A senior US official has claimed that China secretly carried out an underground nuclear explosion in June 2020. According to the report, the US government has released new intelligence suggesting that a seismic event detected on June 22, 2020, near China’s Lop Nur test site may have been caused by a nuclear detonation. The information was disclosed by Christopher Yao, Assistant Secretary at the US State Department, during an event in Washington. Yao stated that a remote seismic monitoring station in Kazakhstan recorded a 2.75-magnitude tremor approximately 720 kilometers from the Lop Nur site. He argued that the data did not match mining explosions or natural earthquakes and was consistent with signals expected from a nuclear test. However, the international organization responsible for detecting nuclear explosions said it lacked sufficient data to confirm Yao’s claim. Responding to the allegation, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu in Washington dismissed the accusation as baseless, calling it an attempt by the United States to justify resuming its own nuclear testing program.

The Vatican City will not participate in the ‘Peace Board’ announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, its foreign minister confirmed on Tuesday. The board, led by Trump, was initially formed to oversee the ceasefire and reconstruction efforts in Gaza following the Hamas-Israel war. It was later expanded to address broader international conflicts, a move critics say could be seen as an attempt to create an alternative to the United Nations. Vatican Foreign Minister Cardinal Pietro Parolin stated that the United Nations should remain the primary body for managing global crises, emphasizing the importance of its role in international conflict resolution. The ‘Peace Board’ was first announced by Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos last January, and at least 19 countries have reportedly signed its founding charter. According to the report, countries seeking permanent membership were asked to contribute one billion U.S. dollars. The decision to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine in 2022, has also drawn criticism.

The official Facebook page of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has been formally declared closed. The announcement was made on Wednesday through a post on the page itself, stating that the page will no longer remain active. The post, issued on behalf of Yunus, included a message of gratitude for the support, interest, and participation received over the past 18 months. According to the statement, the team expressed sincere thanks to all followers, noting that their support, cooperation, and criticism had enriched the journey of the page. The closure marks the end of the page’s activity, which had served as an official communication channel for the interim government led by Yunus. The interim government was formed on 8 August 2024 after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, which was ousted on 5 August 2024 following a student and public uprising.

Newly elected Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman entered the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by members of his cabinet. They arrived through Gate 5 shortly after 12:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, Rahman and his ministers paid tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, followed by laying wreaths and offering prayers at the graves of former President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. The Secretariat saw heightened activity since morning as offices prepared to welcome the new prime minister. Security was tightened with members of the Special Security Force stationed inside. The Prime Minister’s Office on the third floor of the Cabinet Division was cleaned and prepared, while new nameplates were installed in ministers’ offices across ministries. According to Cabinet Division sources, Rahman was scheduled to hold introductory meetings with officials, have lunch at the Secretariat, and chair a special cabinet meeting at 3 p.m., followed by a discussion with secretaries at 4 p.m. Newly appointed ministers and state ministers also began their first day by assuming office, meeting officials, and reviewing ongoing activities.

A long traffic jam has formed on the Narayanganj section of the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, stretching from Signboard to Langalbandh Bridge. Police reported that the congestion intensified on February 18, 2026, as truck movement on the Asian Highway in the Madanpur area increased sharply following the end of election holidays. The combination of heavy truck traffic and morning office-hour vehicles caused severe delays around Kanchpur Bridge and nearby areas. Passengers and drivers said it is taking nearly twice the usual time to cover a few kilometers. Commuters described being stuck for hours, with some reporting physical discomfort from sitting in stationary vehicles. Truck drivers noted that several parts of the Asian Highway in Madanpur are badly damaged, forcing them to drive slowly and worsening the backlog. Kanchpur Highway Police Traffic In-Charge Bishnupada Sharma stated that multiple teams are working to manage the situation. He attributed the congestion to the sudden increase in industrial and freight transport activity and the poor road conditions in parts of the Asian Highway.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Comilla-4 (Debidwar) Hasnat Abdullah has issued a stern warning against extortion in his constituency. On Tuesday night, responding to complaints from shop owners in the New Market area, he told a market leaseholder over the phone that collecting money outside the designated raw market area would not be tolerated. He stated that if anyone attempted to collect illegal tolls, the public might resist, and he would not take responsibility for the consequences. During the phone conversation, MP Hasnat emphasized that leaseholders must collect fees only within the approved market area and warned that law enforcement would take strict measures to maintain order. He also directed business owners to detain and hand over to police any person, identified as Shah Alam, who collects money outside the permitted zone. Hasnat Abdullah further cautioned that those sheltering extortionists would face legal action. After taking oath, the MP has been visiting villages in his constituency, engaging with residents, and reaffirming his commitment to fulfill election pledges, including ensuring employment for needy families by March.

Newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs’ Memorial on Wednesday at 11 a.m. He observed a minute of silence after laying a wreath. Later, accompanied by members of his cabinet, he placed another floral wreath to honor the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War. The tribute followed his swearing-in as Prime Minister on Tuesday. After Rahman took his oath, ministers and state ministers of the new government were also sworn in. President Md. Shahabuddin administered the oaths at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building after 4 p.m. This marked the beginning of a new government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership and the return of a BNP-led administration after nearly two decades. The events at the National Martyrs’ Memorial symbolized the new government’s formal start and its acknowledgment of the nation’s liberation legacy.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced significant progress in indirect negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program. The talks, held on Tuesday in Geneva under Omani mediation, aimed to prevent potential U.S. military intervention by reaching an understanding on nuclear restrictions. Araghchi said both sides had agreed on key guiding principles to resolve the long-standing nuclear dispute and would now begin drafting a possible agreement. Araghchi described the latest round as more productive than the first phase held earlier this month in Oman, noting that a clear and positive path forward had emerged. He added that both parties would prepare draft texts and exchange them before setting a date for a third round of discussions. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News that President Trump had set certain “red lines” that Iran was still unwilling to accept, indicating that some core disagreements remain despite the reported progress.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has retained control of one ministry and two divisions under his direct supervision. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday night, February 17, he has kept the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces Division under his own charge. The rest of the ministries and divisions have been distributed among other members of the cabinet in accordance with the Rules of Business. The announcement came shortly after Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as prime minister on Tuesday afternoon following his party’s absolute majority in the 13th National Parliament election. He subsequently appointed 25 ministers and 24 deputy ministers to his new cabinet. The Cabinet Division has already issued the official gazette allocating portfolios to the ministers and state ministers, marking the formal beginning of the new administration’s work.

Colleges across Bangladesh have started their holidays for the holy month of Ramadan from Wednesday, February 18, 2026. According to the Ministry of Education’s official holiday calendar for government and private colleges, institutions will remain closed from February 18 to March 25, combining Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, and summer vacations. Colleges will also observe a one-day closure on March 26 for Independence and National Day, followed by the regular weekend on March 27 and 28. Classes are scheduled to resume on Sunday, March 29. The calendar further outlines a 10-day break from May 24 to June 5 for Eid-ul-Azha, a 10-day holiday from October 18 to 29 for Durga Puja, Bijoya Dashami, Prabarana Purnima, and Laxmi Puja, and an 11-day winter vacation from December 17 to 31. Additionally, three discretionary holidays have been reserved for institutional heads to allocate as needed. Meanwhile, primary and secondary schools will begin their Eid-ul-Fitr holidays on March 8, as the High Court’s earlier order to keep schools closed throughout Ramadan has been suspended, maintaining the previously set schedule.

A video recently released on social media shows an Israeli soldier admitting to killings and sexual violence in Gaza during a conversation with American YouTuber Jeff Davidson. The footage, recorded on a short video-sharing platform, captures the soldier openly discussing the destruction of civilian areas and acts of violence committed during Israel’s assault on Gaza. When confronted by Davidson about the killing of women and children, the soldier confirmed the accusations and stated that they had also committed sexual assaults. The video spread rapidly online, sparking widespread outrage as the soldier appeared to confess to grave crimes against civilians. During the exchange, the soldier identified himself as a member of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and claimed to be broadcasting from inside Gaza. He showed scenes of widespread devastation, saying that all buildings had been leveled. The footage emerged amid growing concern from international and human rights organizations about the high civilian death toll in Gaza, particularly among women and children. The timing of the video’s release has intensified scrutiny of the ongoing conflict and the conduct of Israeli forces in Gaza.

YouTube, the world’s largest video-sharing platform, experienced a major technical disruption late Tuesday night, affecting millions of users worldwide. According to AFP, users across multiple regions reported being unable to access services. YouTube confirmed on social media platform X that it was aware of the issue and that its technical team was working to resolve it. The outage caused videos to stop displaying across several YouTube services, including the homepage, YouTube app, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids, which were temporarily nonfunctional. The company later stated that the homepage had been restored, though full service recovery was still in progress. Monitoring site Downdetector reported receiving more than 300,000 user complaints, and improvements began around 1 a.m. GMT. Owned by Google, YouTube serves over 2.5 billion active users each month, making the disruption one of the most significant recent service interruptions for the platform.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has congratulated Tarique Rahman on taking oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Saudi Press Agency reported the message on Wednesday, noting that the Crown Prince wished continued progress and prosperity for the people of Bangladesh. He also extended congratulations on the formation of a new government under Rahman’s leadership. According to the report, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed a cabinet of nearly 50 members on Tuesday, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The new cabinet includes 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers who have taken oath. This follows the publication of the official gazette of the 13th parliamentary election results, where the BNP secured 209 of 297 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. The remaining seats went to various alliances, parties, and independent candidates. The report also mentioned that around 150 of the elected members are first-time parliamentarians, marking a significant generational shift in the new legislature.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran has not yet fully complied with the 'red lines' set by President Donald Trump. Speaking after a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, Vance said discussions with Iran were positive in some areas, and both sides agreed to hold another round of talks. However, he noted that several key issues remain unresolved. In an interview with Fox News, Vance explained that while progress was made, Iran has not accepted or acted upon the conditions defined by the president. Earlier, Trump had warned that the US might consider the use of force if Iran failed to reach agreements on critical matters, including its nuclear program. Despite this, Vance emphasized that Washington continues to prioritize diplomatic solutions. Vance added that diplomatic efforts will persist, but the authority to end those efforts rests solely with the president. He expressed hope that the situation would not escalate further, though he affirmed that the final decision would be made by President Trump if necessary.

Newly appointed Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to begin his first official working day at the Secretariat today, accompanied by members of his cabinet. From early Wednesday morning, various administrative offices and the Prime Minister’s office were seen busy preparing to welcome him, with officials entering the premises carrying flower bouquets. Members of the Special Security Force (SSF) have been deployed inside the Secretariat to ensure security. Officials confirmed that the Prime Minister’s office on the third floor of the Cabinet Division was cleaned and prepared on Tuesday afternoon. Nameplates have been installed in ministers’ and state ministers’ offices, and rooms have been newly decorated. According to the Cabinet Division, Tarique Rahman will first pay tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at 10 a.m. before returning to the Secretariat to begin his duties. He is expected to hold an introductory meeting with Cabinet Division officials, have lunch at the Secretariat, and chair a special cabinet meeting at 3 p.m., followed by a discussion with secretaries at 4 p.m. Newly appointed ministers and state ministers will also assume their responsibilities and brief journalists later in the day.