February 17-23: Rubio in the Middle East, CPAC, and German elections

A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda next week, from the team at Foresight News. Delivered to your inbox on Fridays.

Leading the week

Monday (February 17): Marco Rubio continues Middle East visit; 500th day in captivity for remaining Israeli hostages; Candidates’ debate ahead of German election.

Tuesday (February 18): Hearing in challenge to Trump administration’s transgender military ban; Marco Rubio concludes Middle East visit; Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi chairs UN Security Council debate on multilateralism.

Wednesday (February 19): Donald Trump expected at FII PRIORITY Miami event alongside TikTok CEO; Rescheduled confirmation hearing for Labor Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer; Candidates’ debate ahead of German election.

Thursday (February 20): CPAC begins; South Africa hosts two-day G20 foreign ministers’ meeting boycotted by Marco Rubio; Final candidates’ debate ahead of German election.

Friday (February 21): CPAC continues with Ronald Reagan Dinner; Hearing in state case against Luigi Mangione; DC Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at the National Press Club.

Saturday (February 22): Final day of CPAC; Further hostages due to be released under Israel-Hamas agreement.

Sunday (February 23): German elections; Public funeral ceremony for former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah; Screen Actors Guild Awards.

AfD candidate Alice Weidel — photocosmos1 / Shutterstock

Also look out for

February 17

Donald Trump spends Presidents’ Day at Mar-a-Lago

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosts US Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg

Protest in Cook Islands over prime minister’s recent trip to China

February 18

Senate votes on Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick

Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial continues

February 19

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker delivers state of the state address

Texas Governor Greg Abbott opens the Texas Policy Summit

February 20

Three-day National Governors Association meeting begins in DC

Senate HELP Committee meets to vote on Education Secretary nominee Linda McMahon

US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg expected to visit Ukraine

February 21

Hearing in challenge to Trump administration's proposed NIH funding cuts

Extended TRO preventing mass USAID leave plan expires

G20 ministers’ meeting concludes in South Africa

60 years ago: Malcolm X assassinated

February 22

Lara Trump show debuts on Fox

MLS season opens

February 23

Vladimir Putin marks Russia’s Defender of the Fatherland Day

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas hosts UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini and UN’s Gaza reconstruction coordinator Sigrid Kaag

Five years ago: Ahmaud Arbery killed

Key Statistics, reports and results

February 17

Japan and Israel Q4 GDP

February 18

NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index

ZEW Indicator of Economic Sentiment (Germany)

Australia interest rate decision

Results from: Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY), InterContinental Hotels Group, Antofagasta, BHP Group, Devon Energy, Liberty Global (Virgin Media), Medtronic

February 19

US Federal Reserve minutes

New Residential Construction

UK inflation

Indonesia interest rate decision

Results from: HSBC, Carrefour, Glencore, BAE Systems, Rio Tinto, AngloGold Ashanti, Orano

February 20

Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey

People’s Bank of China Loan Prime Rate announcement

Turkey interest rate decision

Results from: Walmart, Lloyds, Anglo American, Centrica, Airbus, Alibaba, Hays, Mondi, Mercedez-Benz, Renault, Birkenstock, Hasbro

February 21

Existing-Home Sales

Eurozone flash PMI

Results from: Standard Chartered, EDF Group