Washington: The first solar eclipse of 2026 will occur today, Tuesday, 17 February. This will be an annular solar eclipse, popularly known as the “Ring of Fire,” visible only from select regions of the world. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but appears smaller than the Sun in the sky, leaving a bright ring around the Moon. Unfortunately, this eclipse will not be visible from India. The “Ring of Fire” phase will be visible mainly in the icy regions of Antarctica, while a partial eclipse can be observed from parts of South Africa, southern South America, and some areas in the Indian Ocean. Upcoming Lunar Eclipse and Blood MoonAstronomers are already preparing for the full lunar eclipse on 3 March 2026, which will be visible across a much lar...

Dhaka: With the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returning to power after 20 years, political shifts are creating unease among close associates of Muhammad Yunus, whose caretaker government has ruled the country for the past 18 months. Following BNP’s decisive victory in the general elections on 12 February, Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister on 17 February. Reports indicate that some of Yunus’s aides have left the country in anticipation of the new administration. According to The Daily Star, Faiz Ahmed Tayyab, Yunus’s special assistant for International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and telecommunications, departed for Germany the day after the election results, prompting questions about whether Yunus’s allies fear potential legal or political repercussions. Experts c...

Islamabad/Oslo: Former caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, faced intense protests from the Baloch community during his visit to Oslo, Norway. Demonstrators questioned him about the Pakistani Army’s operations in Balochistan and publicly denounced him as a “killer of Baloch people” and a “puppet of the army.” Videos shared by separatist leader Mir Yar Baloch on social media show protesters shouting at Kakar and highlighting the plight of Baloch citizens under Pakistan’s military campaigns. Despite the confrontations, Kakar did not respond and attempted to leave the scene quietly. Mir Yar emphasized that Baloch representatives continue to expose, through democratic and legal means, Pakistan’s oppressive policies, alleged war crimes, systematic injustices, and huma...

Dhaka: Ahead of Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister, political tensions have emerged in Bangladesh. Following its decisive election victory, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced that its elected MPs will not take the oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, dealing a significant blow to the agenda of interim leader Muhammad Yunus. BNP sources told leading media outlet Pratham Alo that the party’s decision was directed by Chairman Tarique Rahman. Salahuuddin Ahmad, the BNP MP from Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency, clarified that none of the party’s MPs were elected to the Constitutional Reform Council and instructed them not to sign any council forms. He emphasized that any action regarding the council can only occur after formal constitutional ...

Tokyo/Beijing: Tensions between Japan and China have escalated to some of their highest levels in recent years, following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last November. Takaichi warned that any Chinese attack on Taiwan would pose a direct threat to Japan’s security and could prompt a Japanese response. Beijing reacted angrily to the statement, threatening consequences for any perceived interference in Taiwan, which it considers a core sovereign matter. Takaichi recently returned to power with a historically strong mandate in Japan’s elections, signaling analysts to warn of potential further strain in Sino-Japanese relations. China has long asserted its claim over Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control. Any attack on Taiwan carries the risk o...

Islamabad/Dhaka: Following a decisive victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, BNP leader Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister on Tuesday, 17 February. The BNP has invited leaders from 13 countries, including India and Pakistan, to attend the ceremony. However, both New Delhi and Islamabad have opted not to send their respective heads of government. Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, will assume office amid heightened regional attention. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who was initially expected to attend due to strengthened Dhaka-Islamabad ties during the previous 18 months of governance under Yunus, will not be present. Analysts suggest that Pakistan’s position has shifted following the exc...

Washington: Ahead of scheduled nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday, the United States is significantly increasing its military buildup in the Middle East. The deployment includes naval vessels, fighter jets, and advanced air defense systems. Reports suggest that the US is positioning these assets as a precaution in case nuclear negotiations fail. According to CNN, sources indicate that US Air Force units based in the United Kingdom are moving refueling tankers and fighter jets closer to the region. Flight tracking data shows that dozens of US military cargo planes have transported equipment from the US to Jordan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia over the past few weeks. Satellite imagery analysis revealed that on January 25, 14 US F-15 fighter jets were deployed at Jordan’s Muwaffa...

Washington: The United States Air Force has placed a contract with aerospace giant Boeing for the supply of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) “bunker buster” bombs. The move comes as the US seeks to replenish its stockpile following last year’s operation against Iranian nuclear facilities. During Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, the US deployed these bombs against underground nuclear installations in Iran. Designed to penetrate deep into rock and reinforced concrete before detonating, the GBU-57 is regarded as the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal and is typically deployed from the B-2 Spirit bomber. According to Israeli media reports, the Air Force is issuing a sole-source contract to Boeing to replace the GBU-57s expended during Operation Midnight Hamme...