AnewZ Morning Brief - 23 February, 2026
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to...
Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on December 14, demanding the release of hostages taken by Hamas and calling for a ceasefire, as the war in Gaza enters its second year with mounting casualties and devastation.
The war, now in its second year, has left Gaza devastated. Following the Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped more than 250 hostages, Israeli forces launched a massive offensive by air, sea, and land. According to Gaza authorities, the military campaign has killed nearly 45,000 people, mostly civilians, displaced almost the entire population, and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.
The protest marks 435 days since the hostages were taken. Among those demanding action was Omri Lifshitz, whose father, Oded Lifshitz, remains captive. "We hope for a deal this month. The hostages are waiting for us to save them," he said. Others criticized the government for handling negotiations poorly, arguing that partial deals leave many hostages behind and prolong the suffering.
Efforts to mediate a truce and secure a hostages-for-prisoners exchange have gained momentum. Talks led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are reportedly progressing, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi holding discussions with U.S. officials about potential terms for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
As protesters continue to demand change, the pressure on Netanyahu’s government grows. The call is clear: an end to the war, a deal for the hostages, and a new direction for Israel’s leadership.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
UK politicians have renewed calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, to be removed from the line of succession following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and revelations over his links to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A “Victory will be ours” banner was hung on the Russian Embassy in Seoul, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It remains on display despite a request from the South Korean Foreign Ministry on Sunday (22 February) for its removal, sparking widespread criticism.
North Korea’s Workers' Party of Korea has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary during the party congress in Pyongyang state media reported.
The European Commission has demanded that the United States honour the terms of last year’s European Union–U.S. trade agreement. This comes after the Supreme Court of the U.S. struck down President Donald Trump’s global tariff programme, prompting him to impose new across-the-board levies.
Hungary has said it will block the European Union’s latest sanctions package against Russia unless oil supplies through the Druzhba pipeline are restored, deepening a dispute with Brussels and Kyiv over energy security.
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