Tensions between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program have intensified, according to a report by Axios. The report claims that if Iran fails to provide assurances of permanently halting nuclear weapons development, the U.S. may consider extreme measures, including removing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his son Mojtaba Khamenei. The Pentagon has reportedly presented several strategic options to President Donald Trump, one of which involves dismantling Iran’s religious leadership structure. Trump has not yet made a final decision and is said to be keeping all options open. The report adds that if Iran commits to permanently stopping weapons production, limited uranium enrichment could be allowed, though no final decision has been made. Diplomatic efforts have so far yielded little progress, raising fears of military confrontation. Several Gulf states and Israel believe conflict is more likely than compromise. The U.S. has assembled its largest military presence in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq war, though Trump has not authorized military action. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that both sides have agreed on some basic principles and that Tehran will soon submit a written proposal. The White House confirmed that significant gaps remain before any agreement can be reached.

Bangladesh’s long-held strong position in the European Union apparel market has weakened, according to recent Eurostat and Export Promotion Bureau data. Despite overall EU apparel imports rising 2.10% in 2025 to reach USD 90 billion, average unit prices fell 10.27%. Bangladesh’s exports to the EU totaled USD 9.46 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2025–26, down 4.14% from the same period a year earlier. In December 2025 alone, export earnings dropped 12.05% year-on-year as prices fell despite stable shipment volumes. Analysts attribute the intensified competition to exporters from several countries redirecting goods to Europe after the United States imposed higher tariffs on multiple nations. This surge in supply has driven down prices and increased pressure on Bangladeshi exporters. The situation is further complicated by the newly announced India-EU free trade agreement, which will eliminate around 12% tariffs on Indian apparel once it takes effect in 2027, giving India a cost advantage. Industry leaders from BGMEA and EAB warned that without timely policy support, efficiency upgrades, and product diversification, Bangladesh risks losing market share in Europe to more aggressive competitors such as China, India, and Vietnam.

Nine people, including six female skiers and three professional guides, were killed in a massive avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, described as the most deadly avalanche in the United States in 45 years. The victims were on a three-day backcountry skiing expedition under the supervision of experienced guides when the avalanche struck on Tuesday morning as they prepared to return. A snow layer the size of a football field collapsed suddenly, burying them within seconds. Rescue teams faced severe wind and near-zero visibility, delaying operations. Six people were rescued alive, but nine others could not be saved. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether negligence played a role. The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office reported that the site remains dangerous, with one person still missing. The tragedy has cast a shadow of grief over the community. Psychologist Sara Boylen said the incident has caused deep emotional trauma for mountain enthusiasts, turning a place of peace into one of loss.

The tenure of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain ends today, Sunday, February 22, 2026. The government has not yet announced how the city corporation will be administered from Monday. Dr. Shahadat, who has been urging for a new city election, has expressed willingness to contest again if his party nominates him. According to the Local Government (City Corporation) Act, elections should have been held between November 22, 2025, and February 22, 2026, but that schedule was not maintained. Following the new government’s swearing-in, the Ministry of Local Government expressed interest in holding elections for all city corporations, including Dhaka and Chattogram. Political parties such as BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and Islami Andolon have begun preparing candidate lists for mayor and councillor positions. The ministry has also sent a letter to the Election Commission to initiate preparations. Sources indicate the government may consider keeping Dr. Shahadat in office until the next election under Section 6 of the Local Government Act. Meanwhile, parties are finalizing their strategies, with Jamaat and its allies yet to decide whether to contest jointly or separately.

Awami-leaning journalists held a public demonstration in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday, marking their first open gathering since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government a year and a half ago. Led by Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) leaders Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu and Akhtar Hossain, participants formed a brief human chain and later paid tribute at the Central Shaheed Minar. They demanded reopening of the locked DUJ office and release of detained journalists, sharing photos and videos of the event on social media. The demonstration came four days after the formation of a new government and amid reports that banned Awami League activists were reopening party offices and organizing small rallies. The July Revolutionary Journalists Alliance (JRJA) strongly condemned the event, accusing the participants of trying to reintroduce “Mujibism” and destabilize the country’s new democratic order. JRJA demanded the arrest of those involved, alleging many were accused in genocide cases. The incident reflects renewed activity among Awami-affiliated groups despite ongoing bans on their political and organizational operations following the 2024 uprising that toppled Hasina’s 15-year rule.

The 30-year Ganges water-sharing treaty signed in 1996 between India and Bangladesh is set to expire in December 2026, and no formal renewal talks have begun. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told parliament that discussions will start only after Bangladesh’s new government is formed. The agreement, originally signed by H. D. Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina, governs dry-season water distribution at the Farakka Barrage and has long symbolized bilateral cooperation. Experts cited in the report warn that India may use the Farakka Barrage as diplomatic leverage, while Bangladesh seeks to link water, trade, and transit issues in negotiations. The political shift in Dhaka following Sheikh Hasina’s fall and the rise of a new BNP-led government has reshaped regional dynamics. West Bengal’s internal politics and environmental concerns over salinity and river flow further complicate renewal prospects. Analysts suggest that failure to reach a new deal by December could intensify debates over sovereignty and regional economic interdependence, with both sides balancing strategic interests and domestic pressures.

The first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament is expected to begin in the second week of March, likely around March 12. According to multiple sources from Bangabhaban, the Parliament Secretariat, and both ruling and opposition parties, preparations for the session have been completed. The Secretariat has already informed the President’s Office, and the President may call the session soon under Article 72 of the Constitution. The session must be held by March 14, within 30 days of the publication of the election gazette on February 13. The session will open without a sitting Speaker or Deputy Speaker, as the previous Speaker resigned and the Deputy Speaker is in jail. A senior member or the Chief Election Commissioner may preside over the first meeting until a new Speaker is elected. The President will deliver his constitutional address at the opening session. Opposition leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami have pledged constructive participation, while government ministers have called for cooperative politics. The first meeting will elect a new Speaker and possibly a Deputy Speaker, followed by the President administering the oath. Subsequent sittings will include condolence motions, the President’s speech, and presentation of ordinances issued since the last Parliament.

India and South Africa, both group champions with perfect records, will meet today in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup. The match will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad at 7:30 p.m. local time. Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka will face England in Group 2 at Pallekele. India lead the head-to-head record against South Africa in T20 World Cups with five wins from seven matches. India enter the match with concerns over the form of opener Abhishek Sharma and number-three batter Tilak Varma. Team management is expected to make changes, possibly bringing in Sanju Samson. Axar Patel or Washington Sundar may be included to strengthen the batting order, while pacer Mohammed Siraj could return to the lineup. Captain Suryakumar Yadav continues to back Abhishek despite his struggles. South Africa, meanwhile, have no major selection worries. Openers Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock have provided strong starts throughout the tournament, and pacers Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, and Marco Jansen remain in good form. The Proteas are expected to field an unchanged side.

Bangladesh A will take on India A today in the final of the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok, with the match scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Both teams reached the final as unbeaten group champions. Bangladesh A, led by Fahima Khatun, defeated Pakistan A in the semifinal, while India A overcame Sri Lanka A to secure their spot in the title clash. Bangladesh’s key strength throughout the tournament has been its spin bowling, with captain Fahima Khatun and Sanjida Akter Meghla consistently providing breakthroughs. However, the team’s batting remains a concern, as strong starts have not been sustained in the later overs. Meghla said the team’s progress was due to collective performance and expressed hope for another strong team effort in the final. India A, which batted first only once in the tournament, has shown strength while chasing. Bangladesh A will aim to overcome its batting weaknesses and contain India’s batters to claim the title, especially after losing last year’s final to India A by 31 runs in Hong Kong.

Nearly a week after their abduction, 20 fishermen kidnapped by pirates in the Bay of Bengal remain captive. The abductors have demanded Tk 350,000 per fisherman, totaling Tk 7 million, through mobile communication with the boat owners. According to the Forest Department, negotiations are ongoing between the pirates and the owners over the ransom amount. The pirates have not set a payment deadline but have threatened severe consequences if the ransom is not paid soon. The fishermen were abducted on the night of February 16 while fishing near the Dublar Char area, including Alorkol and Narikelbariya fishing villages, by the notorious Jahangir and Suman pirate groups. Following the incident, regular fishermen in the Sharankhola range of the eastern Sundarbans stopped fishing for safety reasons, leading to a severe fish shortage at the country’s largest dry fish production center and heavy financial losses for traders. Fishing activities partially resumed on February 21, with the Forest Department instructing trawlers to stay close to shore and return daily due to ongoing security concerns.

Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. has suggested that he may retire from professional football by December this year. The forward, currently playing for his boyhood club Santos, said he is uncertain about his future and may decide to end his career when his contract expires at the end of the year. Neymar, who recently returned to the field after knee surgery in December, admitted that recurring injuries have made him reconsider his career path. After an unremarkable stint with Saudi club Al Hilal, Neymar returned to Santos in early 2025 and renewed his contract through the end of the current year. However, his repeated injuries have kept him sidelined for much of the past two years, and he last played for Brazil in October 2023. The player acknowledged that his participation in the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada remains uncertain. Neymar said his final decision will depend on how he feels later this year, emphasizing that he is taking his career one year at a time.

More than 7,000 languages are spoken globally, but at least 3,000—around 40 percent—are endangered, according to Ethnologue. Of the 7,159 known living languages, 3,193 are endangered, 3,479 are stable, and 487 are institutional, meaning they are used by governments, schools, and media. About 88.1 million people speak an endangered language as their mother tongue, and just 25 countries account for 80 percent of these languages. Oceania has the highest concentration of endangered languages, followed by Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Examples include Yugambeh in Australia, which is being revitalized through community programs and learning apps; Ainu in Japan, a critically endangered language with very few speakers; Ongota in Ethiopia, spoken by only a handful of elders; Louisiana Creole in the United States; Leco in Bolivia; and Cornish in England, which was revived after being declared extinct. Languages become endangered when communities shift to more dominant tongues, often passing them to younger generations as second languages. The data highlight the global urgency of language preservation, with revitalization efforts emerging in some regions to sustain cultural identity and linguistic diversity.

Defending champions India will face South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super Eights on Sunday, February 22, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match is a repeat of the 2024 final, which India won by seven runs. Both teams advanced unbeaten through the group stage of the 2026 edition and are considered strong contenders for the semifinals. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said the team will focus on taking early wickets against South Africa’s in-form top order, while South Africa’s Quinton de Kock emphasized handling pressure as the key to victory. India topped their group with four wins, including a 61-run victory over Pakistan and a 93-run win against Namibia. South Africa also dominated, defeating Canada, New Zealand, and the UAE, and surviving a Super Over against Afghanistan. Despite India’s strong record, inconsistency in their batting lineup, particularly opener Abhishek Sharma’s three consecutive ducks, has drawn attention. Morkel expressed confidence that Sharma will soon return to form. South Africa, still seeking their first T20 World Cup title, have also announced a new squad with five uncapped players for a post-tournament tour of New Zealand in March.

The Super Eights opener between Pakistan and New Zealand at the 2026 T20 World Cup was abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo. The match, scheduled at R Premadasa Stadium, was called off without a ball being bowled after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat first on Saturday. Despite efforts by more than 60 ground staff to protect the playing surface, the umpires officially abandoned the Group 2 match at 9:05pm local time (15:35 GMT). The rain began immediately after the toss, and with forecasts predicting continued showers, both teams were forced to leave the field. Even a shortened five-over contest was not possible before the 10:16pm (16:46 GMT) cut-off time. As a result, both Pakistan and New Zealand were awarded one point each in the standings. The tournament continues on Sunday, with co-host India facing South Africa in Ahmedabad for the first Group 1 match, while co-host Sri Lanka meets England in Group 2 action at Pallekele.

United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has drawn widespread condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting that Israel has the right to expand its territory across much of the Middle East. In a televised interview with commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee, a self-described Christian Zionist, said it would be acceptable if Israel claimed land stretching from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile River in Egypt. The ambassador later described his statement as hyperbolic, clarifying that Israel seeks only security within its current borders. The remarks prompted sharp rebukes from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States. Saudi Arabia called the comments “extremist rhetoric” and demanded clarification from the US State Department. Egypt denounced them as a violation of international law, while Jordan labelled them “absurd and provocative.” The League of Arab States warned that such statements inflame regional and religious tensions. Huckabee, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2024, has previously rejected the two-state solution and denied the existence of an Israeli occupation. His comments come amid ongoing disputes over Israel’s undefined borders and its occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories.