Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw even a millimeter from Gaza’s so-called ‘Yellow Line’ until Hamas is completely disarmed. The statement came during a conference, where Katz emphasized that Israel would not allow Hamas to retain weapons or tunnels. The ‘Yellow Line’ refers to the area in eastern Gaza where Israeli forces have been stationed under the first phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. According to the plan’s second phase, which began last month, Israel was expected to gradually withdraw from that line. However, Katz’s remarks indicate a firm stance against any withdrawal before Hamas’s disarmament. On Monday, Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs said the government would give Hamas 60 days to disarm, warning that failure to comply could lead to renewed warfare. The report also stated that since October 8, 2023, Israel, with U.S. support, has conducted a campaign in Gaza that has killed over 72,000 Palestinians and injured more than 171,000, mostly women and children, while destroying about 90 percent of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.

Newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, accompanied by members of his cabinet, paid tribute at the graves of late President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday afternoon. The prime minister placed floral wreaths and offered prayers at the site at 12:05 p.m., marking his first homage visit since assuming office. Earlier in the day, Tarique Rahman visited the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to honor the heroes of the Liberation War. He laid wreaths at the memorial around 11:00 a.m., observed a minute of silence, and later planted a parijat sapling in memory of the martyrs. Cabinet members joined him in paying respects through additional floral offerings. The visits to both the memorial and the gravesites symbolized the new government’s acknowledgment of national history and leadership legacies, as reported by Amar Desh Online.

Iran has summoned Germany’s ambassador in Tehran following a large protest in Munich that Iranian authorities described as anti-Iran activity. The state news agency IRNA reported on Tuesday that Ambassador Axel Dittmann was called to the Foreign Ministry, where officials lodged a strong protest over what they called destructive actions against the Islamic Republic and violations of international law. The protest in Munich last Saturday drew about 250,000 participants, according to police sources, and featured a speech by Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah and a critic of Iran’s current leadership. The IRNA report stated that Dittmann promised to convey Iran’s strong protest and deep dissatisfaction to Berlin. The Munich demonstration came amid ongoing unrest in Iran that began over rising living costs and has evolved into broader anti-government protests. Iranian authorities claim the unrest was fueled by foreign provocation, blaming the United States and Israel. Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people, including security personnel and civilians, were killed during the unrest, while international organizations estimate the death toll to exceed 7,000, most of them protesters.

The United States Navy carried out coordinated operations against three suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea on Monday night, resulting in the deaths of 11 men. According to a BBC report, eight people were killed on two vessels in the eastern Pacific and three on one vessel in the Caribbean. The U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Tuesday that the operations were based on intelligence information and that no American personnel were killed or injured. The report noted that in August 2025, Donald Trump had alleged a sharp rise in drug flows into the United States through the eastern Pacific and Caribbean routes. Following those claims, the U.S. Southern Command began naval operations in both regions in September of that year. Since then, the U.S. Navy has conducted more than 40 similar missions in the two maritime zones. The latest operations underscore Washington’s continued focus on maritime drug interdiction efforts across key trafficking routes in the Pacific and Caribbean regions.

Five Bangladeshi fishermen were reportedly taken away along with their trawler by Myanmar’s Arakan Army from the Naf River near Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday night. The incident occurred in the Naikhyangdia area, where the Naf River meets the Bay of Bengal, adjacent to Shah Porir Island. The detained fishermen were identified as residents of Jaliapara in Shah Porir Island, aged between 18 and 40. Trawler owner Mohammad Ullah confirmed the incident, stating that his vessel was returning from a fishing trip near Saint Martin’s Island when it anchored at Naikhyangdia after nightfall. Shortly afterward, armed members of the Arakan Army reportedly arrived by speedboat and took the fishermen and trawler away. Families of the detained fishermen are said to be deeply anxious following the incident. When contacted, Coast Guard officer Lt. Commander Rifat said he had no information about the matter but would look into it and take necessary action.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued nine fishermen alive after their fishing boat drifted in the deep sea near Saint Martin due to engine failure. The incident occurred about 10 nautical miles from the island, and the rescue was carried out by the Coast Guard ship Joy Bangla following an emergency alert through the 16111 hotline. The operation was confirmed by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siamandul Haque. According to the Coast Guard, the fishing boat’s engine malfunctioned on Monday, leaving it stranded in the deep sea. Upon receiving the distress information, a special rescue operation was immediately launched. All nine fishermen were rescued alive along with their boat. After the rescue, the fishermen were provided with food and primary medical care before being handed over to their boat owner. The Coast Guard emphasized the prompt response and coordination that ensured the safe recovery of the crew.

Public support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration policy has fallen to its lowest level since he began his second term in the White House, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released after a four-day survey ending Monday. Only 38 percent of respondents said Trump is doing a good job on immigration, down from 39 percent in January. Earlier in his second term, his approval on this issue had reached around 50 percent. The report notes that Trump’s popularity among male voters has declined sharply in recent weeks compared with late last year. During the 2024 election, male voters played a major role in his victory, and throughout 2025, about half of them supported his immigration stance. The latest poll shows that only 41 percent of men now back his policy, while support among women has dropped from about 40 percent last year to 35 percent. Trump had pledged during his 2024 campaign to launch one of the largest deportation drives in decades and ordered extensive anti-immigration operations after returning to power in January 2025.

The Rajshahi branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has received approval for a new convening committee. The announcement was made on Tuesday through a statement signed by the organization’s central president Rifat Rashid, chief coordinator Yunusul Islam, and organizational secretary Muinul Islam. The committee has been approved for a six-month term. According to the statement, Nahidul Islam Saju has been appointed as convener and Anjuman Ara Haque Arshi as member secretary. Shah Sohanur Rahman will serve as media secretary. Senior joint convener Md. Saffat Ahmed Titas and joint conveners Fa-Ardin Rahman, Shamim Hossain, and Md. Bari have been named. Senior joint member secretary Mamunur Rashid and joint member secretaries Iman Raj, Tanvir Hossain Ruonok, Raju Ahmed, and Abu Yakub have also been appointed. Khaled Hasan Milu has been named chief organizer, while Moklesur Rahman Bijoy will serve as senior organizer. Ashraful Islam Azim has been appointed spokesperson, and Urmi Khatun as deputy spokesperson. The statement instructed that a full committee be formed within seven working days.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and members of his cabinet are set to begin their first official working day at the Secretariat on Wednesday. Ahead of their arrival, new nameplates have been installed on the office doors of ministers and state ministers, and the rooms have been newly decorated. Officials working at the Secretariat expressed happiness about the new prime minister’s first day in office. According to a Land Ministry official, the minister will first pay tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar before starting office work at the Secretariat. Relevant authorities said all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure the smooth conduct of the prime minister’s regular official activities, with security measures strengthened across the premises. The report also mentions that the prime minister is expected to hold a special meeting with cabinet members and an exchange session with secretaries on this first working day.

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.