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Global Events Unfold: Tax Deadline Missed, Cyclone Hits Madagascar, Wildfires Rage in Argentina, and Tensions Rise in the Middle East
Millions faced financial penalties, natural disasters struck, and geopolitical tensions escalated across the globe as February 2026 began. One million people in the UK missed the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) tax return deadline, while Cyclone Fytia devastated Madagascar, wildfires consumed Argentinian Patagonia, and the possibility of conflict loomed between Iran and the US.
In the United Kingdom, an estimated one million people missed the deadline to file their tax return by the end of Saturday, according to HMRC. The UK's tax authority stated that 27,456 people filed in the final hour before the midnight cut-off for 2024-25 returns, according to the BBC. HMRC extended helplines and webchat services over the weekend, with the busiest hour for online self-assessment filings occurring from 17:00 GMT on Saturday. A total of 475,722 people filed on the final day, out of approximately 11.5 million submissions. Those who missed the deadline faced an automatic £100 penalty.
Meanwhile, in Madagascar, Tropical Cyclone Fytia brought devastation, resulting in at least three deaths and affecting nearly 30,000 people through flooding, according to The Guardian. The first tropical storm of the season for the islands was expected to flood more than 40,000 homes over the following days. The storm formed to the north-west of Madagascar over the weekend, bringing with it the potential for 150mm of rain.
Argentina's Patagonia region battled wildfires that consumed more than 450 square kilometers (175 square miles) of native forests, including parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Los Alerces National Park, Al Jazeera reported. Thousands of people were evacuated from Chubut province as flames threatened ancient alerce trees, some of which are over 3,600 years old. The crisis intensified criticism of President Javier Milei's austerity policies, with some arguing that his administration's spending cuts hindered firefighting efforts.
In the Middle East, tensions between Iran and the United States reached a critical point, according to Sky News. The next seven days could lead to conflict between Iran, the US, and its allies, or the start of a diplomatic breakthrough. "It's make or break this week for averting war between America and Iran," reported Dominic Waghorn, International Affairs Editor for Sky News. President Trump believed the Iranian government was in a difficult position and could only improve its situation by making a deal with him.
Adding to the complexities in the region, the reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt proved to be "not straightforward," according to Sky News. Despite initial reports from Israeli authorities that the crossing was open for civilians, only five people requiring urgent medical attention from Gaza managed to cross into Egypt. Adam Parsons, Middle East correspondent for Sky News, noted the difficulties, stating, "How could anyone have thought that the reopening of the Rafah crossing could have been straightforward?"
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