Political cultureBeyond security and institutions lies a more subtle expectation, a transformation of political culture. Now those same young citizens expect opportunity. Citizens expect the new government to recognize that it governs a divided electorate. Many citizens expect a path that balances accountability for past abuses with a long-term vision of political coexistence. TrustUltimately, what Bangladesh expects from the newly elected BNP government is a restoration of trust.
Arsenal powered into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years as the quadruple chasers crushed Wigan 4-0 on Sunday. Holding a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League, through to the League Cup final against Manchester City and into the Champions League last 16, Arsenal could end their silverware drought with a remarkable quadruple this season. Arsenal's latest FA Cup clash with Wigan lacked the drama of their previous one in 2014 -- a semi-final win featuring a penalty shoot-out goal from then Gunners captain Arteta. With a feisty fourth round tie level at 1-1 after extra-time, Leeds won the shoot-out 4-2. Grimsby stunned Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season.
Rayo Vallecano waltzed to a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga, leaving Diego Simeone's side 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid. Atletico dropped to fourth after their heavy defeat at Leganes's Butarque stadium, where Rayo hosted the fixture due to pitch problems at their own Vallecas ground. Real Betis, fifth, were able to cut the gap to Atletico down to four points with a 2-1 win at Mallorca. Fran Perez, Oscar Valentin and Nobel Mendy struck for Rayo, who thoroughly deserved their triumph against an Atletico side that had thrashed Spanish champions Barcelona 4-0 in the Copa del Rey on Thursday. - Betis pushing -Betis doubled down on their win over Atletico in La Liga last weekend with a third straight top flight triumph, boosting their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Hoover’s boys finished as the runner-up in the area tournament. Five Bucs finished in double figures, with Mike Glass leading the charge with 15 points, eight assists and four rebounds. The Bucs will now prepare for the Northeast Regional Tournament at Jacksonville State University, with both teams playing on Monday, Feb. 23. Last Monday, the Jags beat Helena 43-34 in the opening round of the area tournament to advance. Spain Park's girls fell to Pelham in the opening round of the area tournament.
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Sunday conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its Chairman Tarique Rahman for securing a two-thirds majority in the national election. In a statement, GM Quader expressed hope that Tarique Rahman would utilise his intellect, wisdom and past political experience to play a positive role in ensuring peace, stability, continuity of democracy and sustainable development in Bangladesh. He said he believed that Tarique Rahman would soon assume the significant responsibility of running the state and work to strengthen national unity by demonstrating tolerance, responsibility and political prudence. GM Quader also expressed optimism that under Tarique Rahman’s leadership, the country would be able to overcome prevailing challenges, uncertainties and divisions through effective governance. At the end of his message, he wished Tarique Rahman and his family members good health, long life and overall well-being.
Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked third among the world’s most polluted cities on Monday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 248 at 8:11am. The city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
KYIV, Ukraine, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Around 1,600 buildings in Kyiv remained without heat Sunday after a barrage of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, officials said, as Ukraine's army claimed a strike on a key oil terminal in Russia. Authorities in the Ukrainian capital say around 1,100 residential buildings and 500 other buildings were still without heat in Kyiv, in the midst of a gruelling winter of war. Ukraine's army meanwhile said it had hit a key oil terminal in southern Russia near Moscow-annexed Crimea. The attack was on the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal near the village of Volna in the Krasnodar region. Volna is home to the Black Sea port of Taman, used for Russian oil, coal and grain shipments.
ISTANBUL, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday announced he was postponing a visit to Abu Dhabi because Emirati leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a "health problem" -- then deleted the message. The message, posted by Erdogan's team on X, said he had talked with Al Nahyan by phone. "During the course of the call, President Erdogan expressed his sadness over the health problem experienced by (President) Al Nahyan and wished him a prompt recovery," said the three-paragraph message. Erdogan would travel to the United Arab Emirates at a later date, still to be determined, the message added. Turkey's state broadcaster likewise took down its article on Erdogan that mentioned the Emirati leader's health problem.
Lebanon says 4 dead in strike as Israel says targeted Palestinian groupBEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Lebanon said an Israeli strike on Sunday near the Syrian border in the country's east killed four people, as Israel said it had targeted operatives from Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. It appeared to be the first strike Israel has claimed in Lebanon against Islamic Jihad, which is also allied with Hezbollah, since the truce. The Israeli military in a statement said it "struck Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Majdal Anjar area". Fighters from Islamic Jihad were among those killed in Lebanon during hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which erupted in October 2023 over the Gaza war. Hamas and its Islamic Jihad ally have not announced plans to disarm in Lebanon.
MILAN, Italy, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Germany's Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin grabbed the lead after the short programme in the Olympic figure skating pairs on Sunday after a masterful tango. Miura and Kihara, two-time world champions and winners of the Grand Prix Final in December, were penalised for a hesitant lift midway through their programme to "Paint it Black". Defending Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong are in sixth position after scoring 72.66. At 42, Stellato-Dudek is the oldest woman to compete in an Olympic figure skating event since Britain's Ethel Muckelt in 1928. The 2024 world champions had been uncertain to compete after she suffered concussion days before arriving in Milan.
MADRID, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Rayo Vallecano waltzed to a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga, leaving Diego Simeone's side 15 points behind leaders Real Madrid. Atletico dropped to fourth after their heavy defeat at Leganes's Butarque stadium, where Rayo hosted the fixture due to pitch problems at their own Vallecas ground. Real Betis, fifth, were able to cut the gap to Atletico down to four points with a 2-1 win at Mallorca. - Betis pushing -Betis doubled down on their win over Atletico in La Liga last weekend with a third straight top flight triumph, boosting their hopes of Champions League qualification. On Monday champions Barcelona visit Girona, aiming to go back top after Real Madrid usurped them on Saturday with a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
Witkoff, Kushner to represent US in Iran nuclear talks in GenevaWASHINGTON, United States, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump's top envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will head to Geneva this week for talks with Iranian negotiators over Tehran's nuclear program, the White House confirmed on Sunday. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to AFP that the two men, who have been Trump's lead Iran negotiators, would represent Washington for the talks. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will represent Tehran in the negotiations, his ministry reported earlier. Iran said the Geneva talks would be "indirect," as the previous round in Oman had been. After the Iran talks, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to participate in US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Geneva.
BEIJING, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An explosion at a fireworks store in eastern China killed eight people and injured two, authorities said late Sunday. Rural communities in China often light sparklers and screeching "missile" fireworks to celebrate holidays and milestones such as the Lunar New Year, which falls on Tuesday. It added that it also sent a warning notice to fireworks enterprises nationwide "requiring a full inspection" of safety risks and hazards. An explosion at a biotech factory in northern China's Shanxi province killed eight people this month. And in late January, an explosion at a steel factory in the neighbouring province of Inner Mongolia left at least nine people dead.
BUDAPEST, Feb 16, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Hungary for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orban Monday, ahead of elections where the nationalist leader faces a significant challenge from the opposition. US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his high regard for Orban, saying in a social media post on Friday that the prime minister had produced "phenomenal" results in Hungary. But Orban, 62, has a fight on his hands for the April 12 legislative elections in Hungary. - Conciliatory tone -Rubio arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening, and was due to hold talks with Orban on Monday morning before flying back to Washington. Orban became a hero to many Trump supporters for his hostility to migration during the Syrian refugee crisis a decade ago.
