Daily News Summary – 2026-02-25 – en

Following a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, NSW establishes a permanent 250-officer rapid response unit with automatic weapons to patrol places of worship and public events, marking Australia's largest counter-terrorism policing overhaul.

President Trump's 107-minute State of the Union address contained numerous false claims about the economy and immigration, drawing criticism from fact-checkers and Democrats who boycotted the speech.

A Turkish Air Force F-16 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing the pilot and raising concerns about fighter jet safety and maintenance practices in the Turkish military.

The Trump administration is proposing a policy requiring U.S. banks to verify customers' citizenship with passports, aiming to curb illegal immigration but facing opposition from the financial industry over privacy and operational concerns.

A Dutch survey shows 45% of workers believe AI could replace their jobs, highlighting concerns about automation and the need for educational reforms to prepare the workforce.

Gene editing and mRNA technologies are advancing rapidly, with CRISPR therapies gaining FDA approval and mRNA expanding into cancer treatments, though challenges in accessibility and ethics remain.

China's digital yuan has processed over $2 trillion in transactions, challenging US dollar hegemony with fast cross-border settlements, but structural limitations may hinder its global dominance.

Shadow banking assets have grown to $256.8 trillion, posing systemic risks similar to the 2008 financial crisis due to high leverage and regulatory gaps.

ESG investing faces scrutiny over performance and greenwashing, with $30+ trillion in assets but mixed results on returns and impact, amid political backlash and regulatory evolution.

COP29 secured a $300 billion annual climate finance commitment from developed nations, but it falls short of the $1.3 trillion demanded by developing countries, highlighting geopolitical tensions.

Extreme rainfall in Brazil's Minas Gerais state triggered floods and landslides, killing at least 30 people and displacing hundreds, with rescue operations ongoing amid continuous rain.

Switzerland is paying €55,000 to each victim of a New Year's Eve fire that killed 41 people, with criminal investigations into safety failures at the bar.

Microsoft warns that AI coding tools boost senior developers but hinder juniors, risking a future shortage of experienced programmers as companies hire fewer entry-level developers.

A Gartner survey shows 65% of CMOs expect AI to disrupt their roles, but only 32% believe they need new skills, highlighting a critical literacy gap in marketing leadership.

Space militarization is accelerating with anti-satellite weapons and dedicated space forces, raising risks of orbital conflict and debris hazards that threaten global stability.

Japan plans to deploy surface-to-air missiles on Yonaguni Island near Taiwan by 2031, escalating tensions with China and altering regional security dynamics.

Global defense spending is projected to exceed $2.6 trillion in 2026, driven by geopolitical tensions and benefiting defense contractors with multi-year procurement contracts.

A speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters, leading to a shootout that killed four people, escalating tensions between the US and Cuba and prompting investigations.

Iceland is accelerating an EU membership referendum due to Arctic security concerns and US policy uncertainties, with a vote expected in the coming months.