US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is holding talks with Cuba’s top leadership to reach a possible agreement. He made the remarks at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, just days after threatening an effective oil blockade against Cuba’s struggling economy. Trump described Cuba as a failed state and suggested that the absence of Venezuelan support has left Havana vulnerable, though he did not disclose details of the proposed deal.

Since the US-led operation on January 3 that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration has intensified pressure on the communist-ruled island. Venezuela had been a key ally and oil supplier to Cuba. Last Thursday, Trump signed an executive order threatening additional tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, which led to long queues at Havana’s fuel stations the following day.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to send humanitarian aid, including food and other goods, to Cuba and to pursue diplomatic efforts to maintain oil shipments. The Cuban government accused Trump of trying to economically strangle the island as power outages and fuel shortages worsened.

Election campaigning in Manikganj has intensified, with candidates actively engaging voters across towns and villages. On Monday morning, a group of hijra community members drew attention at Dautia Bazar in Manikganj Sadar upazila as they campaigned for BNP-nominated candidate Afroza Khanam Rita in the Manikganj-3 constituency. Wearing headbands and distributing leaflets, they moved through the market, urging people to vote for the paddy sheaf symbol in a lively and colorful atmosphere.

The campaign was led by community leaders Nargis and Rokhsana, joined by others including Nandini, Guti, and Mukta. They stated that around 50 hijra individuals live in Manikganj and are divided into groups to campaign daily for the BNP candidate. They emphasized their rights as citizens and expressed support for those who stand by their community.

Local shopkeepers and residents responded with curiosity and encouragement, capturing videos and applauding the group. Many remarked that such participation reflects growing awareness and the beauty of democracy.

A new Asahi newspaper poll indicates that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is on track for a major victory in next week’s lower house election. The survey, released on February 2, 2026, shows the LDP could secure well above the 233 seats needed for a majority in the 465-member chamber, up from its current 198 seats. Together with coalition partner Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), the ruling bloc could reach as many as 300 seats, strengthening Takaichi’s mandate.

According to Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities strategist Keisuke Tsuruta, such a result would reinforce Takaichi’s authority and allow her to continue her “proactive” economic policies, including boosting consumption and cutting taxes. The main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance faces a potential loss of half its 167 seats amid a tight race.

Takaichi dissolved parliament last month and called the snap election for February 8 to seek public approval for her expansionary economic agenda. Her earlier decision to suspend the 8% food tax for two years triggered a market slump and raised public concern about Japan’s fiscal discipline.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Saturday, Trump said he hoped a deal could be achieved. He also stated that the United States possesses the world’s most powerful warships, according to a report by TASS.

Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had warned that any U.S. attack on Iran would trigger a regional conflict. Responding to Khamenei’s remarks, Trump said it was understandable for him to speak that way and added that time would tell whether Khamenei was right or wrong if no deal was reached.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that discussions on Iran’s nuclear program with the United States remain possible if mutual trust can be restored. He noted that Iran has lost confidence in the U.S. as a negotiating partner and warned that any military intervention in Iran could spread across the broader region.

Bangladesh has formally invited India to observe the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter, both scheduled for February 12, 2026. According to Indian media outlet India Today, the invitation was extended for India to join as an international observer, alongside several other countries and global organizations. New Delhi has not yet responded to the invitation or confirmed whether it will send an observer team.

Interim government data show that 330 international observers have so far confirmed participation, representing six international organizations, 16 countries, and 32 individuals from various global institutions. Confirmed observer groups include the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, and both governmental and non-governmental organizations. The office of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that the number of international observers this time is more than double that of the disputed general election held on January 7, 2024.

Other invited countries include Nepal, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, and Romania, some of which are still finalizing their delegations.

The army has arrested BNP leader Mohammad Kayes, the prime accused in the murder case of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader S M Sohel. The arrest took place on Monday in the Baklia police station area of Chittagong. A police officer from Baklia confirmed the arrest, stating that Kayes was first brought to their station and later transferred to Patiya police station. However, Patiya Police Officer-in-Charge Ziaur Haque said the accused was still at Baklia station and had not yet been handed over.

According to the report, Sohel was killed on April 22, 2022, in the Budhpura Bazar area under Patiya police station following a dispute over local dominance. The case was filed by Sohel’s brother, Abul Kasem, chairman of Kashiyaiash Union Parishad, naming Kayes as the main accused along with several others. Sohel was also the nephew of Khalilur Rahman, chairman of KDS Group and president of the Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has remained under investigation since 2022, with local authorities coordinating between Baklia and Patiya police stations for custody procedures.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by Imran Khan, has alleged that law enforcement agencies detained around 180 of its workers during overnight raids across Karachi and other parts of Sindh. The party claimed the arrests took place on Sunday night and described the actions as political persecution aimed at disrupting its planned protest on February 8.

According to PTI, Sindh provincial police conducted raids at the homes of its leaders and activists, detaining them to prevent participation in the upcoming demonstrations. PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh stated that their February 8 strike would be entirely peaceful and insisted that arrests and police operations could not halt their movement.

The Sindh government has categorically rejected PTI’s allegations, calling them completely false and misleading. Authorities asserted that PTI was spreading misinformation to energize its protest campaign ahead of the planned demonstrations.

Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, aged 26, who had reportedly been sentenced to death for involvement in last month’s anti-government demonstrations, was released on bail on Saturday, according to his lawyer and human rights groups. Soltani was arrested on January 8 in Fardis, west of Tehran, during widespread protests that triggered a heavy government crackdown. The Norway-based Kurdish rights group Hengaw said authorities initially told his family that his execution could occur within days, but Iran’s judiciary later clarified that he faced only security-related charges and no death sentence had been issued.

His lawyer, Amir Musakhani, confirmed that Soltani was freed on bail of 2 billion tomans, approximately 12,600 dollars, and that his personal belongings, including his phone, remained under control. The case drew international attention after reports of his death sentence circulated globally. U.S. President Donald Trump warned of severe consequences if the execution were carried out, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cautioned that any attack could spark regional conflict.

Iran’s foreign minister dismissed foreign media reports as fabricated, stating there were no plans for Soltani’s execution. Human rights groups reported thousands killed during the unrest, with investigations ongoing.

The Nigerian army announced that eleven Boko Haram members, including a key commander, were killed during a military operation in the Sambisa Forest of Borno State in the country’s northeast. The operation took place on Sunday, according to a military statement cited by TRT World. The slain commander, identified as Abu Khalid, was described as the group’s second-in-command in the region and was responsible for coordinating logistics and terrorist activities. The army reported no casualties among its personnel.

Boko Haram has been active in Nigeria since the early 2000s and has expanded its attacks to neighboring Cameroon, Chad, and Niger since 2015. Authorities said the group has killed at least two people across the Lake Chad basin. The military confirmed that counterterrorism operations in the northeastern forests remain ongoing.

The latest operation underscores Nigeria’s continued efforts to weaken Boko Haram’s presence in the region and disrupt its logistical networks.

A confrontation erupted in Bafla Masterpara of Kishoreganj upazila, Nilphamari, on Sunday night, February 1, when supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jatiya Party (JAPA) clashed over road passage. During the altercation, JAPA candidate Siddikul Alam’s gunman, Abdur Razzak, allegedly pointed his firearm at BNP activists, prompting them to detain him. Army personnel and Kishoreganj police later arrived to bring the situation under control.

Ranchandi Union BNP general secretary Moshfiqur Rahman Jewel described the act of brandishing a weapon over a trivial matter as deeply concerning. Meanwhile, Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdur Rashid Shah accused the JAPA candidate of using illegal funds in the election and urged administrative intervention. In response, the JAPA candidate’s brother, Tariq, denied the allegations, stating that the security guard was licensed and that BNP activists had vandalized vehicles instead.

Kishoreganj police officer-in-charge Abdul Quddus confirmed that no case had been filed regarding the incident as of the report’s publication.

Mufti Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim, known as Pir Charmonai and the Amir of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, called on young voters to cast their first votes in favor of Islam. He made the remarks on Sunday night at an election rally organized by Islami Andolan Bangladesh at the Nangalkot Central Eidgah ground in Comilla-10 (Nangalkot-Lalmai) constituency. Karim warned that if Islamic scholars do not speak for Islam, harmful influences could reemerge in the country.

During his speech, he expressed dissatisfaction with the nation’s progress over the past 54 years, saying that Bangladesh has not achieved what it should have. He criticized those who sell their conscience for money during elections, claiming such actions fuel unrest in the country. The rally was presided over by Mufti Shamsuddoha Ashrafi, the party’s nominated candidate for Comilla-10.

Other speakers included Mufti Rezaul Karim Abrar, Mufti Habibur Rahman Misbah, Maulana Baki Billah, Maulana Gazi Masum Khayer, Dr. Abdul Momin Majumdar, and Maulana Nur Islam Mir.

Russian representatives joined discussions in Florida aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war and establishing peace. On Saturday afternoon, Kirill Dmitriev, a top economic envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, met with US officials to advance President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan. Dmitriev confirmed his arrival in Miami through a social media post but did not specify which American representatives attended the meeting.

The meeting took place one day before Ukrainian and Russian negotiators were scheduled to meet in Abu Dhabi to continue talks on the US-supported peace initiative. Earlier, Dmitriev had met Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Davos in January and held similar discussions in Miami last December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had recently suggested that the Abu Dhabi talks might be delayed due to the US-Iran crisis.

According to Washington, both sides are close to reaching an agreement, though Kyiv stated that no compromise has yet been found on the key territorial issues of postwar settlement.

Pakistan has announced that it will not play its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India. Despite the boycott, India must still travel to Sri Lanka under ICC regulations. The match is set for February 15 at the Premadasa Stadium, and India is required to attend pre-match events, continue training, and report to the venue on match day even if the game does not take place.

According to ICC rules, if Pakistan fails to field a team, the match referee will make the final decision. In that case, India would receive two points, but only if it complies with all match-day obligations. If India also fails to appear, both teams would receive one point each. Pakistan’s decision could negatively affect its net run rate, while India’s would remain unchanged.

Neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India nor the ICC has issued any official comment on the situation. The report suggests that a tough decision may be forthcoming for Pakistan.

A sudden earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck large parts of Jammu and Kashmir early Monday morning. According to preliminary data from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the tremor occurred at 5:35 a.m. The National Center for Seismology reported that the epicenter was located in Budgam district, about 10 kilometers below the surface, at coordinates 33.9°N and 74.76°E.

The quake was felt across several nearby areas, including Charar-i-Sharif, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Shopian. Many residents, awakened by the shaking, rushed outdoors in fear. Around the same time, a mild earthquake was also recorded in India’s Andaman region.

As of the latest reports, no casualties or property damage have been reported from the affected areas.

Egyptian-American entrepreneur Abdul Elenani has gained attention in New York for his Palestinian restaurant chain 'Ayat', named after his Palestinian-American wife, Ayat Masoud. The first branch opened in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge in 2020, following the closure of his earlier outlets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant serves traditional Palestinian and regional dishes, including 'Maqluba', based on recipes from Masoud’s mother.

Since its launch, 'Ayat' has expanded to seven locations in Manhattan and one in New Jersey, with new branches planned in Washington D.C., Dallas, and Philadelphia. The Dallas branch is scheduled to open by the end of January. Elenani said the restaurant aims to share Palestinian culture and cuisine while raising awareness about Palestine’s identity.

According to the report, 'Ayat' became more widely recognized during Israel’s assault on Gaza, as public support for Palestine increased. Many customers who were previously unfamiliar with the term 'Palestine' learned about its culture through the restaurant’s food and story.