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The Bangladeshi Election Commission has officially announced that general elections will be held on February 12, 2026. This pivotal decision follows a period of intense political turmoil ignited by widespread student protests on August 5th of last year, which ultimately forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid to relinquish her 15-year hold on power.
Following her dramatic resignation, Sheikh Hasina departed Bangladesh and reportedly sought refuge in India. Since her departure, the nation has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Dr. Yunus, serving as the Chief Advisor, confirmed the election timeline, stating that the Election Commission has been directed to prepare for polls in February of the next year.
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### Global News Digest and Diplomatic Briefs
**International Security and Geopolitics**
**Middle East Conflict Funding:** The UN Special Representative for Palestine issued a sharp rebuke to key military suppliers, urging the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy—countries that have provided weaponry used in the bombardment of Gaza—to now shoulder the financial burden of the territory’s extensive reconstruction efforts.
**US-Iran Interception:** In a significant security operation last month, US Special Forces interdicted and boarded a vessel in the Indian Ocean traveling from China to Iran, successfully confiscating military and defense materials.
**European War Risk:** Alok Cairns, the UK Minister for the Armed Forces, issued a stark warning regarding the heightened threat of aggression from Russia toward Europe, emphasizing that the specter of war is “knocking on Europe’s door.”
**Russia-Ukraine Conflict:** Hostilities continue in Eastern Europe, with Russia launching attacks on two Ukrainian ports, resulting in one confirmed injury.
**Diplomatic Breakthroughs:** US President Donald Trump announced that Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a complete cessation of hostilities and attacks, effective this Friday. Separately, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a summit in Turkmenistan.
**Legal and Human Rights Developments**
**H-1B Visa Challenge:** Twenty US states have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging President Donald Trump’s directive to impose a substantial $100,000 fee on the H-1B skilled worker visa program.
**Immigration Status:** The US Department of Homeland Security has terminated Temporary Legal Status protections previously afforded to migrants from Ethiopia.
**Nobel Laureate Arrest:** Iran’s authorities have detained Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, signaling an ongoing crackdown on dissent within the country.
**UN Appointments:** Former Iraqi President Barham Salih has been selected to serve as the new head of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
**India Justice Appeal:** Husain Mastan Mirza, the daughter of the late, notorious Mumbai underworld figure Haji Mastan, has publicly appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for intervention to secure justice and recognition of her identity.
**Social and Domestic Incidents**
**Teenage Violence in Texas:** A tragic incident unfolded in Texas where a 15-year-old boy fatally shot his girlfriend’s mother and her siblings.
**Internet Safety Campaign:** Dubai Police have launched a public awareness initiative, urging parents to actively safeguard their children against the pressures and dangers associated with the pursuit of internet virality.
