On 26 February, the bodies of four Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas, without ceremony, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This marks the final exchange under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, leaving 59 hostages still in captivity with no clear timeline for their release. The truce’s future remains uncertain, as Hamas signals readiness for talks on the second phase, aiming for an end to the war and further prisoner exchanges. Benjamin Netanyahu faces political pressure to resume military operations. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. As negotiations stall, families of hostages demand immediate action, urging leaders to secure their return. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has released a bizarre video of his vision for the golden future of the Gaza strip: see

Struggling with debt and rising costs after the 2021 coup in Myanmar, farm worker Zeya decided to sell his kidney, believing it was his only way out of poverty. He found a broker who arranged his travel to India, where illegal organ sales thrive through forged documents. The broker falsified records to present Zeya as a relative of the recipient, bypassing India’s legal requirements. After a brief interview, the surgery was approved, and Zeya received about $2,700. He recovered without major complications but now fears the legal consequences of his actions. Myanmar’s economic collapse has driven many into desperation, fueling a black market in organ sales. Brokers exploit the vulnerable, deceiving them into risky, illegal surgeries. The global demand for transplants far exceeds supply, pushing the impoverished into dangerous choices. In 2007, the WHO estimated that 5-10% of transplanted organs came from the black market, but the figure may be higher.

A court has sentenced Jason and Elizabeth Struhs, members of a sect called The Saints, to 14 years in prison for manslaughter after they denied their eight-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, lifesaving insulin. This resulted in her painful death from diabetic ketoacidosis in January 2022. The sect, led by Brendan Stevens - who received a 13-year sentence - believed in divine healing and rejected modern medicine. Instead of seeking treatment, members prayed and sang as the child suffered. The authorities were only notified 36 hours after her death. Eleven others received six-to-nine-year sentences for their role in the tragedy. Although they claimed religious persecution, the court ruled their faith-based negligence was criminal. Elizabeth’s sister, Jayde, had left the sect years before, condemning its extreme beliefs. The case highlights the dangers of religious extremism and the necessity of medical care in preserving life.

Satellite images have revealed drone activity at Sudan’s Nyala airport, an RSF stronghold in South Darfur. These developments highlight the continued influx of advanced weaponry fuelling Sudan’s brutal conflict. The RSF, engaged in a power struggle with Sudan’s army since April 2023, has used Nyala as a base for its offensive on al-Fashir and attacks on civilians in the famine-stricken Zamzam camp. Analysis suggests the RSF is using Chinese-made CH-95 drones; the Sudanese army has accused the UAE of supplying them. Both factions have used drones in airstrikes, causing widespread destruction. Despite a UN arms embargo, foreign weapons continue to flow into the region, worsening the humanitarian crisis. Meanwhile, many relief organisations are withdrawing from the country, and up to 80% of the emergency food kitchens are closing. See