U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that he expects Ukraine to reach a quick agreement with Russia during talks scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva. The discussions are being held under U.S. mediation and aim to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and restore peace. Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Washington.

The Geneva meeting is focused on achieving a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has continued despite multiple international efforts. Trump emphasized that Ukraine should come to the negotiating table quickly and finalize a deal with Moscow. His comments came as anticipation builds around the U.S.-brokered talks intended to halt hostilities and establish stability in the region.

The outcome of the Geneva discussions could determine the next phase of diplomatic engagement between Moscow and Kyiv, with Washington playing a central mediating role.

At least 28 people were killed and many others injured in a drone strike on a market in Sudri, Kordofan, Sudan, according to the human rights group Emergency Lawyers on Monday, February 16. The attack occurred during a busy period on Sunday, worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. The group warned that the death toll could rise and described repeated drone strikes in populated areas as a grave disregard for civilian life. It urged all sides to immediately halt such attacks, claiming the strike came from army-operated drones.

Two unnamed military officials told the Associated Press that the army does not target civilian sites and denied any involvement in the incident. Just a week earlier, another drone strike near Rahad killed at least 24 people, including eight children, while a World Food Programme convoy was also attacked the previous day.

The conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has escalated into a nationwide war. The World Health Organization reports at least 40,000 deaths and 12 million displaced people, with aid agencies warning the real figures may be higher.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday warned Iran that it would face consequences if it failed to reach an agreement in the upcoming talks. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington, Trump said he would be indirectly involved in the discussions and cautioned that Iran would not want to face the outcome of refusing a deal. The meeting between the United States and Iran is scheduled for Tuesday in Geneva, mediated by Oman.

The talks come after months of heightened tensions following Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests and its firm stance on its nuclear program. The United States and several European countries have expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear activities could be aimed at developing weapons, an allegation Tehran continues to deny. Washington has also sought to include Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support for armed groups in the Middle East in the negotiations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated on Monday that the U.S. position on the nuclear issue had become more realistic. A previous attempt at dialogue collapsed after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, sparking a 12-day war that later saw U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva to attend the second round of high-level nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026. US President Donald Trump said he would be ‘indirectly’ involved in the discussions, describing them as highly important and expressing belief that Iran was interested in reaching an agreement. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi is again serving as mediator.

In the first round of talks, held under Omani mediation, Tehran pledged to reduce uranium enrichment by 60 percent. Araghchi stated that Iran came to the second round with practical proposals aimed at achieving a ‘fair and balanced’ agreement. On the US side, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to participate, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that reaching a deal would not be easy despite diplomatic opportunities.

Ahead of the meeting, Iran reiterated that no agreement would be possible without easing sanctions and rejected any demand for zero uranium enrichment, insisting that any deal must be based on mutual concessions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began a series of military exercises on Monday in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to the country’s state media. The drills are being conducted under the supervision of the IRGC’s top commander and involve naval forces operating in the key Gulf waterway.

The report from Tehran, citing AFP, noted that the exercises follow the recent deployment of a large U.S. naval fleet in the Gulf region. Iranian state television said the maneuvers are intended to strengthen regional security, reflecting Tehran’s position that the drills are defensive in nature.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global energy shipments, and the timing of the IRGC’s exercises suggests heightened military activity in the area following increased U.S. presence.

Seventy-three fishermen who had been detained by the Arakan Army in Myanmar were repatriated to Bangladesh through the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, February 16, 2026. Among them, 66 are Bangladeshi nationals and seven are residents of Rohingya camps. The handover took place at the zero line of the Naf River, followed by official reception at Teknaf Jetty Ghat. Local administration, union council representatives, and law enforcement agencies verified their identities before initiating the process of returning them to their families.

According to official sources, the fishermen had unintentionally crossed into Myanmar waters while fishing in the Bay of Bengal at various times in 2025, leading to their detention by the Arakan Army. They were held in different camps under the group’s control inside Myanmar. In response, security forces in the Cox’s Bazar region coordinated efforts on humanitarian grounds to secure their release through sustained communication and negotiation.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) described the return before Ramadan as a positive humanitarian development and confirmed that efforts continue to bring back the remaining detained fishermen.

Afghanistan has announced that it will assist Iran if the United States launches a military attack and Tehran requests help. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid made the statement on Sunday, February 15, emphasizing that Afghans would show solidarity with Iran. He added that Afghanistan does not support war and prefers peaceful solutions through dialogue.

The spokesperson noted that Iran has recently shown restraint, and Afghanistan hopes no conflict will erupt between Washington and Tehran. The statement comes as instability spreads across the Middle East, with the United States deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships in preparation for a possible strike on Iran. Another carrier is reportedly heading to the region.

Several Middle Eastern countries are attempting to prevent a potential war, fearing that a large-scale conflict would cause severe economic and humanitarian damage across the region.

The Israeli government has approved the resumption of land registration in the West Bank, a move that has triggered strong criticism from Arab nations and rights groups. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the initiative aims to clarify land ownership and resolve legal disputes transparently, citing illegal registrations under the Palestinian Authority as justification. The registration will take place only in Area C, which covers about 60 percent of the West Bank and remains under Israeli security and administrative control.

Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan denounced the decision as a violation of international law. Egypt described it as a dangerous step to consolidate Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory, while Qatar warned it would undermine Palestinian rights by declaring land as “state property.” The Palestinian Authority called for international intervention, saying the move marks the beginning of annexation and weakens the foundation of a future Palestinian state. Israeli group Peace Now labeled the decision a “mega land grab.”

Israeli media reported that this is the first time since the 1967 war that land registration will resume in the West Bank, where over 500,000 Israelis and about 3 million Palestinians currently live.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inaugurated a new housing project in Pyongyang for the families of soldiers killed while fighting on Russia’s side in the Ukraine war. State media released photos on Monday showing Kim visiting the newly built apartments with his daughter. The initiative is presented as a tribute to the fallen soldiers, described as martyrs, and as a move to strengthen internal unity while reaffirming support for Russia.

According to South Korean and Western intelligence sources cited in the report, North Korea has sent thousands of troops to fight for Russia, with Seoul estimating around two thousand North Korean soldiers killed. Analysts suggest Pyongyang is receiving financial aid, military technology, and supplies of food and fuel from Moscow in return. The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim praised the fallen as heroes who sacrificed their lives for sacred national values.

Although Monday’s report did not directly mention Russia, it follows Kim’s recent pledge of unconditional support for all policies and decisions of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in Geneva for a second round of nuclear talks with the United States, aimed at easing tensions and preventing a new military conflict. In a post on social media platform X on Monday, Araghchi stated that Iran will not surrender in the face of threats.

Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any attack on Iran could escalate into a regional conflict. Araghchi said he came to Geneva to achieve a fair and just agreement, emphasizing that surrender to threats is not on the negotiation table. The renewed discussions between Iran and the United States began earlier this month.

Araghchi also mentioned that Iranian nuclear experts would meet with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Monday. Iran has repeatedly asserted that it will not accept Washington’s demand to reduce uranium enrichment to zero and that its missile program will not be part of the negotiations.

Eight people were killed and two others injured in an explosion at a fireworks shop in Donghai County, Jiangsu Province, eastern China, on Sunday afternoon. Local sources said several villagers were handling fireworks unsafely, which led to the blast around 2:30 p.m. Authorities quickly arrived at the scene, and the fire was brought under control by 4 p.m. The injured were taken to a local hospital, and families of the deceased were notified.

The incident occurred as China entered the Lunar New Year festive period, during which fireworks are widely used. Authorities had already issued safety warnings regarding the handling of fireworks during the celebrations. The explosion highlights ongoing safety concerns surrounding the use and storage of fireworks in rural areas.

Earlier this month, a biotech factory explosion in Shanxi Province killed eight people, and another blast at a steel plant in a nearby region in late January left at least nine dead, underscoring a series of recent industrial accidents across China.

Ukraine launched a drone attack on Russia’s Taman port along the Black Sea coast, causing extensive damage to the facility. The port, a key hub for Russia’s grain and fuel exports, was hit late at night by multiple drones, triggering a massive fire and thick black smoke over the area. According to reports, the attack left two people injured and forced a temporary shutdown of port operations.

Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev stated on Telegram that the port’s oil storage systems, warehouses, and terminals were almost completely destroyed. Russian authorities said their defense systems managed to shoot down several drones, but some struck critical infrastructure directly. Firefighters worked for hours to bring the blaze under control.

Ukraine also carried out drone strikes on the nearby coastal city of Sochi and the village of Yurovka in Anapa on the same night, though no casualties or damage reports have yet emerged from those areas.

The United States will support Israel in launching a strike on Iran if negotiations with Tehran fail, according to multiple US media reports cited by Anadolu Agency. The reports state that President Donald Trump assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of this position during a meeting in December, specifically regarding Iran’s ballistic missile program.

CBS News reported that discussions in Washington have shifted from whether Israel can carry out such an attack to how the US could assist technically and diplomatically. Sources familiar with the matter said the proposed cooperation includes aerial refueling to extend the range of Israeli aircraft and securing overflight permissions from neighboring sovereign states.

However, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly refused to allow their airspace to be used for any attack on Iran, complicating potential operational plans.

The Israeli government has approved a proposal to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as state property, marking the first such decision since Israel’s occupation of the territory in 1967, according to the country’s public broadcaster Kan. The Palestinian Authority has strongly condemned the move, describing it as legally invalid and a violation of international law.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the main objective of Israel’s decision is to annex the West Bank and advance settlement expansion. The ministry declared on social media platform X that it rejects any attempt by the occupiers to convert Palestinian land into state property and denounced efforts to legitimize illegal settlements, land theft, and annexation.

The ministry further stated that the decision contradicts United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which deems Israeli settlements in all occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, illegal under international law.

Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi has warned that any U.S. military action against Tehran would serve as a ‘lesson’ for President Donald Trump. Speaking after Trump’s recent remarks, Mousavi said that if Trump truly seeks war, he should not simultaneously talk about negotiations. His comments were reported by TRT World.

On Friday, President Trump stated that regime change in Iran might be the ‘best solution’ and indicated that if ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran fail, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford would soon be deployed to the region. Mousavi described Trump’s comments as reckless and reiterated that discussions and war threats cannot go hand in hand.

Earlier, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its oil sales to China. However, a senior U.S. official noted differences between the two leaders on how to achieve this goal, with Netanyahu doubting the reliability of any deal with Iran while Trump maintained that an agreement remains possible.