists; Talks between Iran and the United States, mediated by Oman, to be held in Geneva on Thursday 26th; Kim Jong Un remains general secretary; state media: improved deterrence, nuclear programme key; In 2025, Singapore increased entry bans on foreigners due to security risks.

PAKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan carried out new night air strikes on Afghanistan. According to the Taliban, they caused at least 18 deaths. Islamabad said the attacks targeted seven suspected militant camps and hideouts near the border, launched after recent suicide bombings in Pakistan. According to Kabul, several civilian homes and a religious school were hit. The new attacks follow the fragile ceasefire agreed between the two countries in October.

HONG KONG

The Hong Kong Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal filed by 12 pro-democracy activists. Their prison sentences in the “Hong Kong 47” case, one of the main trials under the National Security Law, have been confirmed. Pro-democracy activists and politicians were arrested in early 2024, accused of conspiracy to subvert the state for organising unofficial primary elections in 2020 to unite the democratic front. After a lengthy legal process, most were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 4 to 10 years at the end of 2024, while two defendants were acquitted.

IRAN - USA

On Thursday 26 February, talks between Iran and the United States on Tehran's nuclear programme will resume, despite the huge US military deployment in the Middle East. This was confirmed by Badr Albusaidi, Oman's foreign minister and regional mediator. Iran has announced that a possible agreement is being worked out. Threats of military intervention by the United States have multiplied since repression in Iran has caused thousands of casualties.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea's Workers' Party has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary, according to state media. The announcement made yesterday by the congress, which has only a formal role, comes as no surprise, given that the Kim family has ruled the dictatorship since the late 1940s. The state news agency KCNA said that under Kim's leadership, North Korea has “radically improved” its “war deterrence”, “with nuclear forces as the cornerstone”.

SINGAPORE

The number of foreign visitors denied entry to Singapore increased significantly in 2025, following the strengthening of border security measures - preventive information and data analysis - the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in its annual report. Approximately 45,700 foreigners were turned away in 2025, an increase of 38.3% from 2024. They were assessed as posing immigration and security risks.

ARMENIA

The world meeting of bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, convened by Catholicos Karekin II, who was not allowed to leave Armenia along with six other bishops, was held in the Austrian city of Sankt Pölten. Those present pledged their loyalty to him as “the symbol and guarantee of the unity of our Church”, condemning the persecution by the government in their homeland and assuring that “the Armenian Church is not at the service of external powers”.

RUSSIA - UKRAINE

49-year-old Russian Colonel Roman Demurčiev boasted to relatives and comrades about the torture inflicted on Ukrainian prisoners, as revealed by correspondence analysed by the Skhema and Sistema websites, recounting in very vulgar language how he punished many enemies by biting off their ears, and subsequently receiving several honours from the President of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, becoming a general.