Hamas has called on Israel to immediately open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as the enclave’s fragile ceasefire faces a critical test. According to Palestinian news agency reports from Gaza, Hamas has demanded that Israel open the crossing immediately, while also adhering to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The Islamist group has expressed willingness to allow the Palestinian Authority to manage the Gaza Strip’s affairs, with a committee of technocrats overseeing the territory’s administration.
This move comes after US President Donald Trump hinted that Hamas played a key role in the recent release of hostages from Gaza. Observers believe that Hamas is now signaling its willingness to disarm. In related news, a close associate of the main suspect in the murder of Bangladeshi young politician Sharif Uddin Chakroborty has made a confession. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that an American attack on Iran could lead to a full-scale conflict in the region.
In the United Kingdom, a woman was stabbed to death in the London suburb of Wandsworth. Police arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of murder. The Afghan embassy in Washington has announced that it will close its operations by June 2026. In an interview with American TV, an Afghan official stated that the decision was taken due to security concerns.
US President Trump has expressed a desire to continue negotiations with Iran and achieve a positive outcome. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked Prince Andrew, a member of the royal family, to testify before the US Congress. Iranian Supreme Leader’s advisor Ali Larijani has stated that a framework for talks with the US is being developed. In a shocking twist, an email investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, an American sex offender, has revealed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was mentioned in the emails.
US Special Envoy Stephen Wittkoff met with his Russian counterpart in Miami to discuss the issue. The United Arab Emirates has reported that its non-oil trade has reached AED 3.8 trillion. A technical glitch has occurred on a transmission line between Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania. In a separate incident, at least five people were killed in two separate bombings in two Iranian cities. Iran’s Army Chief Amir Hatami has warned that the country’s armed forces are on high alert and that any miscalculation could put the country’s security at risk.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Iran is willing to engage in a fair and balanced nuclear agreement that guarantees the elimination of restrictions on nuclear arms. A 45-year-old Indian man in New Delhi was hospitalized after taking HIV medication based on advice from an AI chatbot. The Pakistani government has given conditional approval for the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup. In a related development, the Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has announced that he will stage a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly from February 14.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has warned that an American attack on Iran could lead to a regional conflict. Pakistan’s national cricket team has unveiled its T20 World Cup jersey. In the match, Pakistan’s team scored 207 runs in 20 overs, losing six wickets. Saad Ali and Babar Azam scored half-centuries.
