Heli Palats

Four Years of War, No End in Sight. The Big Five 22 February edition. My regular update on war and great power competition. This week, diplomacy splutters, energy war, Russian mobilisation, StarLink and the Ukraine ground war, as well as my Big Five recommended reads.

"As we approach the fourth anniversary of Russia commencing its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, only one possible conclusion is possible: the Ukraine War will continue through spring 2026 and very likely beyond that." Read my full update here: mickryan.substack.com/p/four-years...

YouTube video by Direkt36 A CSAPDA (THE TRAP) - Az Orbán-korszak elvesztett lehetőségeinek története

Please, forward this.

Here's the documentary that 1.1 million Hungarians have watched over the past week. It investigates the damage that Viktor Orban's regime has done to health, education and public transportation in Hungary. - Anne Applebaum

English subtitles

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NQE...

As Trump accelerates mass detention and tramples over due process, I'm announcing a new philanthropic collaboration and ramping up mutual aid support to help California nonprofits connect families with basic needs and essential services.

We will always stand by our communities.

The Trump family has pocketed more than $4,000,000,000 from their crypto schemes—using the office of the President to line their own pockets.

That’s why I wrote the End Crypto Corruption Act—we need to stop this grift in its tracks.

Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From Major GOP Donor Island-hopping on a superyacht. Private jet rides around the world. The undisclosed gifts to Thomas have no known precedent in the modern history of the Supreme Court. “It’s incomprehensible to me tha...

Our Pulitzer-winning "Friends of the Court" series began with this story that revealed how SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas had, for 20+ years, been treated to undisclosed luxury vacations by real estate titan and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow.

(Published April 2023)

Turns Out There Was Voter Fraud in Georgia—by Elon Musk newrepublic.com/post/206857/... via @newrepublic.com

At least 20 communities with large warehouses are stealth targets for massive ICE detention centers. 'There was absolutely no warning' | Fortune In many cases, mayors, county commissioners, governors and members of Congress learned about ICE’s ambitions only after the agency bought or leased space for detainees.

More and more of these warehouse concentration camps are being stealthily planned without the communities themselves having much of a warning. We need to make sure we’re shutting these down where we can

Salad praise: how ice hockey’s ‘lettuce’ hair is winning over Hollywood Gentler take on mullet has flowed over shoulders at Winter Olympics and is now tossed on red carpets

Salad praise: how ice hockey’s ‘lettuce’ hair is winning over Hollywood

This is insane. This investigation got picked up by several Russian outlets, also a Polish outlet yet nothing in the US.

The investigation shows how ICE and several other federal agencies are using phone extraction software with roots in Russia and FSB

open.substack.com/pub/malignin...

Hazardous driving throughout Finland during busy travel weekend Many families are on the roads this weekend as school holidays end in parts of the south and begin in central Finland.

Many families are on the roads this weekend as school holidays end in parts of the south and begin in central Finland.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Trump lacked the authority to impose tariffs on nearly every country under an emergency powers law.
The U.S. could face more than $150 billion in tariff refunds. The Court acknowledged that paying back tariffs would likely be a mess but said it may be required.

NYC: There are nearly 100 anti-ICE events across the city this weekend. Find one near you below!

Ukraine war briefing: Hungary threatens to block €90bn EU loan to Kyiv in oil row Viktor Orbán demands Ukraine reopen Druzhba pipeline for Russian deliveries; Zelenskyy says Ukraine is not losing the war. What we know on day 1,459 Continue reading...

Ukraine war briefing: Hungary threatens to block €90bn EU loan to Kyiv in oil row

Andrew photo will go down in history - Birmingham photographer John Williams, from Aston, says the picture shows the importance of photographers.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

‘Andrew’s aghast eyes echo The Scream’: is first photo after arrest the ultimate royal portrait? This image of Mountbatten-Windsor is full of shock, pain and horror, bringing to mind dark works by Munch, Goya and Courbet. Will this portrait of power rotting away in real time be how history rememb...

”This image of Mountbatten-Windsor is full of shock, pain and horror, bringing to mind dark works by Munch, Goya and Courbet. Will this portrait of power rotting away in real time be how history remembers the royals?” Monarkioiden aika on ohi. Briteissä ja Norjassa kruunut jo heiluu. Ihan oikein.

US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs: Early analysis from Chatham House Initial reaction after the top US court dealt a blow to President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.

The US Supreme Court has ruled against President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs in a long-awaited ruling that will be seen as a blow for the president’s economic agenda.

Heather Hurlburt offers her early analysis for Chatham House⤵️

Leaking water pipe wakes Korkeasaari bears from winter hibernation An unsettled start to their slumber, and the early-than-planned wake-up call, means the bears only caught about three weeks of uninterrupted sleep this winter.

An unsettled start to their slumber, and the early-than-planned wake-up call, means the bears only caught about three weeks of uninterrupted sleep this winter.

The WSJ just confirmed that ordinary Americans are paying 90% of Trump's tariffs.

X challenges €120M EU fine The fine was the first under the EU’s Digital Services Act and marked a point of no return in its sparring with Washington over the platform rules.

Elon Musk's X has challenged in court a €120 million fine imposed by the European Commission for breaching EU tech rules.

Ukraine to Receive Two Mirage 2000 Fighter Jets from France Ukraine will receive two Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France by the end of the first quarter of 2026 as part of military aid.Journalist Romain Mielcarek reported on this.According to […]

✈️ Ukraine will receive two Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France by the end of the first quarter of 2026 as part of military aid.

militarnyi.com/en/news/ukra...

Viral Child Soldiers on TikTok: The ‘Disney Stars’ of Sudan’s Civil War - bellingcat To stay up to date on our latest investigations, join Bellingcat’s WhatsApp channel here. Child soldiers linked to Sudan’s warring factions have gained viral fame on TikTok, with their videos attracti...

A Bellingcat investigation reveals child soldiers in Sudan’s civil war have become viral figures on TikTok. Videos attracting millions of views show the children with senior military officials, celebrating battlefield victories and delivering violent threats. www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/02...

Life After Ice

Scientists have revived microscopic worms frozen in Siberian permafrost for roughly 46,000 years, revealing how life can survive extreme cold through cryptobiosis. Simon Steel spoke with evolutionary biologist Philipp Schiffer about the discovery. 🧪 🔭

Learn more: www.seti.org/news/life-af...

I wonder if Andrew still claims he doesn't sweat.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on US law enforcement radar 15 years before UK arrest Recently disclosed documents show name of former prince came up during 2011 inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on US law enforcement radar 15 years before UK arrest

Former Prince Andrew’s Ties to Epstein Keep Spotlight on UK Prime Minister Starmer The arrest of the former prince maintains the spotlight on links between the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Jeffrey Epstein.

The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, maintains the spotlight on links between the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of Britain and Jeffrey Epstein.

Man in Portugal Tried to Sell Stolen NATO Data to Russian Embassy In Portugal, a man has been charged with attempted espionage after allegedly trying to sell stolen information from a NATO service member’s computer and iPad to Russia.Portugal’s Office of the […]

📌 In Portugal, a man has been charged with attempted espionage after allegedly trying to sell stolen information from a NATO service member’s computer and iPad to Russia.

militarnyi.com/en/news/man-...

From @washumedicine.bsky.social research 🩺 🧪

Poland urges citizens to leave Iran as Trump menaces Tehran Washington has deployed 2 aircraft carrier strike groups to the Middle East, positioning forces that could be used in potential strikes on Iran.

Poland today urged its citizens to leave Iran at once, after a rapid U.S. military buildup in the Middle East raised the specter of direct confrontation with Tehran.

The family have covered up Andrew’s actions for years. Personal Protection Officers that alerted the behaviour were reassigned. They are all complicit.

Americans waking up to news that Prince Andrew has been arrested for Epstein ties