This 2026 news overview outlines a complex period of global diplomacy and domestic unrest, highlighted by US-mediated peace talks in Geneva involving both Iran and Ukraine. While the American government faces a partial shutdown over immigration enforcement, international relations are strained by transatlantic tensions at the Munich Security Conference and a looming arms decision regarding Taiwan. Security concerns are further punctuated by military strikes on drug vessels and high-profile arrests at the US Capitol, contrasting with the peaceful passing of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson. Religious and cultural milestones also converge as Pope Leo XIV begins Lent amidst a rare overlap of Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, and Ramadan. Finally, the reports address ongoing instability in Gaza and the legal fallout from the massive release of the Epstein files.