U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked a key scientific ruling from former President Barack Obama that declared greenhouse gases dangerous to public health. The announcement was made Thursday at the Oval Office, according to a BBC report. The reversal nullifies federal measures introduced under the Obama administration to curb emissions of gases linked to global warming.

During his Oval Office address, Trump described the 2009 ruling as a disastrous Obama-era policy that harmed the American auto industry and made cars unaffordable for consumers. The White House called the move the largest deregulation in U.S. history, claiming it would reduce vehicle prices by about $2,400 for manufacturers.

Former President Obama criticized the decision, warning it would increase health risks for Americans and weaken the nation’s ability to combat climate change. Environmental groups also condemned the move, calling it one of the most damaging setbacks for climate action and vowing to challenge it in court.

China’s Yangtze River, once severely polluted and ecologically degraded, is showing signs of revival following a government-imposed fishing ban. The policy, implemented using evolutionary theory to enhance effectiveness, also provided alternative employment for fishers who depended on the river for their livelihood. A study published Thursday in the journal Science reported that fish biomass in the river has more than doubled, and several endangered species have returned.

French researcher Sébastien Bros from the University of Toulouse described the initiative as the most positive freshwater conservation step taken in two decades. His team analyzed changes across the vast waterway, which supports 400 million people and numerous major factories. The findings indicate that the ban not only restored aquatic life but also improved water quality.

The Chinese government spent about three billion dollars to compensate and retrain nearly two hundred thousand fishers, leading one hundred thousand to stop fishing. Between 2019 and 2021, total biomass doubled and biodiversity increased by 13 percent, signaling a remarkable ecological comeback for the world’s third-largest river.

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, flower growers in Gadkhali, known as the flower capital of Jashore’s Jhikargacha, reported a sharp fall in flower prices due to the national election. Despite high demand for Valentine’s Day, sales dropped drastically. Last year, flowers worth about Tk 15 crore were sold during the same period, but this year the figure is expected to fall to around Tk 5 crore. Farmers said wholesale buyers could not reach the market because of transport disruptions linked to the election.

Growers described steep price declines across all varieties: roses sold for Tk 7–8 per piece, gladiolus for Tk 6–12, tuberose for Tk 3–5, gerbera for Tk 6–8, marigold for Tk 200–300 per thousand, gypsy for Tk 40–50 per bunch, and chrysanthemum for Tk 150–250 per hundred. Many farmers expressed frustration over losses and limited access to mobile banking services that hindered local deliveries.

Officials from local flower associations confirmed that the election and the upcoming Ramadan season reduced market activity, leaving growers without fair prices for their produce.

Kagojbari has signed a memorandum of understanding with Medico Bio in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi to provide laptops to 21 rural and underprivileged schools across Bangladesh. The initiative, announced in connection with International Mother Language Day, aims to ensure that no student is deprived of healthcare due to technological limitations. Through these laptops, over two thousand students will receive free consultations from Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council–registered and government-approved specialist doctors throughout the year.

Organizers stated that the project seeks to bring quality healthcare to grassroots students while strengthening digital infrastructure in rural education. Each school will have a teacher representative to coordinate digital appointments and consultations. The laptops are expected to support both telemedicine and digital learning, fostering long-term technological engagement among students.

Kagojbari has also announced a Guinness World Record education material donation campaign, aiming to distribute free learning supplies to about 450,000 students in 1,500 schools within 12 hours, setting a new global record for Bangladesh.

The United States House of Representatives has voted 219–211 to repeal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on Canadian goods. The resolution, introduced by Democrats and supported by six Republican lawmakers, seeks to withdraw the trade duties enacted by the Trump administration last year. Although passed in the House, the measure remains symbolic for now, as it must also pass the Senate and receive the president’s signature to become law. Analysts cited in the report suggest that Trump is unlikely to approve it.

Since his re-election, President Trump has continued to impose tariffs on Canada and recently threatened a 100 percent import duty in response to Canada’s potential trade deal with China. During the House vote, Trump warned on his social media platform Truth Social that any Republican voting against tariffs would face serious political consequences. He defended the tariffs as essential for protecting US economic and national security.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, attempted to block debate on the resolution but failed. Despite a narrow Republican majority, the defection of six members allowed the proposal to pass easily.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has launched a new mobile application named Smart Election Management BD to deliver election results quickly and accurately to the public. The app allows voters to view real-time results and access election-related information directly from their phones during national or local elections. It is available for both Android and iOS platforms and can be downloaded from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Users can view results without logging in, but logging in with a voter ID or national identity number provides access to personal voter details, voter status, and polling center information. The app’s interface includes options to select election type and location, enabling users to see live updates from specific polling centers. Results are uploaded directly after vote counting, showing vote numbers, candidate or party shares, and percentages.

Smart Election Management BD also presents results through graphs and charts, helping users easily understand candidate standings and track progress as counting continues.

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its 10-year fiscal outlook on Wednesday, projecting that federal deficits and debt will worsen over the next decade. The report attributes the deterioration mainly to increased spending on Social Security, Medicare, and debt service payments. The deficit for fiscal 2026, President Donald Trump’s first full fiscal year, is expected to be about 5.8 percent of GDP, similar to 2025’s $1.775 trillion shortfall. The deficit-to-GDP ratio is forecast to average 6.1 percent over the next decade, reaching 6.7 percent in 2036, far above Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s goal of 3 percent.

The CBO factored in recent policy changes, including the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” higher tariffs, and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. These measures are projected to raise total deficits from 2026 to 2035 by $1.4 trillion and push public debt from 101 percent to 120 percent of GDP. Although higher tariffs are expected to generate $3 trillion in additional revenue, they also contribute to inflation through 2029. The CBO projects inflation will not reach the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target until 2030.

The report contrasts with the Trump administration’s more optimistic growth forecasts, as the CBO expects real GDP growth to slow from 2.2 percent in 2026 to an average of 1.8 percent later in the decade.

The World Bank has approved $370 million in financing to improve sanitation and solid waste management services in Dhaka and surrounding areas. The decision was made at the organization’s executive board meeting in Washington, D.C. The funding will support the 'Metro Dhaka Water Security and Resilience' program, aimed at reducing water pollution, restoring rivers and canals, and strengthening the capacity of local and national institutions.

According to the World Bank, the initiative will provide improved sanitation for about 550,000 people and better waste management for another 500,000, prioritizing pollution-prone and underserved areas. The program will engage both public and private sectors, focusing on industrial waste treatment, water reuse, and awareness campaigns to prevent dumping and direct discharge into drainage networks. It will also establish digital real-time pollution monitoring and create an integrated restoration plan for Dhaka’s four main rivers.

The first phase will cover selected areas in Dhaka and Narayanganj, enhancing waste collection coverage and supporting communities near major rivers and canals. The project is part of Bangladesh’s broader water security and long-term environmental planning.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being deployed by the Bangladesh Air Force to provide continuous aerial monitoring during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Officials from the central monitoring cell at the Election Building confirmed the deployment on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. The UAVs will operate within the country’s airspace to closely observe conditions on the ground and support law enforcement with real-time guidance.

According to the officials, a total of 3,730 Air Force personnel have been assigned to ensure the election proceeds smoothly and successfully. Under the direct supervision of the Air Force Chief, helicopters, transport aircraft, and multiple UAVs are operating in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) roles across the country. The UAVs are described as strategic assets that contribute both to election monitoring and national airspace security.

The Election Commission has instructed the Air Force to provide live aerial video feeds from polling centers to the central monitoring cell and the Chief Adviser’s Office for real-time oversight.

The United States has taken new steps to further ease sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry. On Tuesday, the U.S. administration issued several measures that expand opportunities for American companies to participate in the Venezuelan energy sector. The U.S. Treasury Department granted multiple licenses, including one allowing specific transactions with the Venezuelan government and state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA). These permits cover the supply of goods, technology, and software necessary for oil and gas exploration, development, and production.

Another license authorizes certain transactions related to port and airport operations, while a third document allows specific activities involving oil originating from Venezuela. According to AFP reports from Washington, the decision coincides with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s planned visit to Venezuela, though no date has been announced. Media reports suggest oil sector discussions may take place during the visit.

Venezuela, under strict U.S. sanctions since 2019, holds nearly one-fifth of the world’s proven oil reserves and was once a major crude supplier to the United States.

On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 10:50 a.m., the Switzerland-based air quality monitoring website IQAir reported that Delhi ranked first among the world’s most polluted cities with an air quality score of 340. Kabul, Afghanistan, followed in second place with a score of 272, while Dhaka, Bangladesh, ranked third with a score of 267, categorized as 'very unhealthy'. Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Kathmandu, Nepal, took the fourth and fifth positions with scores of 184 and 183 respectively.

According to IQAir’s standards, an air quality score between 0 and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and above 301 hazardous. The platform provides real-time indicators of how clean or polluted the air is in cities around the world.

The data underscores ongoing severe air pollution challenges in major South Asian cities, with Delhi and Dhaka continuing to record critically poor air quality levels.

The interim government of Bangladesh has launched two new digital platforms, the 'Shubhechha' mobile app and the 'Druto Ticket' online ticketing system, to enhance citizen services and improve travel management. The launch took place on Tuesday, with senior officials including Special Assistant for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Fayez Ahmed Taiyeb and ICT Division Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury presenting the details to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna.

The 'Shubhechha' app aims to strengthen engagement among expatriate Bangladeshis by providing access to over one hundred public services, while the 'Druto Ticket' platform is designed to ensure transparency and prevent irregularities in bus, rail, and air travel, especially during festivals. Chief Adviser Yunus expressed appreciation for the successful launch, emphasizing that the government’s goal is to deliver all services efficiently and without inconvenience to citizens.

He noted that the two platforms mark only the beginning of a broader digital initiative and expressed hope that the next elected government will expand these efforts to reach more people across the country.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) announced that it will sell essential commodities across the country through truck sales during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The state-run agency said in a notice on Tuesday that the initiative aims to support ordinary citizens by providing goods at subsidized prices. The truck sale program is expected to begin the day before Ramadan starts.

According to the TCB statement, the ongoing subsidized sales to smart cardholder families will continue alongside the truck sales. Through this special Ramadan initiative, TCB plans to reach 3 to 3.5 million consumers nationwide. The products to be sold include the corporation’s regular items—edible oil, lentils, and sugar—along with chickpeas and dates, which are in high demand during Ramadan.

TCB added that details on the quantity and prices of the products to be sold through the truck sales will be announced later.

An interim framework for a new trade agreement between the United States and India has been released, aiming to reduce additional tariffs imposed on India during the Trump administration. The deal seeks to rebuild energy ties and expand economic cooperation, potentially reshaping global supply chains. Under Washington’s pressure, India agreed to allow entry of certain US agricultural products into its market, a move that has drawn criticism from farmers and opposition parties.

The agreement permits imports of high-protein animal feed, corn, and ethanol byproducts from the US, expected to benefit India’s $30 billion poultry industry by lowering feed costs. However, soybean and oilseed growers may suffer due to reduced demand and falling prices. The inclusion of duty-free soybean oil and cotton imports has raised further concerns, though the government says import quotas will protect domestic producers. Apple and dry fruit imports are also covered, but officials expect minimal harm since domestic supply is insufficient.

India’s major farmers’ union, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, has called for a nationwide strike on February 12 to protest the deal, citing threats to the agricultural sector.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that winter conditions in Dhaka are gradually diminishing as the month of Magh nears its end. On Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the department forecast partly cloudy skies and dry weather for Dhaka and surrounding areas, with a slight increase in daytime temperature. Between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., winds from the north or northwest may blow at speeds of 5 to 10 kilometers per hour.

According to the morning observation at 6 a.m., Dhaka recorded a temperature of 19.2 degrees Celsius with 75 percent humidity. The city’s highest temperature on the previous day was 28.5 degrees Celsius, while the lowest recorded today was 18.5 degrees Celsius. No rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours. Sunset is expected at 5:51 p.m., and sunrise tomorrow at 6:34 a.m.

The nationwide forecast issued last night indicated that weather across Bangladesh may remain dry with partly cloudy skies, and both daytime and nighttime temperatures are likely to rise slightly.