With the vote count underway for Bangladesh's 13th parliamentary elections, support for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is mounting, with hopes of social justice and good governance in the country. Bangladeshi freedom fighter T M Rezaul Karin told ANI that the BNP was popular in the country and that the nation was in a festive mood as people cast their votes. He noted that, while there were a few untoward incidents, the elections largely remained peaceful, with people from all religions voting. Karin said, "The people will support BNP. It's a very popular party in Bangladesh. With Tarique Rahman's dynamic leadership, the BNP got a landslide victory. Our expectation is that the country will move peacefully and democratically. After a long time, the Bangladeshi people exercised their voting rights in Bangladesh. People actually were in a festive mood, and they cast their vote according to their choice. People enjoyed this election and exercised their voting right, especially according to their choice". "All the people were voting, they have exercised their voting right, and there is no question of Hindus or Muslims or Buddhists or Christians. All the Bangladeshis, in 1971, were liberated from Pakistan to Bangladesh. Everybody, all the communities fought against the bloody Pakistani armies," he said. He hoped the BNP would work on good governance and justice to ensure the country's political harmony continues. On BNP, retired Government Official Mazharul Islam told ANI, "They (BNP) should give the greatest opportunity in the country. This is the expectation of the people of Bangladesh. I hope the party gives the best facilities, especially to the marginalised people of the country, then in the long run, BNP will go ahead in future." He expressed optimism on stability returning to Bangladesh and added that in the initial phase, BNP needs to be strong in its approach so as to bring back discipline in the organs of the government. Islam said, "BNP will have to be very strong in the first period- to maintain, stabilise the country with discipline, honesty. They will have to restore discipline in the administration and many other organs of the country. If they do so, the stability will come very soon. Nobody wants any instability in our country." Meanwhile, local media reports indicate that the BNP is set to secure a historic win in the elections. According to the Daily Star, vote counting has been completed in 237 constituencies, with just 62 remaining. Of the 299 seats, the Daily Star reported that the BNP and allies secured 177, while the Jamaat and allies secured 53. Earlier today, BNP said that it is set to form the government as vote counting is underway for the 13th parliamentary elections in the country. In a post on X, the BNP Media cell said in the early hours of Friday, "The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after winning the majority of seats." Despite these early outcomes, the vote counting process is still underway, and official results have yet to be declared. These preliminary figures suggest a significant shift in Bangladesh's political landscape. The BNP's chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer. Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per the Daily Star. According to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots. Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic 'Battle of Begums' era on Thursday. This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 01:44 PM IST | Dhaka | ANIPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Tarique Rahman for leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a decisive victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “I convey my warm congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership.” I convey my warm congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership.India will continue to stand in support of a democratic,… — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2026 He added that India would continue to support a democratic and inclusive Bangladesh. “India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals,” PM Modi said. According to unofficial results, the BNP-led alliance has won 210 seats in the 13th parliamentary elections, paving the way for the formation of a new government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership. Local media reports, citing party sources, said Tarique Rahman is set to become Prime Minister, marking the return of a male head of government in Bangladesh after nearly 35 years, news agency IANS reported. Bangladesh Election Results: Tarique Rahman wins Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 seats In the Dhaka-17 constituency, Tarique secured 72,699 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman, who received 68,300 votes, according to Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo. Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury declared the results on Friday morning, with voting conducted in 125 centres including postal votes. Tarique won by a margin of 4,399 votes. He was also unofficially elected from the Bogra-6 constituency, receiving 2,16,284 votes, defeating Jamaat candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel, who got 97,626 votes, IANS reported. On Thursday, Tarique expressed confidence in his party’s victory after casting his vote at the Gulshan Model High School and College Centre in Dhaka. “The people of Bangladesh have been waiting for this moment for over a decade,” he told reporters, according to local news agency UNB. Tarique is the son of former Bangladeshi President Ziaur Rahman, founder of the BNP, and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who served two tenures between 1991–1996 and 2001–2006. Following Khaleda Zia’s death in December last year, Tarique assumed leadership of the BNP and is now poised to lead the country. (With IANS inputs)
13 February,2026 01:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUS President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) emphasised the need for a deal with Iran, warning that failure to reach an agreement could be "traumatic." Speaking to reporters, Trump described his recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "very good." He said, "We have to make a deal, otherwise it is going to be very traumatic (for Iran) and I don't want it to happen...If they don't make a deal, it is going to be a different story. We had a very good meeting yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu shared his thoughts following a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu said Trump sought his opinion on the ongoing discussions with Iran, adding that he expressed "general skepticism" regarding the nature of any agreement with the country. The Israeli leader emphasised that the agreement should address not only Iran's nuclear program but also its ballistic missile and support for proxy groups across the region. In a post on X, he said, "He wanted to hear my opinion. I won't hide from you that I expressed general skepticism regarding the nature of any agreement with Iran. But I said that if an agreement is indeed reached, then it must include the elements that are very important from our perspective, from Israel's perspective, and in my opinion not only Israel's." "It's not only the nuclear issue, it's also the ballistic missiles and it's also the Iranian proxies. With that, I would say, the conversation was essentially concluded, although of course it also touched on Gaza, on the entire region, and on other general matters," he added. אני סיימתי עכשיו ביקור קצר אבל חשוב בוושינגטון, בשיחה עם ידידינו הגדול הנשיא טראמפ. יש בינינו קשר מאוד הדוק, מאוד אמיתי ומאוד גלוי.כמובן השיחות התמקדו בכמה וכמה נושאים, אבל למעשה במו״מ עם איראן.הנשיא חושב שהאיראנים כבר למדו עם מי יש להם עסק. הוא חושב שהתנאים שהוא יוצר, בשילוב… pic.twitter.com/WSfNEHaYzY — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 12, 2026 Netanyahu added that while the discussions covered several issues, the main focus was on negotiations with Iran. Netanyahu said that Trump believes that by not reaching an agreement before, Iran had made a mistake. "Of course the conversations focused on several issues, but in practice on the negotiations with Iran. The President thinks that the Iranians have already learned who they are dealing with. He believes that the conditions he is creating, combined with the fact that they certainly understand they made a mistake the previous time by not reaching an agreement, may create the conditions for achieving a good deal," he said. Earlier in the day, in his Truth Social post, Trump highlighted that while nothing definitive was reached, he encouraged continued negotiations with Iran to explore the possibility of a deal. He also referenced prior US actions against Iran - "Midnight Hammer," which he said "did not work well for them." On June 21-22, 2025, under "Operation Midnight Hammer," the United States conducted strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure, targeting three key sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Iran strongly condemned the operations, denouncing them as a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 12:50 PM IST | Washington | ANIEuropean Union leaders have broadly agreed on a plan to restructure the 27-nation bloc's economy to make it more competitive as they face antagonism from US President Donald Trump, strong-arm tactics from China and hybrid threats blamed on Russia. Meeting in a Belgian castle on Thursday, the EU leaders agreed an "action plan" with a strict timeline for the economic restructuring, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "The pressure and the sense of urgency is enormous, and that can move mountains," she said. The plan, to be presented formally in March, would include measures to coordinate upgrading energy grids, deepen financial integration and loosen merger regulations to allow European firms to grow to better compete globally, she said. "We need European champions," von der Leyen said. European Council President Antonio Costa described the meeting as a "real game changer" as leaders threw their weight behind plans to further integrate and simplify the bloc's financial systems. The meeting had started with an image of unity between the two traditional power centers of the EU after each had publicly staked out different strategic positions. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived together, crossing a drawbridge side by side into the 16th-century Alden Biesen castle. "We share this sense of urgency that Europe must take action," Macron said while standing on a blue welcome carpet next to his German counterpart. "We want to make this European Union faster, we want to make it better, and above all we want to ensure that we have competitive industry in Europe," Merz said. Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lead a wing of the bloc calling for deregulation, rebooting Europe's relationship with Washington and forging trade deals like the recent one struck with the Mercosur nations of South America. The EU "cannot continue to hyperregulate," said Meloni. "There's no time to lose." France instead is leading a push for "strategic autonomy " - meaning a bloc less dependent on Washington. Macron argues that EU countries should buy exclusively from European producers as the continent pursues greater military spending as a response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Merz and Meloni say purchases should be from both foreign and European firms. In comments to reporters as he arrived, Macron said he was urging his partners to protect "sectors that are particularly under threat" like cleantech, chemicals, steel, the car industry and defence. "There is also an increased pressure on us, with competition - sometimes unfair competition - that is very intense, with very strong pressure from China, tariffs imposed on us by the Americans with threats of coercive practices," Macron said. EU leaders will also debate new financial instruments to protect the bloc in a global trading system rocked by Trump's blitzkrieg of tariffs and China's restricting of critical mineral exports. Macron is renewing his call for the EU to be able to borrow money, which he described as "Eurobonds for the future" that would provide an opportunity "to challenge the hegemony of the dollar." Most leaders are calling for action along the lines of the economic stimulus strategy called for by Mario Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank. The 2024 plan includes cutting regulations, making infrastructure investments and establishing trade ties with more countries. Both Draghi and Enrico Letta, a former Italian Prime Minister, beseeched leaders assembled in the castle to drastically restructure and integrate the bloc's economy. "We have way too many barriers that prevent money and capital from moving from one country to another, way too many obstacles to simplification," said Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament. "No more words, but more action," said Metsola, who like Merz and von der Leyen is a leading figure in the European People's Party, which is the largest bloc in the European Parliament and claims 13 heads of EU states as members. Citizens across the bloc are hungry for a stronger EU and a more unified, stronger and ambitious leadership amid military threats, economic pressures and climate instability, according to an official EU poll, Eurobarometer. "There has never been a better time for European leaders, national political leaders, to actually leverage on these European citizens' demand for greater European action," said Alberto Alemanno, a professor of EU law at the HEC Paris business school. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 12:49 PM IST | Belgium | APUS President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, with Xi expected to visit the United States later this year. While addressing reporters, Trump said, " I'll be visiting President Xi Jinping in April. He's coming here later in the year, and I look forward to it. Our relationship with China is very good right now." However, the US President did not mention the exact dates of the travel. In a recent interview with NBC News' Tom Llamas, Trump said that he would visit China in April. "I'm gonna be going there in April then he's coming here toward the end of the year," Trump said. When asked further on his China visit, the US President in the NBC News interview taped on February 4 said, "He's coming to the White House, toward the end of the year. We have a very good relationship. And, you know, it's important that I have a good relationship and for him, that he has a good relationship with me. We have to have a good -- these are the two most powerful countries in the world and we have a very good relationship." Incidentally, Trump and Xi had a 90-minute telephonic conversation on February 4. Trump said the call focused almost entirely on trade, without touching on other geopolitical issues like Iran and Ukraine. The call "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries," Trump wrote on Truth Social. Further, Trump wrote, "During the conversation, President Xi graciously invited the First Lady and me to visit China, and I reciprocated. As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing." China's state media Xinhua reported that in the call, Xi noted that he attaches great importance to China-U.S. relations, saying that over the past year he and Trump have enjoyed sound communication and had a successful meeting in Busan, which charted the direction and course for China-U.S. relations. During the call, Xi called for the United States and China to "seek win-win results in the spirit of equality and respect each other's concerns," while urging Washington to "remove the negative measures taken against China," according to a readout from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 12:47 PM IST | Washington | ANIFormer US president Barack Obama on Thursday warned that Donald Trump's decision to repeal a landmark scientific finding underpinning climate regulations would leave Americans "less safe, less healthy." The endangerment finding, issued under the Obama administration, determined that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare by driving climate change. "Without it, we'll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change -- all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money," the 44th president wrote on X. Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change — all so the fossil fuel industry can… — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) February 12, 2026 This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 February,2026 11:36 AM IST | Washington, United States | AFPPresident Donald Trump said that he will visit China in April for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi is expected to visit the United States later this year. “Yeah, I’ll be visiting President Xi in April. I look forward to it. He's coming here later in the year, and I look very much forward to it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. Trump described ties with Beijing as steady. “No, our relationship with China is very good right now,” he said in response to a question. “My relationship with President Xi is very good,” he added. Trump did not give details about the location or agenda of the April visit. He also did not specify when Xi’s US trip would take place, beyond saying it would happen later this year. The comments come as US-China ties remain defined by competition in trade, technology and security. The two countries continue to clash over tariffs and semiconductor export controls. Strategic rivalry in the Indo-Pacific has also deepened. Even so, both sides have kept high-level diplomatic channels open. For India, engagement between Washington and Beijing has regional implications. New Delhi has strengthened strategic ties with the United States in recent years while managing tensions with China. Developments between the world’s two largest economies are closely watched across Asia, especially in the Indo-Pacific. Over the past decade, US-China relations have swung between cooperation and confrontation. Trade disputes escalated during Trump’s first term. Military and technology competition has expanded since then. At the same time, summit diplomacy has continued as a way to reduce risks and keep communication lines open. Trump’s critics say that the president has been soft on China when it comes to imposing tariffs on their imports. The United States has a massive trade deficit with China. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
13 February,2026 11:14 AM IST | Washington | IANSPresident Donald Trump has urged Iran to swiftly reach a nuclear agreement, warning that failure to do so could be “very traumatic”, news agency IANS reported. “We have to make a deal otherwise it's going to be very traumatic, very traumatic,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I don't want that to happen, but we have to make a deal,” he added. Asked about a timeline, the President of the United States (US) said the process should move quickly, IANS reported. “I guess over the next month, something like that — shouldn't take, I mean, it should happen quickly. They should agree very quickly,” he stated. Trump indicated that failure to reach an agreement could escalate tensions, reported IANS. “If they don't make a deal, then it'll be a different story,” he said, adding, “If the deal isn't a very fair deal and a very good deal with Iran, then it's going to be, I think, a very difficult time for them.” The remarks came a day after Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We had a very good meeting yesterday with Bibi Netanyahu and he understands, but it's ultimately up to me,” Trump said. Trump signals possible escalation as Iran nuclear talks continue Asked whether Netanyahu wanted him to halt negotiations, Trump replied, “I'll talk to them as long as I like and we'll see if we can get a deal with them. And if we can't, we'll have to go to Phase 2. Phase 2 will be very tough for them.” Trump did not provide details on what “Phase 2” would involve. The comments highlight continued diplomacy alongside renewed pressure on Tehran. Iran’s nuclear programme has remained a major flashpoint in West Asia. The United States had withdrawn from the 2015 nuclear deal during Trump’s first term. Since then, tensions have persisted over enrichment levels and regional security concerns. For India, stability in the Gulf region is of economic and strategic importance. The country imports a significant share of its crude oil from West Asia and maintains a large diaspora across the region. Any escalation between Washington and Tehran could impact energy markets and regional security dynamics. US-Iran negotiations have historically oscillated between pressure and engagement, with diplomatic channels often remaining open even amid sharp rhetoric. (With IANS inputs)
13 February,2026 11:05 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentSouth Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to being designated as the country’s future leader as he moves to extend the family dynasty to a fourth generation. National Intelligence Service officials said they are closely monitoring whether Kim’s daughter — believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, 13 — appears with him before thousands of delegates at the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 09:10 AM IST | Seoul | AgenciesLatvian startup Deep Space Energy is developing a compact radioisotope power generator that it says can deliver the same output as legacy space nuclear systems while using five times less fuel. The system converts heat from radioactive decay into electricity. The heat source comes from radioisotopes extracted from commercial nuclear reactor waste, primarily Americium-241. The generator is designed as an auxiliary or primary power source for satellites operating where solar energy is unreliable or insufficient. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 09:03 AM IST | Riga | AgenciesThe counting of votes was underway on Thursday after Bangladeshis cast ballots in the crucial 13th general elections to elect a new government to replace the interim administration which took charge after the Awami League collapse in 2024. The counting began after voting concluded at 4.30 pm. However, in places where voters were in line inside the polling station, voting was to continue. Meanwhile, a crude bomb blast at Makhati Gurucharan High School poll station in Munshiganj caused a brief disruption. There were no casualties. Discrepancies As polling continued, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Khaleduz Zaman alleged discrepancies. “Someone is sealing the papers without a polling agent present. I have seen this in some places. We were hopeful to win the election, but if this happens, how can we have hopes...” he said. No ‘boat’ symbol For the first time in 30 years, the election symbol of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League — a boat — didn’t appear in Bangladesh’s general election. The Election Commission had suspended the party’s registration last year. Hindu tea worker killed A bloodied body of a Hindu tea garden worker, Ratan Shuvo Kar, 28, was found with his hands and legs tied with ropes in the Moulvibazar area in northeast Bangladesh, reports said on Thursday. This is the second murder of a Hindu person in as many days. Kar worked at a tea garden 200 km northeast of Dhaka. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
13 February,2026 08:57 AM IST | Dhaka | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1770962549081_d.png "Former US president Barack Obama. Pic/X")
