Carnival Week Digest: Key News From Russia and Beyond

From politics to consumer trends, a roundup of the top stories making headlines during Carnival season

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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As Carnival week kicks off, this digest covers a range of news from Russia and around the world, including updates on the Russian delegation's return to Geneva, a terrorist attack trial, Telegram's content moderation, hacked Palantir data, new car pricing rules, migrant worker restrictions, alcohol price hikes, and more consumer and cultural trends.

Why it matters

This wide-ranging news digest provides a snapshot of current events and emerging issues impacting Russia and beyond, from geopolitics and national security to the economy, consumer behavior, and social trends. The stories highlight how Carnival season intersects with broader societal changes and policy decisions.

The details

The Russian delegation is returning to Geneva with clear instructions to act within the framework of Anchorage's understanding, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Prosecutors have requested life imprisonment for 15 of the 19 defendants in the Crocus terrorist attack case, with one defendant breaking down in tears in court. Telegram has blocked over 230,000 channels and groups per day for violating rules, though the platform continues to face challenges. Hackers have exposed data from Palantir, a software company that works with US intelligence. Russian lawmakers have proposed jail time for odometer tampering and new recycling fees that will raise car prices by 40%. Migrant workers in Russia's Rostov region will soon be banned from certain industries. The Central Bank found women more susceptible to scams than men. Children's clothing stores are closing amid falling birth rates, while the costs of alcohol, sushi, and fitness equipment are rising.

  • Carnival week has arrived.
  • Starting April 1, the price of a car in Russia will soar by 40% due to new recycling rules.
  • In the spring, migrants in the Rostov region will be banned from working in certain industries.

The players

Sergei Ryabkov

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

Telegram

A messaging app that has blocked over 230,000 channels and groups per day for violating rules.

Palantir

A software company that develops products for US intelligence agencies and officials.

Central Bank of Russia

Found that women were more susceptible to scams than men.

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What they’re saying

“The Russian delegation is returning to Geneva with clear instructions to act within the framework of Anchorage's understanding,”

— Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

What’s next

The judge in the Crocus terrorist attack case will decide on Tuesday whether to accept the prosecution's request for life imprisonment for 15 of the 19 defendants.

The takeaway

This Carnival week digest underscores the wide range of news impacting Russia and the world, from geopolitics and national security to economic trends and cultural shifts. The stories highlight how seasonal events like Carnival intersect with broader societal changes, policy decisions, and emerging issues across various sectors.