Friday, February 13th, 2026
Premier Shehbaz invites Bangladesh PM hopeful to Pakistan, vows stronger ties
ISLAMABAD, FEB 13: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman Tarique Rahman to undertake an official visit to Pakistan, following his party’s victory in Bangladesh’s elections. In a post on X, the premier said he held a conversation with the Bangladesh prime minister hopeful over the phone and expressed Pakistan’s desire “to strengthen its brotherly ties with Bangladesh, build on the legacy of Begum Khaleda Zia, and advance our shared goals of peace, progress and prosperity”. The BNP won a decisive two-thirds majority on FridayRead More
Thai PM agrees coalition with Thaksin-backed party
BANGKOK, FEB 13: Thai caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s conservative party, which won a stunning election victory at the weekend, agreed to form a coalition with jailed ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s party, both announced on Friday. Anutin’s pro-military and pro-monarchy party had its best electoral performance ever in polls that took place after two rounds of deadly border clashes with Cambodia last year. Thailand’s most successful party of the 21st century, Pheu Thai, had its worst election result ever on Sunday, raising questions about the future of the political machine builtRead More
US to deploy new aircraft carrier to Middle East as Trump warns Iran
WASHINGTON, FEB 13: The United States was preparing on Friday to deploy a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East after President Donald Trump warned of “traumatic” consequences if Tehran failed to agree a deal over its nuclear programme. Tensions have escalated between Tehran and its traditional foe Washington following protests last month that rights groups say killed thousands. Trump has made refraining from military action conditional on a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West fears is aimed at making a bomb. “We have to make aRead More
PM Shehbaz greets BNP chief on election victory
ISLAMABAD, FEB 13: /DNA/ – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Mr. Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on telephone earlier tonight, and conveyed heartiest felicitations to him, on behalf of the people as well as the Government of Pakistan, on his party’s historic and resounding victory in the general elections. The Prime Minister also congratulated the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the general elections, that reflected the democratic ideals and values espoused by the Bangladeshi nation.Recalling the historic, brotherly relations between PakistanRead More
New Syrian consulate in Bonn marks diplomatic milestone
BERLIN, Feb 13: Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, affirmed that the reopening of the Syrian Consulate in the German city of Bonn represents a significant milestone in Syrian diplomatic efforts and reflects the Syrian State’s vision of strengthening its international presence and serving its citizens abroad. “Syrian-German relations have deep cultural and humanitarian roots and have gained exceptional momentum since the fall of the ousted regime,” Al-Shaibani said during the opening ceremony the other day.
Rubio heads to Munich to heap pressure on Europeans
WASHINGTON, FEB 13: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed Thursday for the Munich Security Conference, where his aim will be to keep up pressure on Europe, though the tone is expected to be less confrontational than last year. In 2025, President Donald Trump’s newly minted Vice President JD Vance launched a stark attack on European policies on immigration, populist parties and free speech, saying that freedom of expression was “in retreat” across the continent. Vance also seemed to embrace the views of far-right parties such as Germany’s AfD. ButRead More