Summary

G7 foreign ministers issued a tougher statement on China, omitting past reassurances about "one China" policies and emphasizing concerns over Taiwan, China's nuclear buildup, and actions in the South China Sea.

The statement condemned "coercion" against Taiwan and removed language about maintaining stable relations with Beijing.

China strongly opposed the statement, calling it interference. The ministers also criticized China's economic policies and military actions near the Philippines and Vietnam.

The shift follows increased Chinese military pressure on Taiwan and recent U.S.-Japan discussions on regional security.

Summary

The EU warns that Trump-aligned tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, pose an "existential threat" by pressuring Brussels to weaken its digital regulations.

Trump has threatened tariffs on countries enforcing strict rules on U.S. tech firms, with Musk openly mocking EU governance.

Brussels insists on its right to regulate disinformation and antitrust issues but faces growing U.S. retaliation.

The dispute could escalate into a trade war, with both sides preparing countermeasures.

Summary

A survey of 100,000 Germans found that 94% refuse to buy a Tesla, signaling a major crisis for the company.

Tesla’s German sales dropped 70% in early 2025 after a 41% decline in 2024, despite overall EV sales rising.

Analysts attribute the slump to CEO Elon Musk’s far-right political endorsements, including promoting the AfD party and making Nazi-related gestures. Musk is under European investigation for political meddling.

With Tesla’s reputation plummeting, industry experts predict further losses in Germany’s competitive EV market.

Summary

A campaign finance watchdog filed a formal complaint alleging Elon Musk violated conflict of interest laws by influencing an FAA deal favoring his company, Starlink.

The Campaign Legal Center argues the FAA may cancel Verizon’s $2.4 billion contract due to Musk’s involvement in discussions about awarding Starlink a multibillion-dollar contract, violating federal law prohibiting officials from benefiting financially.

The Transportation Department’s inspector general may investigate, but Musk is unlikely to face penalties under the Trump administration.

Musk denies wrongdoing, claiming transparency, while CLC insists his actions qualify as unlawful participation.

Non-paywall link

Summary

Seminole, Texas, with a large Mennonite population, is the epicenter of a measles outbreak since January, impacting nine counties with nearly 200 cases and the nation’s first measles death in a decade.

Fuelled by "personal choice" and post-pandemic distrust, vaccine hesitancy is high. Many residents downplay the severity: “They’re just making a big deal of it.”

Even a death hasn't driven vaccination rates up. As Dr. Parkey noted, regarding vaccination inclination, “No way. Before Covid I could convince some. Now it’s like, forget it.”

Health officials are concerned about underreporting and potential complications amid RFK Jr.’s influence and deep-seated vaccine skepticism in West Texas.

Non-paywall link

Summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reversed a 1965 policy barring segregation in defense contractor facilities, contradicting his confirmation claims of not being racist.

He has prioritized eliminating DEI initiatives, canceling military observances like MLK Day and Holocaust remembrances, and purging nonwhite male leaders.

The Pentagon’s anti-DEI campaign mistakenly flagged Enola Gay bomber photos for deletion because of the word "gay."

Critics link Hegseth’s actions to his far-right Christian nationalist beliefs and hiring of 26-year-old Kingsley Wilson, who promotes neo-Nazi theories, as deputy press secretary.

Summary

Federal workers who voted for Trump in 2024 are facing unexpected job losses as the administration implements massive workforce cuts.

Michael Graugnard, an attorney advisor at USDA, was laid off three months into his role despite managerial assurances. While he supports "government efficiency," he didn't anticipate this implementation but doesn't regret his vote.

Similarly, IRS veteran James Diaz criticizes the administration's "chainsaw" approach to cuts. However, others like Ryleigh Cooper, who voted for Trump's IVF promises, now regret their decision after losing her Forest Service job.

The layoffs are part of Trump and Musk's plan that has terminated thousands of federal workers and convinced 77,000 others to resign.

Summary

Elon Musk clashed with Trump’s cabinet in a heated White House meeting over Doge’s aggressive cost-cutting.

Transport Secretary Sean Duffy was enraged by Musk’s attempts to cut air traffic controllers despite a national shortage, accusing him of unjustified layoffs. Duffy presented a spreadsheet showing Musk was not telling the truth, prompting Trump to order MIT graduates be hired instead.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins criticized hospital cuts, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confronted Musk.

Trump backed his cabinet, emphasizing a "scalpel rather than hatchet" approach to staffing reductions.

Summary

The Trump administration plans to revoke temporary legal status for 240,000 Ukrainians who fled Russia’s war, fast-tracking them for deportation.

The move is part of a broader effort to strip protections from 1.8 million migrants admitted under Biden’s humanitarian parole programs.

Trump’s policies also target 530,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Legal challenges are mounting, as affected individuals face uncertain futures. Advocates warn that even U.S. allies, such as Afghans who assisted the military, are now at risk of detention and deportation.

Summary

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has joined Frank McCourt’s bid to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations as a strategic adviser.

McCourt, who calls his bid “The People's Bid,” plans to give users more control over their data. Ohanian’s expertise in social media is expected to help validate and promote the initiative.

Other bidders include investors led by YouTuber MrBeast. ByteDance has not defined assets for sale and may shut down TikTok instead.

The White House is reviewing McCourt’s bid amid national security concerns.

Summary

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for an "immediate" summit between the US, EU, and Western allies to discuss Ukraine following a heated White House meeting between Trump and President Zelenskyy.

The February 28 meeting ended without agreement on a minerals deal after escalating into a confrontation over US aid and peace deal conditions.

Meloni warned that Western division "makes us all weaker" as European leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas commented that "the free world needs a new leader," while European allies worry about being excluded from US-Russia negotiations to end the war.

Summary

U.S. intelligence has found that Russia and China are actively recruiting recently fired or at-risk federal employees, particularly those with security clearances.

The effort coincides with the Trump administration’s mass layoffs in the federal workforce. Foreign intelligence officers are using LinkedIn and other platforms to identify potential recruits.

Officials warn this could expose critical U.S. secrets, but the administration has dismissed concerns.

Meanwhile, internal layoffs at the CIA and Pentagon may further increase vulnerabilities, with some terminated employees already challenging their dismissals in court.

Summary

Austria’s conservative ÖVP, center-left SPÖ, and liberal Neos have formed a coalition after five months of deadlock, blocking the far-right FPÖ from power despite its election victory.

Christian Stocker (ÖVP) will be chancellor, with Andreas Babler (SPÖ) as vice chancellor. The deal includes a seven-year budget plan, targeted tax relief, and social spending.

Migration policy balances security with integration, abandoning FPÖ’s hard-line stance.

The government reaffirms EU commitments, support for Ukraine, and neutrality on NATO while backing EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.

Summary

Three federal judges dealt legal setbacks to Trump’s early second-term controversial policies in a 90-minute span.

In DC, Judge AliKhan indefinitely blocked a federal funding freeze, calling it “irrational, imprudent and precipitated a nationwide crisis.”

Also in DC, Judge Amir Ali ordered the administration to pay pay foreign aid-related money owed to government contractors and nonprofit groups.

In Seattle, Judge Whitehead halted Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions, arguing it “amounts to an effective nullification of congressional will.”

Summary

The U.S. has reportedly warned Ukraine that access to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet could be cut off if Kyiv does not agree to a deal granting the U.S. access to its critical minerals.

This was raised in talks after Ukrainian President Zelenskiy rejected a proposal involving a 50% share of Ukraine's minerals, including lithium and uranium.

Starlink is crucial for Ukraine’s military operations, and losing it would be a significant blow.

Negotiations are ongoing, but tensions between Zelenskiy and Trump are escalating over Ukraine's war strategy and mineral wealth.

Summary

As Trump shifts U.S. policy away from Ukraine, European and world leaders are heading to Kyiv on February 24 to show support for President Zelenskyy.

Leaders from Spain, Canada, the EU, and Baltic states will discuss security guarantees as Ukraine marks three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Trump recently blamed Ukraine for the war and criticized Zelenskyy, sparking backlash from European allies.

Meanwhile, French President Macron has convened emergency meetings to coordinate Europe’s response amid Trump’s efforts to negotiate with Russia without EU input.

Summary

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is organizing grassroots events to oppose Trump’s policies, arguing that “Trumpism does not believe in democracy.”

In an op-ed, Sanders criticized Trump’s ties to Elon Musk, federal budget cuts, and media influence, warning of authoritarianism.

He cited Trump’s recent post likening himself to Napoleon and accused him of disregarding the rule of law.

The White House dismissed Sanders’ concerns, accusing Democrats of authoritarian tactics.

Summary

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found that 55% of registered voters believe Elon Musk has too much power in decisions affecting the U.S., while 36% say his influence is appropriate, and 3% say he has too little.

Opinions are divided along party lines, with 96% of Democrats, 56% of independents, and 16% of Republicans saying he wields excessive power.

The poll also indicates growing disapproval of Musk’s role in Trump’s administration.

Summary

DOGE announced on Monday the cancellation of several government contracts, claiming total savings of $16 billion.

However, nearly half of this amount was attributed to an $8 billion contract for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that, upon review, was actually valued at $8 million.

Additionally, a larger reported savings figure of $55 billion lacked detailed documentation.

The ICE contract in question, with D&G Support Services, was intended to provide program and technical support for ICE's Office of Diversity and Civil Rights.