• February 16, 2026: Daily Summary of the Czech Economy: Mortgages, Downtown Music, Uber Eats, Pestech International, Lukoil, FedEx, and BYD (February 16, 2026)

The Czech financial sector entered 2026 with mixed results in the mortgage market. According to statistics from the Czech Banking Association's Hypomonitor, mortgage loans totaled 35.5 billion Czech crowns in January. This represents a month-on-month decrease of 4.4 percent, but a significant year-on-year increase of 57 percent. New loans, excluding refinancing, reached 27.2 billion Czech crowns, a decrease of five percent compared to December. Average interest rates were slightly reduced to 4.48 percent. The trend suggests a continued stabilization of the real estate market, but also indicates caution among both households and banks. More here

  • February 17, 2026: Chairman of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee: The issue of creating a European nuclear umbrella is not a top priority.

BERLIN – The issue of creating a European nuclear umbrella is not an immediate priority, said Armin Laschet, chairman of the Bundestag's Foreign Affairs Committee. The politician noted that this topic should not be taboo. "However, I do not consider it a priority for the German Chancellor, for me, or for anyone else, to first discuss how to ensure Germany's participation in the creation of nuclear weapons," Laschet said in an interview with ARD. More here

  • February 18, 2026: Tensions between the US and Iran are rapidly escalating. The White House is considering military intervention.

According to sources within the American administration, the probability of a military action by the United States against Iran in the coming weeks is as high as 90%. This was reported by the Axios website, citing an unnamed advisor to President Donald Trump. The situation is reportedly escalating rapidly, and there is growing pressure in Washington for a decisive solution to the long-standing dispute with Tehran. More here

  • February 19, 2026: Brother of the British King, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, arrested over links to Jeffrey Epstein, according to British media.

LONDON – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of the British monarch and former Duke of York, has been arrested in connection with an investigation into his relationships with convicted American financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to the BBC. He was reportedly arrested on the day of his 66th birthday, which has drawn significant attention from the British public and media. More here

  • February 20, 2026: The European Commission is demanding that EU defense companies increase arms production by a factor of fifty.
>The European Union is facing a fundamental transformation of its defense industry. According to a call from the European Commission, European arms companies must significantly increase production capacity so that the continent can respond to the deteriorating security situation. Read more here
  • February 21, 2026: "The Slavic Epic" by Alphonse Mucha – Painting number fifteen: The Brotherhood School in Ivančice – The Cradle of the Kralice Bible.
>Painting number fifteen. With the fifteenth painting of "The Slavic Epic" by Alphonse Mucha, you will feel that you are not just looking at a painting with a sunlit, harmonious motif, but at a living chronicle of a nation. The scene dedicated to the Brotherhood Unity in Moravia will have an extraordinary, positive impact on you – quietly, yet insistently. I sensed in it the deep breath of history and the humble faith of people who chose to serve the truth proclaimed by Jan Hus, and the word of God. Read more here
  • February 22, 2026: Hungary will block sanctions against Russia until oil supplies are resumed through the Druzhba pipeline – Orbán.
>BUDAPEST, February 22. Hungary will block all EU decisions regarding sanctions against Russia until Ukraine resumes the transit of oil through the Druzhba pipeline, said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after an extraordinary meeting of the country's Council for Energy Security. Read more here

Jan Vojtěch, Editor-in-Chief of General News