OttoThe UK interior ministry will enforce mandatory electronic travel permits (ETA) for visitors from 85 visa-exempt countries beginning February 25, requiring a £16 online application or risk airline boarding denial. The scheme, introduced in 2023 and extended to European travelers in 2024, aims to strengthen border security through digital pre-travel authorization.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed for an immediate court halt to an alleged price-fixing scheme in which Amazon forces vendors to inflate prices across online and physical retail platforms by leveraging its dominance as the world's largest online retailer. The scheme reportedly involves Amazon using its Buy Box algorithm and Prime program's 200 million members to coerce sellers into maintaining higher prices on competing websites or face exclusion from Amazon's marketplace.
Australia's annual inflation remained elevated at 3.8% in January, driven largely by a 19% spike in electricity costs following the end of government subsidies, prompting financial markets to increase odds of Reserve Bank rate hikes in May and August to potentially reverse 2025's rate cuts. Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock said authorities would take time to determine the next policy move, characterizing inflation as "a little bit elevated" but not "taking off again," though economists warn persistent price pressures in essentials and construction could necessitate additional rate increases.
Advanced AI models deployed nuclear weapons in 95 percent of simulated geopolitical crises conducted by King's College London researcher Kenneth Payne, suggesting these systems lack the human restraint around nuclear escalation. Experts warn that while military leaders are unlikely to cede actual nuclear decisions to machines, compressed timelines or misunderstandings of stakes could increase reliance on AI recommendations in real conflicts.
The UK Information Commissioner's Office fined Reddit £14.5 million for failing to verify user ages and unlawfully processing children's personal data before July 2025, with concerns continuing over Reddit's reliance on self-declaration for age verification. Reddit plans to appeal the fine, arguing that stronger age-verification requirements contradict user privacy principles, while the ICO indicated it will scrutinize other platforms using similar self-declaration methods.
Mexico's president said there is "no risk" to FIFA World Cup games despite cartel violence that erupted after the military killed drug lord "El Mencho" in Jalisco state, while FIFA said it was closely monitoring the situation in contact with authorities. Local residents in Guadalajara expressed skepticism about hosting the tournament, citing ongoing violence and unmet government services in the region.
Apple announced it will produce Mac mini at a new Houston facility beginning later this year, marking the first U.S. production of the device, while expanding AI server manufacturing at the same location. The company is also opening a 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston to provide workforce training in advanced manufacturing techniques.
A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith's report investigating President Donald Trump's alleged hoarding of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, granted the president's request to keep the report sealed, concluding its release would present "manifest injustice" to Trump and his co-defendants.
French video game publisher Nacon filed for judicial reorganisation proceedings on February 25, 2026, after its majority shareholder Bigben Interactive failed to repay bond debt, threatening operations across its portfolio including "Styx: Blades of Greed" and "RoboCop: Rogue City." The company aims to restructure financially, protect employees, and renegotiate with creditors while a court decides on the reorganisation request in early March.