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  • Board of Peace members have pledged more than $5 billion for Gaza, Trump says

    Board of Peace members have pledged more than $5 billion for Gaza, Trump says

    In a significant development for Middle East peace efforts, U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that member states of the newly established Board of Peace will pledge more than $5 billion toward Gaza’s reconstruction and humanitarian aid. The announcement came through the president’s Truth Social platform on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

    The substantial financial commitment will be formally unveiled during the group’s inaugural official meeting scheduled for Thursday at the recently renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. Beyond monetary support, participating nations have committed thousands of personnel to serve in a UN-authorized stabilization force and local police operations within the Palestinian territory.

    The Board of Peace, created through a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of the Trump administration’s comprehensive plan to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, has attracted delegations from more than 20 countries, including multiple heads of state. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which officially took effect in October of the previous year, has faced ongoing challenges with both parties repeatedly accusing each other of violations.

    According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Palestinian casualties have exceeded 590 since the ceasefire began, while Israel reports the loss of four soldiers to militant activities during the same period. The board’s composition reveals interesting geopolitical dynamics, with strong participation from regional powers including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, alongside emerging nations such as Indonesia. Traditional Western allies of the United States have demonstrated more cautious engagement with the initiative.

  • Israel PM Netanyahu says all enriched uranium ‘has to leave Iran’

    Israel PM Netanyahu says all enriched uranium ‘has to leave Iran’

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has articulated a stringent set of demands for any prospective nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, emphasizing that the complete removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory is non-negotiable. Speaking at a conference for major American Jewish organizations in Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu outlined a tripartite framework essential for Israeli endorsement of any deal.

    The Prime Minister’s first condition mandates the expulsion of Iran’s entire stockpile of enriched uranium. His second requirement calls for the comprehensive dismantlement of Tehran’s uranium enrichment infrastructure, including all related equipment and facilities. Thirdly, Netanyahu insisted that any final accord must conclusively address Iran’s ballistic missile program, a persistent point of contention in previous negotiations.

    These declarations coincide with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s departure for Switzerland, where a second round of renewed nuclear talks with U.S. officials is scheduled this week. The negotiations, which resumed on February 6th in Muscat following a prolonged hiatus, occur against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions. Previous diplomatic efforts collapsed in June 2025 when Israel initiated an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iranian nuclear sites, triggering a 12-day conflict.

    Adding complexity to the current talks is the considerable uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear inventory. International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors last documented Tehran’s stockpile of over 400 kilograms of 60-percent enriched uranium in June, prior to the Israeli and American military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Netanyahu revealed that he presented these identical conditions to U.S. President Donald Trump during their discussions earlier this month. Beyond the three core demands, the Israeli leader emphasized the necessity of ‘real, substantive inspections’ without lead-time notifications to ensure verifiable compliance with any agreement.

    The renewed diplomatic engagement unfolds amid continued military posturing, with Washington having previously threatened Tehran with military action and deployed an aircraft carrier group to the region following Iran’s lethal suppression of anti-government protests last month.

  • Iran’s FM heads to Geneva for 2nd round of US nuclear talks

    Iran’s FM heads to Geneva for 2nd round of US nuclear talks

    Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi departed Tehran on Sunday heading for Geneva to participate in a pivotal second round of indirect nuclear discussions with the United States. The diplomatic mission, which includes specialized delegation members, will commence on Tuesday under Omani mediation and diplomatic facilitation.

    The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Minister Araghchi’s itinerary includes separate high-level meetings with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi. These parallel diplomatic engagements signal the multifaceted approach Tehran is pursuing in its nuclear negotiations.

    This upcoming dialogue follows initial talks held on February 6 in Muscat, Oman, where delegations from both nations, led by Araghchi and US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, established preliminary groundwork. The relocation to Geneva, a traditional hub for international diplomacy, indicates progression to more substantive negotiation phases.

    Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi characterized the initial discussions as having progressed ‘more or less in a positive direction’ during a BBC interview. He emphasized Tehran’s optimistic approach toward the Geneva round while simultaneously placing responsibility on Washington to demonstrate genuine commitment to reaching a viable agreement. Ravanchi noted that authentic American ‘sincerity’ could potentially break the current deadlock and facilitate a diplomatic breakthrough.

  • Israel approves registration of West Bank land as ‘state property’

    Israel approves registration of West Bank land as ‘state property’

    The Israeli government has formally endorsed a controversial measure to designate vast territories within the occupied West Bank as state property, a decision critics argue constitutes de facto annexation of Palestinian lands. The proposal, jointly advanced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz, received official approval on Sunday.

    This legislative action effectively enables Israeli authorities to legally appropriate unregistered or purportedly abandoned Palestinian land by reclassifying it under state ownership. The move follows Israel’s 1968 suspension of a Jordanian-administered land registration system, which had prevented Palestinian residents from formally documenting property ownership since Israel’s occupation began in 1967.

    Minister Katz characterized the decision as “an essential security and governance measure designed to ensure control, enforcement and full freedom of action for the state of Israel in the area.” Smotrich explicitly stated the government’s intention to “continue the settlement revolution to control all our lands,” adding that the measures “fundamentally change the legal and civic reality” and effectively “bury the idea of a Palestinian state.”

    The Palestinian presidency, through the Wafa news agency, condemned the action as a “dangerous escalation” equivalent to annexation, arguing it violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions including Resolution 2334 which condemns Israeli settlements as illegal. Hamas denounced the measure as attempted land theft and “Judaization” by an illegitimate occupying power.

    Regional powers including Jordan, Qatar and Turkey joined in condemning the decision, which follows recent measures facilitating Jewish Israeli ownership of Palestinian land. Critics warn these developments accelerate settlement expansion and fundamentally undermine the 1993 Oslo Accords by expanding Israel’s civil control into areas previously under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction.

  • China predicts over 285 million inter-regional trips on first day of Spring Festival holiday

    China predicts over 285 million inter-regional trips on first day of Spring Festival holiday

    China’s transportation networks witnessed an unprecedented surge in passenger volume as the nation commenced its extended Spring Festival holiday period. Official data from the Ministry of Transport indicates that Sunday, February 15th, 2026, marked the beginning of what authorities project to be the busiest travel period in recent history.

    Transport authorities reported an estimated 285 million inter-regional passenger journeys occurred on the holiday’s opening day, representing a substantial 10.5 percent increase compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. This massive movement of people reflects the enduring cultural significance of family reunions during China’s most important traditional festival.

    Road transportation bore the brunt of this travel explosion, with approximately 268.75 million trips recorded—a 10.8 percent year-on-year increase. Railway and air travel also experienced significant growth, rising by 4.3 percent and 6.4 percent respectively. The most dramatic surge was observed in waterway transportation, which saw an extraordinary 28.1 percent increase in passenger journeys.

    The Spring Festival, traditionally known as Chinese New Year, officially falls on February 17th this year. While the national holiday spans nine days, the annual travel rush—recognized as the world’s largest human migration—commenced earlier on February 2nd and will continue through March 13th. This extended period allows millions of Chinese workers and students to return to their hometowns for family celebrations, despite the logistical challenges posed by such massive population movement.

    The Ministry of Transport has implemented comprehensive measures to ensure transportation safety and efficiency during this period, including enhanced scheduling, increased capacity across all transport modes, and strengthened safety protocols. This coordinated approach aims to manage the unprecedented passenger flow while maintaining service quality and security standards throughout the holiday travel season.

  • ‘Erasing history’: British Museum criticised for removing references to ‘Palestine’ from exhibits

    ‘Erasing history’: British Museum criticised for removing references to ‘Palestine’ from exhibits

    The British Museum has ignited a firestorm of academic criticism after eliminating all references to Palestine within its ancient Middle Eastern galleries. This controversial decision, implemented following pressure from the pro-Israel advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), has been denounced by scholars as a politically-motivated assault on Palestinian cultural heritage.

    The institution altered exhibit labels dating from 1700–1500BC, replacing the term ‘Palestine’ with ‘Canaan’ and modifying descriptions of the Hyksos people from ‘Palestinian descent’ to ‘Canaanite descent’. Museum representatives justified the changes by asserting the term Palestine lacked historical relevance for that specific chronological context, claiming it only became appropriate for the southern Levant region in the later second millennium BC.

    This rationale has been vehemently contested by leading academics. Marchella Ward, a Classical Studies lecturer at the UK’s Open University, stated, ‘I use the term ancient Palestine frequently in my own research and will continue to do so.’ She characterized claims of the term’s illegitimacy as a ‘lie’ facilitating ‘the erasure of Palestinians.’

    The incident represents merely the latest in a series of successful campaigns by UKLFI targeting British public institutions. Recent targets include Encyclopaedia Britannica, which amended content in its children’s edition, and London’s Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, which removed artwork created by Gazan schoolchildren. The Open University similarly acquiesced to demands to purge ‘ancient Palestine’ from future educational materials.

    According to data compiled by the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), UKLFI has been involved in 128 of approximately 900 documented cases of anti-Palestinian repression in the UK between 2019-2025. ELSC Director Giovanni Fassina described the pattern as ‘not surprising,’ noting institutions frequently comply with the group’s ‘misleading legal arguments’ despite their questionable foundation.

    The controversy intersects with broader concerns about cultural destruction in Gaza, where Israeli forces have damaged over 316 archaeological sites according to reports. Scholars argue that the revision of historical narratives in Western institutions complements physical destruction in conflict zones, collectively undermining Palestinian historical claims.

  • Israel’s West Bank annexation moves raise security alarm in Jordan

    Israel’s West Bank annexation moves raise security alarm in Jordan

    Jordan has issued a stern condemnation of Israel’s recent policy overhaul in the occupied West Bank, characterizing the measures as an acceleration toward full annexation that directly threatens Jordanian national security. The sweeping changes, announced last week, represent what Jordanian officials describe as a dangerous escalation beyond previous ‘creeping annexation’ into a phase of systematic territorial absorption.

    The most contentious measure involves revoking the 1953 Jordanian-era law that prohibited property sales to non-Arabs in the Palestinian territory—a legal safeguard originally intended to prevent Israeli settlement expansion through land purchases. Additional provisions include declassifying West Bank land registers (previously kept confidential to protect against fraudulent property transfers to settlers) and enabling Israel to reclassify unregistered or abandoned lands as ‘state lands’ for confiscation.

    Jordanian Senator Omar al-Ayasrah warned Middle East Eye that these actions constitute ‘a leap across strategic stages’ designed to eliminate Jordan’s influence over Palestinian affairs while dismantling legal protections for Arab landowners. The fundamental concern, analysts note, is demographic: Jordan fears Israel’s systematic pressure—through geographic constriction, economic suffocation, and political stagnation—will precipitate Palestinian emigration eastward, potentially destabilizing Jordan’s delicate social and security balance.

    In response, Jordan is pursuing diplomatic and legal countermeasures. The Royal Hashemite Documentation Centre is intensifying efforts to restore historical land deeds dating to the Ottoman era, potentially for use in an International Court of Justice challenge. While some Jordanians advocate more drastic responses—including revocation of the 1994 peace treaty or military confrontation—government officials currently describe treaty cancellation as ‘political suicide,’ preferring to exhaust diplomatic channels.

    Political analyst Lamis Andoni cautioned that Jordan’s hesitation to leverage economic agreements (such as the gas deal with Israel) might be interpreted as tacit approval. Meanwhile, retired Major General Mamoun Abu Nuwar characterized the land confiscations as an ‘undeclared war’ on Jordan, warning that forced displacement could ‘trigger a regional earthquake’ given Jordan’s strategic geopolitical position and preparedness to defend its demographic stability.

  • India, Pakistan teams arrive at Colombo stadium as fans cheer, wave flags

    India, Pakistan teams arrive at Colombo stadium as fans cheer, wave flags

    The electrifying atmosphere of the subcontinent’s greatest sporting rivalry descended upon Colombo on Sunday as the national cricket teams of India and Pakistan arrived at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The event, occurring on February 15, 2026, transformed the venue into a vibrant sea of color and sound, setting the stage for an imminent high-voltage encounter.

    Hundreds of fervent fans, a mix of traveling supporters and local enthusiasts, converged outside the stadium hours before the teams’ arrival. The air crackled with anticipation as cheers erupted upon the sight of the team buses. Supporters waved national flags, creating a spectacular mosaic of Indian blue and Pakistani green, while chanting anthems for their cricketing heroes. This public display of passion underscores the unique ability of sports, particularly cricket, to unite and divide with equal intensity in South Asia.

    The arrival ceremony marks a crucial moment in the ongoing tournament, heightening anticipation for one of the most-watched sporting events globally. Beyond the boundary, the match carries significant weight, impacting tournament standings and national pride. The palpable excitement in Colombo reflects the deep historical and cultural significance of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry, an event that consistently transcends the sport itself to become a broader cultural phenomenon.

  • What is the dart frog toxin allegedly used to kill Alexei Navalny?

    What is the dart frog toxin allegedly used to kill Alexei Navalny?

    In a coordinated declaration, the United Kingdom alongside several European allies has formally attributed the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to a rare neurotoxin derived from South American poison dart frogs. Official statements indicate that laboratory analysis confirmed traces of epibatidine, an exceptionally potent compound, within samples taken from Navalny’s body. The allies asserted that the Russian state singularly possessed the “means, motive and opportunity” to deploy such an obscure biological agent.

    The Kremlin has vehemently rejected these allegations. Russian state-run news agency Tass quoted government spokesperson Maria Zakharova dismissing the findings as a baseless “information campaign” engineered to divert attention from Western political issues. The Russian embassy in London further decried the announcement as “feeble-mindedness” and “necro-propaganda.”

    Epibatidine, as explained by toxicology expert Jill Johnson, is a natural compound isolated from the skin of Ecuadorian poison dart frogs, notably the Anthony’s poison arrow frog and the Phantasmal poison frog. It is estimated to be 200 times more potent than morphine. Professor Alastair Hay, an environmental toxicologist at the University of Leeds, detailed its mechanism: the toxin overstimulates nicotinic receptors in the nervous system, which can lead to muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and ultimately death by suffocation. Its presence in human blood is a strong indicator of deliberate administration.

    The rarity of this toxin underscores the gravity of the accusation. Epibatidine is not found naturally in Russia. Its production is contingent on a specific ecological chain; the frogs synthesize it only by consuming a precise diet of alkaloid-rich insects in their native habitats of Ecuador and Peru. Consequently, frogs in captivity do not produce the toxin. Johnson emphasized that finding a wild frog producing the exact required compound is “almost impossible,” and known cases of human epibatidine poisoning are virtually nonexistent outside of controlled laboratory accidents, which were non-fatal.

    Navalny died two years ago in a Siberian penal colony, where he had been imprisoned for three years following his return to Russia. Official Russian accounts claimed he felt unwell after a walk before collapsing and dying of natural causes—a narrative staunchly contradicted by his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has consistently stated her husband was murdered. This latest accusation from European nations reignites international scrutiny on the Kremlin’s alleged involvement in the dissident’s death.

  • US boards second tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean

    US boards second tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean

    The United States military has executed its second maritime interception operation within a week, boarding the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean following an extensive surveillance operation that originated in the Caribbean Sea. The Pentagon released operational footage showing special forces personnel boarding the vessel, which had been under tracking surveillance for suspected involvement in circumventing U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.

    This strategic operation represents the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s comprehensive campaign to restrict Venezuela’s oil exports, with at least seven tankers seized since last year. The Department of Defense characterized the mission as “a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding” exercise, though officials did not confirm whether the vessel was ultimately seized or permitted to continue its journey.

    According to monitoring data from TankerTrackers.com, the Veronica III departed Venezuelan waters on January 3rd, coinciding with the controversial capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a raid on his presidential compound in Caracas. The vessel was reportedly carrying approximately 1.9 million barrels of crude oil at departure and has been implicated in transporting Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil since 2023.

    The Pentagon issued a stark warning in its official statement: “Distance does not protect you. The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine – hoping to slip away. We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down. No other nation has the reach, endurance, or will to do this. International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice.”

    This operation follows last week’s boarding of the Aquila II, another tanker similarly “tracked and hunted” into the Indian Ocean. The intensified enforcement stems from President Trump’s December announcement ordering a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers operating in Venezuelan waters, which the Maduro government has condemned as “theft.”

    The economic impact has been substantial, with Venezuelan oil exports dramatically reduced to approximately 400,000 barrels per day in January—roughly half previous levels—according to Kpler analytics. Only vessels associated with Chevron and destined for U.S. ports continue normal operations amid the escalating maritime enforcement campaign.