Latest news for 26 February 2026

SPAIN

Old ghosts.

The left-leaning Sánchez administration has declassified 153 secret documents about a failed 1981 military coup to overthrow Spain’s post-Franco democracy. Sánchez argues it’s to dispel lingering conspiracy theories about the supposed involvement of Spain’s then king and intel services. (New York Times $)

Comment: The document dump seems to reinforce what we already knew: eg, that the king (father of the current monarch) was ordering plotters to stand down, with no evidence he was onboard. Still, lobbing these docs into today’s polarised Spain plays to broader debates around government transparency, with the conservative opposition dismissing it as a distraction from Sánchez’s scandals. Meanwhile, the failed coup leader (Tejero) actually just died at 93 on the day of the document release.

CUBA

Boat incursion.

A shootout between Cuba’s coast guard and a Florida-tagged speedboat has left four of the 10 speedboat passengers dead. Cuban authorities say the men, all US-based Cuban nationals, fired the first shot and intended to “carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes”. The US is denying involvement. (Al Jazeera)

INDIA

Howdy partner.

Prime Minister Modi has become India’s first leader to address Israel’s Knesset, pledging India “stands with Israel firmly with full conviction”. (The Times of India)

Comment: These two share key interests: for example, they both see terrorism as an existential threat; and they both see their tech sectors as future-shaping strengths.

JAPAN

Island missiles.

Tokyo has unveiled plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island (near Taiwan) by 2031. (BBC)

Comment: As always, the timing is interesting: it comes just after China’s latest escalation (export curbs on 20 military-linked Japanese firms), and just before PM Takaichi’s planned March visit to the US (highlighting her alliance cred).

ICELAND

Nice Union, might join later.

Iceland could reportedly host a referendum on resuming talks to join the EU as soon as this August, years after dropping its earlier ambitions. (Politico)

Comment: The Icelanders ditched earlier EU talks over fisheries and other economic issues. This new interest comes amid US rhetoric around Greenland and broader NATO (which Iceland joined as a founding member). Polls on whether to join the EU are currently split.

AUSTRALIA

Showstopper.

Prime Minister Albanese’s security detail has evacuated him from Canberra’s official residence following a reported bomb threat targeting a traditional Chinese dance troupe linked to the China-banned Falun Gong religious group. An anonymous letter apparently threatened to trigger explosives around the prime ministerial lodge unless Shen Yun cancelled its upcoming performances. (Independent)

BRAZIL

Neck and neck.

Ahead of October’s presidential election, the left-leaning incumbent (Lula) is now tied with the son of his conservative arch rival (former president Jair Bolsonaro, now serving 27 years for coup crimes). Flavio, a senator, has pledged to pardon his father, ban re-election, pivot back to pro-Israel, cut taxes, curb spending, and privatise more state enterprises. (Bloomberg $)

ZIMBABWE

Resource nationalism.

Harare has banned the export of all raw minerals and brought forward its prohibition on lithium concentrate exports amid allegations sales (mostly to China) are bypassing local taxes. Zimbabwe is Africa’s top lithium producer. (Reuters)

Comment: Zimbabwe has (with Indonesia) been a front-runner among resource exporters trying to onshore more of the value-add (processing). Indonesia's move drove a 10x surge in processed nickel exports within five years, while massive new China-backed smelters created 500k direct new jobs. More exporters will want to replicate those numbers.