Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to the United States for discussions centered on Iran. His office announced the visit on Saturday night, just one day after high-level talks between the United States and Iran took place in Oman. Netanyahu will depart for Washington on Tuesday and meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister believes that any agreement with Iran must include strict limitations on its ballistic missile program. He also insists that Iran’s support for proxy groups across the Middle East must be addressed in the negotiations. The statement reflects Israel’s concern that Iran’s missile program was reportedly not included in the ongoing U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman.

This will be Netanyahu’s seventh visit to the United States during Trump’s second term, underscoring the frequency of their diplomatic engagements over the past year.

Bangladesh has expressed interest in buying freight wagons and coaches from Pakistan at a lower cost, according to a report by Pakistani newspaper The Dawn on February 8. A two-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by a senior official, visited Pakistan Railway’s carriage factory and workshop in Mughalpura, Lahore, as well as facilities in Islamabad. During the visit, they observed the production process of train coaches, wagons, and related components.

Officials from Pakistan Railways said the delegation included Bangladesh’s Secretary for International Organization and Consular Affairs and the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Chief Mechanical Engineer Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed them on the workshop’s operations, technical capacity, and ongoing projects, and a short documentary was shown. The delegation also toured the locomotive workshop, where they were informed about engine maintenance and production. At the end of the visit, Bangladeshi representatives said the trip reflected the strong relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that enhanced railway cooperation would benefit both nations. He added that Bangladesh is also in talks with India for similar purchases but has shown interest in Pakistan as well.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that Nahid Islam would be appointed as a minister if the 11-party alliance assumes power. He made the statement on Sunday at an election rally in the capital’s Badda area. The announcement was part of his address to supporters ahead of the upcoming national election.

During his speech, Dr. Rahman criticized a rival political party for what he described as contradictory actions—speaking against corruption while nominating loan defaulters. He argued that corruption cannot be eradicated by sheltering such individuals. He further stated that on February 12, the people would show a “red card” to extortionists and corrupt figures.

The remarks reflect Jamaat-e-Islami’s campaign focus on anti-corruption and accountability as the election approaches, with the party seeking to strengthen its position within the 11-party alliance.

Italy has announced it will not join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Peace Board. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the news agency ANSA that constitutional obligations prevent Italy from participating. He explained that there is a legal conflict between Italy’s constitution and the charter of the Peace Board, which cannot be ignored. Tajani added that Italy remains open to discussions on peace initiatives.

By refusing to join, Italy aligns itself with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which have also declined participation in the controversial board. The Peace Board was introduced as an interim administrative body to oversee governance and reconstruction in post-war Gaza. However, Trump expanded its authority before the charter’s approval, omitting any reference to Gaza.

The decision comes despite the close relationship between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Trump, who chairs the board. Tajani cited Article 11 of Italy’s constitution, which discourages joining organizations that lack equality among member states, while Trump holds ultimate authority over the board.

US President Donald Trump’s chief Iran negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, visited the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln deployed in the Arabian Sea amid heightened Middle East tensions. The US military confirmed the visit on Saturday, noting that the officials toured the nuclear-powered carrier and its strike group. The visit came as prospects grew for renewed talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to AFP, the inspection coincided with expectations of new discussions between the two countries. Following the visit, Witkoff stated on social media that the carrier and its strike group were ensuring US security and upholding President Trump’s message of peace. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed optimism that talks with the United States would resume soon but warned against any potential US military action.

The visit followed indirect talks held in Oman’s capital the previous Friday, described by both sides as a positive start. The USS Abraham Lincoln had arrived in the region in January after tensions rose over the suppression of anti-government protests in Iran.

Will Lewis, the chief executive and publisher of The Washington Post, has resigned following widespread criticism over his management and recent large-scale staff cuts. The U.S.-based newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, had laid off more than 300 employees just days before Lewis announced his departure. He informed staff of his resignation through a brief note, thanking Bezos and acknowledging the need for difficult decisions to secure the paper’s future.

During his two-year tenure, Lewis faced scrutiny over his leadership, which intensified after the layoffs. In his message, he suggested that the job cuts were part of efforts to ensure the newspaper’s sustainability and its ability to continue serving millions of readers.

Jeff D’Onofrio has been appointed as the acting publisher, taking over leadership responsibilities as the organization navigates the aftermath of the layoffs and leadership change.

Mohammad Fakhruddin Manik, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Feni-3 constituency, has been served a show-cause notice for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct by using the title 'Dr.' before his name in campaign materials. The notice was issued on Saturday, February 7, by Joint District Judge Sajjatun Nesa, who heads the Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee. The notice stated that Manik used the title in leaflets, banners, and festoons despite not mentioning it in his election affidavit, which constitutes a breach of the Representation of the People Order, 1972.

In response, Fakhruddin Manik told Amader Desh that such notices are part of the election process and do not prove any wrongdoing. He claimed that the controversy over his title is politically motivated, alleging that opponents are spreading misinformation out of fear of his potential victory. Manik explained that he holds a Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) degree, which legally allows him to use the 'Dr.' title under the Bangladesh Homeopathic Education and Medical Council Act 2023.

He added that his credentials and registration number were submitted in his affidavit and that he plans to pursue legal action in higher courts against what he described as harassment and defamation.

Nahid Islam, the convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), declared that his party would permanently eliminate land grabbers if it comes to power. He made the statement on Sunday at 11 a.m. during an election rally held in Badda, Dhaka. According to him, members of two political parties have alternately been involved in land grabbing in the capital.

The remarks came as part of NCP’s campaign activities ahead of upcoming elections. Nahid Islam’s comments highlighted his party’s stance against illegal land occupation and corruption in urban areas. The event was organized as part of his electoral outreach to voters in Dhaka.

Further details about the rally and the party’s broader policy proposals were not provided in the report.

Bangladesh has intensified administrative and security preparations ahead of the 13th National Parliament election and referendum. Starting Sunday, February 8, a total of 1,051 executive magistrates are being deployed across the country. Alongside them, additional members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies have begun their duties, remaining active in electoral areas until February 14. According to the Election Commission, the army will stay deployed before and after the vote to ensure security.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’sud stated that several coordination meetings have been held with security agencies, and all parties consider the overall law and order situation favorable for the election. He also confirmed that all ballot boxes have been distributed to district levels, with returning officers receiving them as part of final preparations.

A circular from the Home Ministry earlier announced that police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar and VDP, and Coast Guard will be deployed to ensure a fair and peaceful election. In total, more than 970,000 security personnel, including members of the armed forces, will be on duty nationwide.

A small aircraft crashed into the sea off the coast of South Australia on Friday afternoon, killing all three people on board, including the pilot, according to police. The crash occurred near Long Bay, close to the port town of Goolwa South, about 63 kilometers south of Adelaide. Police confirmed that all three male occupants were found dead and that the wreckage had been recovered from the water.

Authorities said investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau arrived at the crash site on Saturday to begin an investigation into the incident. Local media outlet Seven News shared a video on social media platform X showing the aircraft descending nose-first into the sea at high speed.

Police have not yet released further details about the cause of the crash or the identities of the victims, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss the situation surrounding Iran, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, February 8, 2026. The meeting follows renewed diplomatic activity between the United States and Iran, including indirect talks held last Friday in Muscat, Oman, where both sides agreed to continue such discussions in the future.

Israeli media outlet Maariv reported that President Trump has presented Iran with five conditions: removal of 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, destruction of its nuclear infrastructure, elimination of ballistic missile capabilities, cessation of missile production, and an end to support for allied armed groups in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon. Bronwen Maddox, director and chief executive of Chatham House, said the demand to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capability is the most sensitive and difficult for Tehran to accept.

Maddox warned that losing missile capability would leave Iran defenseless against potential attacks and suggested that the conditions may have been designed to provoke rejection, which could heighten the risk of new U.S. military action against Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed concern over Egypt’s increasing military capabilities, calling for close monitoring to prevent excessive buildup. According to Israeli media reports on Thursday, Netanyahu made the remarks during a closed-door session of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Citing a source present at the meeting, the report said Netanyahu emphasized that while Israel maintains relations with Egypt, its expanding military strength should be carefully observed and restrained if necessary.

The report added that this warning comes amid heightened sensitivities in bilateral relations, following a major $35 billion gas deal signed between Israel and Egypt in December. Netanyahu had described the agreement, valued at 112 billion shekels, as the largest in Israel’s history. The two nations have maintained peace since signing the Camp David Accords and a formal peace treaty in 1979, which ended their state of war and normalized relations.

The renewed caution from Netanyahu highlights ongoing strategic vigilance in Israel’s approach to Egypt despite their longstanding peace framework.

The Trump administration deported several Palestinians from the United States to Israel using private aircraft, according to reports published this week by The Guardian in collaboration with +972 Magazine. The flights, which cost about $26,000 per hour, refueled in New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria before landing at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. From there, the deportees were reportedly left by the roadside in the occupied West Bank. The first flight on January 21 carried eight Palestinians from Arizona to Tel Aviv, while a second flight took place the following Monday, though the number of passengers remains unclear.

The flights were operated by Dezer Development, a Florida-based real estate company founded by Israeli-American Michael Dezer and currently run by his son Gil Dezer. The Trump administration chartered the aircraft through Journey Aviation. Michael Dezer, known for his close ties to the Trump family, had donated over one million dollars to Trump’s presidential campaign. The US State Department stated that it does not discuss interagency or diplomatic matters and confirmed that it works closely with the Department of Homeland Security on deportations of undocumented foreigners.

Homeland Security did not provide any comment on the issue, leaving questions about the scope and rationale of these private deportation flights unanswered.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing one of his toughest weeks in office after senior Labour figure and diplomat Lord Peter Mandelson resigned following revelations of his past connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, appointed by Starmer as ambassador to Washington, announced his departure from both his post and the Labour Party after new details emerged in the Epstein files, saying he wanted to avoid further embarrassment for the party.

The resignation has intensified internal unrest within Labour, with some members reportedly considering a leadership change. Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide victory in July 2024 promising stability after years of Conservative turmoil, has seen his popularity decline. Party rules make it difficult to remove a sitting leader quickly, but discussions are ongoing about possible mechanisms such as a confidence vote or coordinated pressure from senior figures.

Upcoming by-elections and local polls in Scotland, Wales, and England are seen as key tests for Starmer’s leadership. Poor results could heighten calls for his resignation, though potential challengers Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are not yet ready to contest his position.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim declared that the rule of what he called new tyrants and fascists will not survive the upcoming February 12 election. Speaking on Saturday evening at a campaign rally in Kalapara, Patuakhali-4 constituency, he said the election would mark the people’s victory against injustice, corruption, and misrule. The rally was organized in support of Islami Andolan’s candidate Professor Md. Mostafizur Rahman, symbolized by the hand fan.

Karim warned those who use fear and intimidation in politics to reflect on their actions. He compared current rulers to historical despots, saying their power would also collapse. Referring to the July uprising, he described it as a protest against 54 years of corruption and oppression, asserting that the demand for change arose from deep social grievances. He said Islami Andolan nominated only honest and people-friendly candidates.

The event drew a large crowd, with thousands joining a procession through Kalapara town before the rally, creating a festive atmosphere.