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Global Politics Team
20 February 2026 |
The World Today
The US and Iran: Trump sets a 10-day deadline for a nuclear deal, warns “bad things will happen” if talks fail
On 20 February, US President Donald Trump said the world will know within the next 10 days whether the United States will reach a nuclear agreement with Iran or face potential military action. Speaking at the first meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington, President Trump said negotiations had been “very good” but warned that “otherwise bad things happen” if a meaningful deal is not achieved. The remarks come as the US increases its military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln. Meanwhile, Iran’s UN mission warned in a letter to Antonio Guterres that US bases used for aggression would be considered legitimate targets. Meanwhile, several US lawmakers have cited the 1973 War Powers Act, stating that congressional approval would be required before any military action.
The War in Gaza: Election underway for new interim leader in Hamas
On 20 February, Hamas began voting to choose a new interim leader following the killings of most of its senior leadership in Israeli strikes after the group’s 07 October 2023 attacks on Israel. The election involves members across Gaza, the West Bank, and Hamas officials abroad, with the new leader set to hold office for one year. The position of the overall head has been vacant since the deaths of Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif, with an interim committee led by Qatar-based Mohammad Darwish currently in charge. The main contenders are Khalil al-Hayya, leading Hamas in Gaza, and Khaled Meshaal, a veteran figure heading to Hamas abroad. The vote will determine the movement’s internal direction, especially amid ongoing US-mediated negotiations on Gaza’s post-war governance and reconstruction. The outcome may also signal a resurgence of the “old guard” leadership, previously aligned with Meshaal, after years of Gaza-dominated decision-making.
Japan: PM Takaichi outlines defence and security overhaul in post-election policy speech
On 20 February, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi warned of growing Chinese “coercion” in her first post-election policy speech to parliament. She was pledging to revise the country’s defence strategy and ease restrictions on military exports. Fresh from securing a landslide victory, Takaichi said Japan faces its “most severe and complex security environment since World War Two,” citing China’s expanding military activity, closer ties with Russia, and North Korea’s missile programme. She announced plans to update Japan’s three core security documents, accelerate a review of export rules to allow wider overseas sales of defence equipment, and continue a military build-up launched in 2023 that will raise defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP by March. The government will also consider creating a national intelligence council and a mechanism to screen foreign investments in sensitive sectors, while speeding up the restart of nuclear reactors idled after the Fukushima disaster.
Sudan: UN mission says RSF siege of El Fasher bears ‘hallmarks of genocide’
On 20 February, a UN-mandated fact-finding mission said that the siege and capture of El Fasher by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces last October bore the hallmarks of genocide. The mission has interviewed 320 witnesses and victims from El Fasher and surrounding areas and documented widespread sexual violence against women that frequently occurred in places like El Saudi Hospital and El Fasher University. The report detailed the harrowing 18-month occupation of El Fasher and concluded that the RSF and allied militias deliberately inflicted physical destruction that is killing, rape and forced disappearance of the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic communities and that the scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the operation by senior RSF leadership demonstrates that the crimes committed in and around El Fasher were not random excesses of war. The mission’s chair, Mohamed Chande Othman, called for a thorough investigation of the perpetrators. The US placed sanctions on three RSF commanders for their role in the siege and capture of El Fasher, ethnic killings, torture, starvation and sexual violence.
The Indian Neighbourhood Today
Nepal: Kathmandu in trouble over India-EU trade deal
On 20 February, the Himalayan reported the implications of the India-EU trade deal on Nepal. The deal has been dubbed the "mother of all deals" by the World Economic Forum, as it creates the world's largest free trade zone encompassing two billion people and nearly 25 per cent of global GDP. The deal promises India tariff reductions on manufactured goods, deeper access for services, expanded cooperation on data governance, sustainability, and investment. As India ramps up manufacturing to optimise European market access, the deal risks Nepali exporters being priced out of their few viable markets, primarily garments, carpets, pashmina, tea, essential oils, and leather goods. The risks for Kathmandu extend beyond commerce. As Delhi's elevation as Brussels preferred Asian partner, Kathmandu may find itself further marginalized, with diminished leverage in its bilateral negotiations with Europe.
Bangladesh: Dhaka ranks second among the world’s most polluted cities
On 20 February 2026, The Dhaka Tribune reported that Dhaka ranked the second most polluted city in the world on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 299 at 08:45 hours. The city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. Lahore in Pakistan, Delhi in India, and Kolkata in India occupied the first, third, and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 320, 208, and 192, respectively. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Bangladesh: Subsidised protein sales begin for 10 lakh families
On 20 February 2026, The Daily Star reported that the The government has begun selling essential protein items, including eggs, meat and fish, at subsidised prices during Ramadan to support nearly 10 lakh low-income families.“ It will play a supportive role in alleviating the sufferings of low-income people,” said State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Agriculture and Food, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku. He was speaking yesterday at the inauguration of the programme at the Livestock Research Institute in Dhaka. He said the initiative could be widened in the future. Apart from assisting poorer households, the state minister said the move would also help keep market prices stable and offer broader relief to consumers. Under the programme, dressed broiler chicken, pasteurised milk, eggs and beef are being sold at reduced prices for 26 days, until the 25th of Ramadan, through mobile sales vans. Dressed broiler chicken is priced at BDT 245 per kilogram, pasteurised milk at BDT 80 per litre, eggs at BDT 8 per piece, and beef at BDT 650 per kilogram.“ During Ramadan, some unscrupulous traders raise prices and low-income people suffer,” said the state minister. He added that the government will also take initiatives to introduce Family Cards, Agriculture Cards and Health Cards as part of its electoral pledges.
Myanmar: Female political prisoners in Naypyidaw facing severe health crisis
On 20 February 2026, Mizzima reported that female political detainees in Myanmar are facing severe reproductive health complications, exacerbated by abuse, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare. Thousands of women are suffering from conditions like amenorrhea and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), linked to extreme stress and poor prison conditions. Many women in detention have limited access to menstrual products and are often only provided with painkillers like Diclofenac or paracetamol for menstrual cramps, treatments that can lead to long-term health issues, including kidney damage. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) highlighted that prison authorities are failing to meet the special healthcare needs of female prisoners, including the absence of female doctors and a lack of appropriate medical care for conditions requiring surgery. These health issues are compounded by inadequate access to drinking water, poor hygiene, and the absence of proper sanitary products, all of which contribute to infections and further hormonal imbalances. AAPP has called for urgent international attention to the plight of these women, urging local and global organizations to pressure authorities to address this growing reproductive health crisis and improve conditions for incarcerated women.
Myanmar: Naypyidaw bans political and religious teaching in private medical schools
On 20 February 2026, Mizzima reported that Myanmar's junta, led by Min Aung Hlaing, enacted an amendment to the Private Health Service Law on 17 February, which prohibits the teaching of political, religious, or subjects deemed "incompatible with Myanmar culture" in private medical training schools. The revision to Section 25 of the law introduces a new clause banning the inclusion of political subjects unrelated to the approved curriculum, as well as religious topics or any material considered inappropriate by the junta's standards. The amendment also includes stricter regulations, requiring private medical training schools and outpatient surgery services to be licensed. Those found operating without a license face prison sentences of one to five years and potential fines. Section 33 further stipulates penalties for unlicensed private healthcare services, with prison terms ranging from three months to one year, in addition to fines. This new legal development follows the junta's implementation of a private education law in 2023, which similarly restricts private schools from teaching political or party-related subjects. The amendments reflect the regime's broader efforts to control educational content and suppress political and religious expression across sectors.
Sri Lanka: President Dissanayake holds bilateral engagement on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit
On 20 February, the Daily Mirror reported that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, held a series of bilateral meetings with his international counterparts. This move signals an active phase of Sri Lanka's foreign policy. The meeting with France included discussion on technology cooperation, economic partnerships and development policy oriented towards the future. The summit placed Sri Lanka alongside emerging global conversations on AI governance and digital transformation, rather than only crisis recovery diplomacy. Domestically, it supports the administration’s claim of entering a post crisis governance phase.
Maldives: Malè to strengthen ties with China to combat increasing fish prices
On 20 February, The Sun reported that the Maldivian government has moved to strengthen relations with China to address rising fish prices. The administration considers this pertinent, given the political sensitivity of the issue, as fish is both a staple food and a key export sector. The cooperation with China aims to stabilise fish supply chains, improve processing and distribution, and reduce domestic price pressures. Authorities believe that such a step may lead to market stabilisation and economic relief in the backdrop of rising cost of living.
Afghanistan: Taliban asked to take cognisance of terror groups
On 20 February, the Asia News Network reported that a demarche had been issued to the Afghan head of mission by the Foreign Office of the state of Pakistan. Islamabad referred to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan as Fitna al Khawarij in its statement to the public. Concern was expressed since the group’s entire leadership allegedly lies on Afghan soil. The Taliban regime in Kabul has been asked to take “immediate, concrete and verifiable measures” against the group at the earliest. Islamabad also claimed that it reserved the right to “eliminate” any Khawarij to ensure the safety of its soldiers. Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif mentioned that Islamabad would not hesitate to take any viable action.
Iran: Tensions rise with the US
On 20 February, Al Jazeera added to the week’s developments by reporting that the buildup of US-affiliated military assets in the Middle East is growing rapidly. US President Donald Trump commented that Iran has “10 to 15 days at most” with regard to agreeing on a nuclear deal. This warning has been issued especially since the talks held in Geneva and mediated by Oman failed. As per intelligence analysts, there are approximately 120 US aircraft in the region, which is the largest surge since the 2003 Iraq war. Alongside combat aircraft, the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System is also on standby. The US fleet is primarily led by the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which is expected to arrive in the region within a few weeks. The carriers have at least 5000 sailors on board and hence pose a serious threat to Tehran.
Pakistan: PM Sharif meets Marco Rubio after the Board of Peace summit
On 20 February, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, following the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington. The two sides discussed cooperation in critical minerals, energy, counterterrorism and prospects for increased American investment. The State Department also offered condolences over the 31 January attacks in Balochistan and the 6 February bombing in Islamabad. The meeting covered Pakistan’s participation in the recent Critical Minerals Ministerial, Islamabad’s engagement and cooperation in developing Pakistan’s energy and mineral resources, and commercial opportunities for American companies. Separately, PM Sharif also met with leaders of Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Indonesia on the sidelines of the Board of Peace summit.
Pakistan: Islamabad extends airspace closure for Indian aircraft till 23 March
On 19 February, Dawn reported that the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), on Wednesday, extended the airspace closure for Indian aircraft till 23 March. The airspace will remain closed for all civilian and military aircraft. Both countries have closed their respective airspaces to each other since a rise in tensions and a brief armed conflict in April-May last year.
