During the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the creation of an international initiative called the “Board of Peace.” Trump will serve as its chairman, and the board aims to coordinate with the United Nations to establish a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The plan includes ensuring humanitarian aid, rebuilding infrastructure, fostering local political reconciliation, and forming a stable governance structure. At least 35 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Qatar, have pledged to join, while France and the United Kingdom have distanced themselves. China and Russia have not yet clarified their positions.

The initiative emerges amid multiple global crises, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, instability in Venezuela, and rising geopolitical competition in the Arctic. Analysts view the Board of Peace as a state-centric alternative to traditional multilateral institutions, reflecting Trump’s skepticism toward the UN and NATO. The board’s approach emphasizes power balance over international law or moral principles.

The article suggests that for developing nations like Bangladesh, this shift toward power-driven diplomacy poses new challenges and calls for stronger engagement in UN reform and regional cooperation to maintain strategic balance.

Pakistan will play India in Colombo tomorrow after earlier announcing a boycott in protest of what it called India’s dominance and ICC’s double standards. The decision followed a tripartite meeting in Lahore among the ICC, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), where BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul played a key role in ensuring the match proceeds. Former ICC media manager and Pakistani journalist Sami Ul Hasan said the India-Pakistan match is essential for the good of cricket.

The dispute began when the ICC refused Bangladesh’s request to shift its T20 World Cup venue from India to Sri Lanka, leading Bangladesh to withdraw from the tournament. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the competition. The Lahore meeting also resolved uncertainties over possible sanctions, confirming Bangladesh would face no punishment and would continue hosting ICC events through 2031. Hasan credited ICC’s proactive role and cooperation with PCB and BCB for the positive outcome.

Hasan explained that canceling the India-Pakistan match would have caused major financial losses, affecting ICC’s ability to support smaller cricket nations dependent on shared revenues.

Several major cricket and football matches will be broadcast live on February 14, 2026, across multiple television and streaming platforms. The T20 World Cup 2026 will feature three key fixtures: Ireland vs Oman at 11:30 a.m., England vs Scotland at 3:30 p.m., and New Zealand vs South Africa at 7:30 p.m. These matches will be shown on T Sports, Nagorik TV, and Star Sports.

Football fans will also have a packed schedule with live coverage of the FA Cup, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Saudi Pro League. The FA Cup will feature Manchester City vs Salford City at 9:00 p.m. and Liverpool vs Brighton at 2:00 a.m. on Sony Ten 2. La Liga’s Real Madrid will face Real Sociedad at 2:00 a.m., while Inter Milan meets Juventus in Serie A at 1:45 a.m. on Fancode and Bet365. Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen will play Bayern Munich at 8:30 p.m., and Saudi Pro League’s Al Fateh will meet Al Nassr at 11:30 p.m.

The day’s lineup highlights a global mix of cricket and football events, offering fans continuous live sports coverage across time zones.

The United States defeated the Netherlands by 93 runs in a Group A match at Chennai’s Chidambaram Stadium. Batting first, the U.S. scored 196 for six in 20 overs, led by Saiteja Mukkamalla’s 79 off 51 balls and Shubham Ranjan’s unbeaten 48 from 24 deliveries. In reply, the Netherlands were bowled out for 103 in 15.5 overs, with Bas de Leede top-scoring on 23 runs. Harmeet Singh took four wickets for 21 runs to seal the victory.

The result significantly improved the qualification prospects of India and Pakistan, the two traditional rivals in Group A. The Netherlands, who had earlier lost to Pakistan but defeated Namibia, failed to build partnerships and collapsed quickly under pressure. The U.S. team’s dominant performance not only boosted their own standing but also reshaped the group’s competitive balance.

With this win, the United States strengthened its position in the group stage, while India and Pakistan now face a smoother route to the Super Eight phase.

European football fans witnessed an eventful night as Manchester City, Liverpool, and Aston Villa all recorded important victories, while Bayern Munich advanced to the German Cup semifinals. Manchester City defeated Fulham 3–0 at the Etihad Stadium, with goals from Antoine Semenyo, Niko O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland. The win lifted City to 53 points from 26 matches, three points behind Arsenal, who have played one game fewer.

Liverpool edged Sunderland 1–0 at the Stadium of Light thanks to a 61st-minute header from Virgil van Dijk off a Mohamed Salah corner. The result kept Liverpool in the top-four race with 42 points, two behind fifth-placed Chelsea. Aston Villa earned a 1–0 win over Brighton through an 86th-minute own goal by Jack Hinshelwood, moving them to third place with 50 points from 26 matches.

In Germany, Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig 2–0 in the German Cup quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the first time in six years. Harry Kane scored from a penalty in the 64th minute, and Luis Díaz added another four minutes later to seal the victory.

West Indies defeated England by 30 runs in their T20 World Cup Group C match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, featuring seven sixes, powered the West Indies to a total of 196-6. Gudakesh Motie then led the bowling effort with figures of 3-33 as England were dismissed for 166 in 19 overs. The victory marked West Indies’ second consecutive win in the tournament, placing them at the top of Group C, while England slipped to third behind Scotland after their first defeat.

Rutherford and Jason Holder added 61 runs for the fifth wicket, with Holder contributing 33 off 17 balls. Earlier, Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase steadied the innings after both openers fell early. For England, Adil Rashid impressed with 2-16 from four overs, but their batting faltered against West Indies’ spinners. England captain Harry Brook admitted disappointment, noting that the pitch conditions did not favor their chase as expected.

Rutherford credited his preparation and clear mindset for his performance, adding that the team’s bowlers executed their plans effectively to secure the win.

West Indies secured a 30-run victory over England in a T20 World Cup match held in Mumbai. Batting first, the Caribbean side recovered from an early collapse at 8 for 2 to post 196 for 6 in 20 overs. Sherfane Rutherford led the innings with an unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, supported by Roston Chase’s 34. For England, Adil Rashid took two wickets for 16 runs.

Chasing 197, England made a strong start with openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler scoring 38 runs in the first three overs. However, regular wickets halted their progress, and the team was bowled out for 166 in 19 overs. Sam Curran top-scored with 43 runs, while Gudakesh Motie claimed three wickets for 33 runs for West Indies.

With this win, West Indies climbed to the top of the T20 World Cup table after previously defeating Scotland. England, who had narrowly beaten Nepal in their earlier match, missed the chance to build momentum in the tournament.

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 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that more than 200 million children across over 130 countries will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell made the statement during a regular session of the organization’s Executive Board, according to Anadolu Agency. She described the situation as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in history, emphasizing that the scale and complexity of challenges facing children worldwide are intensifying.

Russell highlighted that conflicts, climate change, economic instability, and inequality are placing immense pressure on children, families, and societies. Despite the growing humanitarian needs, she reaffirmed that child and maternal health remain core priorities for UNICEF. She also noted a sharp rise in violence against children, with 2025 recording the highest number of serious incidents, including killings, abductions, and sexual violence.

UNICEF, which operates in more than 190 countries and territories, called for stronger partnerships to sustain life-saving operations and address the escalating global humanitarian demands.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) avoided a major financial setback after Pakistan withdrew its decision to boycott the upcoming match against India. Following a meeting between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ICC officials in Lahore, the Pakistan government granted permission for the national team to play. The high-profile encounter will now proceed as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo, ending uncertainty surrounding one of cricket’s most lucrative fixtures.

According to the report, the ICC earns its largest revenues from India-Pakistan matches. Had Pakistan maintained its boycott, the organization faced an estimated loss of $174 million, equivalent to about 1,985 crore Bangladeshi taka, from broadcasting, gate receipts, and sponsorships. The decision to participate came after appeals from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Sri Lanka Cricket, and the Emirates Cricket Board urging Pakistan to reconsider.

With the match confirmed, the ICC has averted a major financial crisis and ensured that one of the sport’s most anticipated rivalries will continue as planned.

The Netherlands secured their first win in the T20 World Cup by defeating Namibia by seven wickets. After losing their opening match to Pakistan by three wickets with three balls remaining, the Dutch side bounced back strongly. Namibia, batting first after losing the toss, posted 156 for eight in 20 overs, which the Netherlands chased down with 12 balls to spare.

Bas de Leede was the standout performer for the Netherlands, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 48 balls with five boundaries and three sixes. Captain Scott Edwards remained not out on 18 from nine balls. Earlier, Namibia’s top scorer was Nicol Loftie-Eaton with 42 off 38 balls, while Jan Frylinck added 30 from 26 deliveries. For the Netherlands, Logan van Beek and Bas de Leede each took two wickets.

The result gave the Netherlands a much-needed boost in the tournament after their narrow loss to Pakistan, keeping their campaign alive with a dominant all-round display.

Gold prices surged to unprecedented levels, reaching an all-time high of $5,600 per ounce on January 29 before easing to just under $5,000 on Sunday. The surge reflects growing investor demand for gold as a secure asset amid fluctuating economic conditions and rising geopolitical tensions. Al Jazeera’s explainer details how gold’s value is determined by its weight in troy ounces and purity in karats, with one troy ounce equaling 31.1035 grammes.

Gold’s global pricing is set on spot markets in US dollars, primarily through exchanges in London and New York. Local prices vary due to currency conversion, dealer premiums, and taxes. For instance, India imposes a 3 percent GST on gold, while the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates levy none. The United States holds the world’s largest gold reserves at 8,133 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,350 tonnes and Italy with 2,451 tonnes.

Over the past decade, gold’s price has quadrupled from $1,250 in 2016 to around $5,000 today, underscoring its enduring role as a safe haven asset during periods of market volatility and uncertainty.

Silent diplomatic discussions have reportedly begun between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to end the ongoing stalemate in world cricket. Sources indicate that the talks, which also involve circles close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), are now proceeding within a legal and practical framework rather than emotional exchanges. The ICC has raised a key legal question about the justification for invoking a ‘force majeure’ clause for a single match while the rest of the tournament continues, signaling that the dialogue has entered a deeper phase.

Analysts suggest that while a settlement may be possible, it should not be limited to venue changes, financial compensation, or broadcast rights. They argue that such a narrow deal would harm the spirit of cricket. Instead, they call for written inclusion of core behavioral standards, such as mandatory pre- and post-match courtesies, respect for officials, media participation, and dignified presence at ceremonies.

Observers warn that if cricket becomes a stage for political hostility rather than sportsmanship, the game itself will suffer. The outcome of these talks will determine whether cricket can retain its integrity as a bridge between nations.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that global sports leaders have reached consensus on a new set of eligibility criteria for transgender athletes, expected to be unveiled within the first half of this year. The policy will be the first uniform framework jointly adopted by the IOC and international sports federations, covering major events such as the Olympic Games and world championships. It is anticipated to significantly restrict participation in women’s categories for transgender athletes who have undergone full male puberty before transitioning.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, the organization’s first female leader, initiated the move toward a unified approach last June and established the “Protection of the Female Category” working group in September. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said the policy had gone through consultation and reflection phases and that consensus had been achieved across the sporting movement.

The IOC previously left transgender eligibility decisions to individual federations, resulting in varying rules. The forthcoming policy marks a shift toward centralized regulation as the global debate over fairness and inclusion in women’s sports continues.

A technology report published on February 7, 2026, describes how Google Maps continues to collect and store user location data even when location services are turned off. The article explains that activities performed through various Google apps still send information to Google servers, allowing the Maps timeline to record where and when users travel. Even deleting the timeline does not remove detailed location data from Google’s servers, which may later be used for targeted advertising.

The report outlines several steps to reduce data creation, including regularly deleting activity from the Google Account’s ‘My Activity’ page and using alternative apps that prioritize privacy. It mentions that Waze, being owned by Google, faces similar issues, while Apple Maps offers better privacy but is limited to iPhones. Apps like HereWeGo and MapQuest are suggested as alternatives.

It further advises users to manage smartphone settings carefully, review app permissions, and monitor the Google Maps timeline regularly to delete stored data. The article emphasizes that awareness and proper settings can help maintain privacy even while using Google Maps.