{"id":160,"date":"2026-02-16T17:49:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/?p=160"},"modified":"2026-02-16T17:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T22:49:43","slug":"monday-february-16-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/2026\/02\/16\/monday-february-16-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Monday, February 16, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

East Asia & the Pacific<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Australia: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership, though Ley expected to achieve ‘good result’<\/a><\/span>
\nABC\u00a0News (Australia)\u00a0<\/em>
\nBackers of Angus Taylor\u00a0and of\u00a0Sussan Ley acknowledge that support is firming for Mr. Taylor to become Liberal leader. Senator James McGrath, who supported\u00a0Ley\u00a0last ballot, declared his intention to support a leadership spill on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Cambodia: 319 more foreigners deported in online scam crackdown \u2013 brings total to 1379 in last 5 days<\/a><\/span>
\nKhmer Times\u00a0(Cambodia)\u00a0<\/em>
\nIn the past five consecutive days, Cambodian law enforcement agencies have deported a total of 1379 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in online\u00a0scams\u00a0after actively suppressing and arresting them, continuing the government\u2019s strict crackdown on online\u00a0scams\u00a0through deportations.<\/p>\n

China: Beijing and Tokyo in new maritime stand-off after Japan seizes Chinese boat, holds captain<\/a><\/span>
\nSouth China Morning Post\u00a0(Hong Kong)\u00a0<\/em>
\nBeijing has urged Tokyo to protect its crew members\u2019 rights after\u00a0Japan said it had seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its captain.<\/p>\n

Indonesia: Indonesia set to boost air power with Italian trainer jets, aggressor squadron\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Jakarta Post\u00a0(Indonesia)\u00a0<\/em>
\nIndonesia has signed two separate Letters of Intent (LoIs) during the recently concluded Singapore Airshow to\u00a0acquire\u00a0Italian-made M-346 Master trainer jets and Russian-made Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighters.<\/p>\n

Japan: Japan plans to draft standalone strategy to beef up intelligence\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Asahi Shimbun (Japan)<\/em>
\nThe government plans to formulate its first national strategy dedicated to enhancement of intelligence gathering and analysis\u00a0functions within\u00a0this year, at the earliest, sources said. The National Intelligence Strategy is expected to outline the fundamental principles of the\u00a0government\u2019s intelligence policy and the development of institutional structures, government sources said.<\/p>\n

Laos: Laos\u2013North Korea Friendship Marked at Kim Jong Il Anniversary Event in Oudomxay\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Laotian Times (Laos)<\/em>
\nOfficials in\u00a0Oudomxay\u00a0Province marked the 84th birth anniversary of Kim Jong Il on 9 February, highlighting longstanding ties between Laos and North Korea. The Laos\u2013North Korea Friendship Association and the North Korean Embassy in Laos organized the event, drawing more than 500 delegates from both sides.<\/p>\n

Myanmar: Myanmar military moves to take last resistance-held town in Mandalay Regionv\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nMyanmar Now (Myanmar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe regime has deployed a large force to the town of\u00a0Tagaung\u00a0on the Ayeyarwady River\u2019s east bank, with more troops, junta-sponsored militias, and armored vehicles\u00a0massing to\u00a0the South.<\/p>\n

North Korea: North Korea draws new red line, vows attack over future airspace \u2018violations\u2019<\/a><\/span>
\nNK News (South Korea)\u00a0<\/em>
\nNorth Korea threatened it will \u201cdefinitely\u201d attack South Korea next time its airspace is violated by either the military or civilians, according to a statement Friday by leader Kim Jong\u00a0Un\u2019s\u00a0sister.<\/p>\n

North Korea: Kim Jong Un chooses teen daughter as heir, says Seoul<\/a><\/span>
\nBBC (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Palau: Lawsuit seeks emergency halt to plan to accept U.S. deportees in Palau<\/a><\/span>
\nIsland Times (Palau)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe Palau Senate and two private citizens have asked the Supreme Court to\u00a0immediately\u00a0halt a government plan to accept up to 75 deportees from the United States, arguing the arrangement violates the Constitution, immigration\u00a0laws\u00a0and the authority of the national legislature.<\/p>\n

Philippines: ICC approves 500 more applicants to participate as victims in Duterte case<\/a><\/span>
\nABS-CBN (Philippines)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved 500 more applicants to take part as victims in the confirmation stage of the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, the court said in a decision released Friday.<\/p>\n

Taiwan: Taiwan signs trade deal with U.S. to cut tariffs, open markets<\/a><\/span>
\nFocus Taiwan (Taiwan)\u00a0<\/em>
\nTaiwan and the United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement in Washington on Thursday, capping U.S. tariffs on Taiwanese goods at 15 percent and granting preferential market access for U.S. industrial and agricultural exports, including automobiles, beef, and pork.<\/p>\n

Europe & Eurasia<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Bosnia: World Bank Approves \u20ac70 Million for Road Modernization in Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a><\/span>
\nSarajevo Times (Bosnia and Herzegovina)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe World Bank\u2019s Executive Board approved a \u20ac70 million loan (US$80.97 million) for Bosnia and Herzegovina to improve transport connectivity and modernize road infrastructure, which will be complemented by an \u20ac8.5 million (US$9.99 million) grant from the European Union through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).<\/p>\n

European Union\/United States: EU leaders welcome US tone shift in Rubio\u2019s Munich speech<\/a><\/span>
\nDW News (Germany)\u00a0<\/em>
\nEuropean leaders responded with cautious approval of Secretary of State Marco Rubio\u2019s speech at the Munich Security Conference, where Rubio emphasized the importance of a continued transatlantic relationship with some important nuances involving migration, climate, and defense policy.<\/p>\n

France: Avalanche kills 3 skiers in French Alps<\/a><\/span>
\nDW News (Germany)\u00a0<\/em>
\nA group of three skiers, two of which were British nationals, was swept away by an avalanche after venturing off\u00a0piste\u00a0in the Val\u00a0d’Isere\u00a0area. Heavy snowfall brought by storm Nils has increased the avalanche risk in some French ski resorts.<\/p>\n

Italy: Italy advances migration bill, including naval blockades<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nItaly\u2019s government has signed off on a new bill to curb undocumented immigration, including using the navy to block incoming migrant ships in \u201cexceptional\u201d cases. The bill also calls for stricter border surveillance and expands the list of convictions for which a foreigner can be expelled.<\/p>\n

Poland: Poland Decriminalizes Service in Ukrainian Armed Forces<\/a><\/span>
\nUnited24 Media (Ukraine)\u00a0<\/em>
\nA new bill exempts volunteers from criminal liability for serving in the Ukrainian military without prior authorization from Poland\u2019s Ministry of National Defense. Under previously existing Polish law, such service was punishable by three months to five years in prison.<\/p>\n

Russia\/Ukraine: Russia and Ukraine to hold more talks in Geneva next week<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nRussian and Ukrainian envoys are set to engage in a new round of United States-brokered talks next week in Geneva as the war approaches the four-year mark with no\u00a0apparent\u00a0compromises on territory in sight. Russia is pushing for Ukraine to pull out of the fifth of the eastern Donetsk region in the Donbas that it still controls.<\/p>\n

Sweden: Sweden to send fighter jets, rangers to patrol Greenland in NATO mission<\/a><\/span>
\nReuters (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nSweden will patrol Arctic skies with fighter jets and send rangers to exercise on Greenland as part of NATO\u2019s Arctic Sentry mission, the latest European military contribution in response to President Trump’s designs on Greenland.<\/p>\n

United Kingdom: UK considers new Russia sanctions after Navalny frog toxin finding<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Guardian (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe UK is in talks for new sanctions against Moscow after the Foreign Office had\u00a0determined\u00a0that the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, was\u00a0most likely the\u00a0result of poisoning using dart frog toxin arranged by the Russian state.<\/p>\n

Near East<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Algeria: Algeria begins to cancel air services agreement with UAE<\/a><\/span>
\nReuters (United Kingdom)<\/em>
\nAlgeria has begun the process of cancelling its air services agreement with the United Arab Emirates, signed in Abu Dhabi in May 2013,\u00a0state\u00a0media said on Saturday. It gave no immediate reason for the move, but Algerian media outlets have strongly criticized the UAE in recent months, accusing it of\u00a0attempting\u00a0to sow regional discord.<\/p>\n

Egypt: Egypt appoints a new defense minister and swears in its reshuffled Cabinet<\/a><\/span>
\nAssociated Press (United States)\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>
\nEgypt\u202fappointed a new defense minister on Wednesday and swore him in, along with 13 other new ministers in the latest Cabinet reshuffle as the country struggles with an ailing economy and mounting pressure from regional conflicts. President\u202fAbdel-Fattah\u00a0el-Sissi\u202foversaw the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace. The reshuffle has\u00a0impacted\u00a0portfolios such as housing, higher education, communications,\u00a0youth\u00a0and sports. The\u202flast Cabinet reshuffle\u202fwas in July 2024.<\/p>\n

Iran: Iran says it won’t negotiate over its missile capabilities<\/a><\/span>
\nReuters (United\u00a0Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nIran’s missile capabilities are its red line and are not a subject to be negotiated, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader said on Wednesday, as Tehran and Washington eye a new round of talks to avert conflict. U.S. and Iranian diplomats held indirect talks last week in Oman, amid a regional naval buildup by the U.S. threatening Iran. “The Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities are non-negotiable,” Ali Shamkhani said according to state media.<\/p>\n

Iran: Trump orders second aircraft carrier to Middle East\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nUS President Donald Trump says a second aircraft carrier strike group will deploy to the Middle East, increasing pressure on Iran as negotiations over its nuclear program continue.<\/p>\n

Israel: Trump tells Netanyahu Iran nuclear talks must continue<\/a><\/span>
\nBBC (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nUS President Donald Trump said he insisted talks with Iran continue during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin\u00a0Netanyahu, but\u00a0warned he may\u00a0take action\u00a0against Tehran if a nuclear deal is not reached. The leaders met at the White House as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East and negotiations intensify over curbing Iran’s nuclear weapons program.<\/p>\n

Palestine: Israel\u2019s security cabinet approves measures to strengthen control over the West Bank<\/a><\/span>
\nAssociated Press (United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nIsrael\u2019s security cabinet on Sunday approved measures that aim to deepen Israeli control over the\u202foccupied West Bank\u202fand weaken the already limited powers of the\u202fPalestinian Authority. The office of far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a statement announced the decisions that would make it easier for\u202fJewish settlers\u202fto force Palestinians to give up land, adding that \u201cwe will continue to bury the idea of a Palestinian state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palestine: Indonesia preparing to deploy up to 8,000 soldiers to Gaza<\/a><\/span>
\nBBC (United\u00a0Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nIndonesia says it is preparing up to 8,000 soldiers for deployment to Gaza, the first country to do so as part of phase two of the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States late last year. The army chief of staff, General\u00a0Maruli\u00a0Simanjuntak, said training for the soldiers had already begun, and that they would focus on medical and engineering roles in Gaza. Indonesia has joined President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, which was announced last month.<\/p>\n

Palestine: Hamas leader rejects disarmament while Israeli occupation of Gaza continues<\/a><\/span>
\nAl\u00a0Jazeera\u00a0(Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nHamas\u2019s political leader abroad, Khaled Meshaal, has rejected calls to disarm Palestinian factions in Gaza, arguing that stripping weapons from an occupied people would turn them into \u201can easy victim to be eliminated\u201d.<\/p>\n

Palestine: Onsite gunmen force MSF to stop work at Gaza\u2019s Nasser Hospital<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nDoctors Without Borders has suspended some operations at a Nasser Hospital in Gaza after its staff and patients saw \u201carmed men, some masked\u201d posing \u201cserious security threats\u201d inside the building. The medical charity reported on its website that non-essential work at the hospital in Khan Younis was halted on January 20 due to concerns with the \u201cmanagement of the structure, the safeguarding of its neutrality, and security breaches\u201d. Israel has\u202fdecimated\u202fthe enclave\u2019s health infrastructure and\u202fcontinues to hold\u202fcaptive 95 Palestinian doctors and medical workers, including 80 from Gaza.<\/p>\n

Syria: US army launches retaliatory strikes on dozens of ISIL targets in Syria<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nUnited States forces have carried out a series of strikes against ISIL (ISIS) targets in Syria in retaliation for last year\u2019s killing of two of its soldiers and an interpreter. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on Saturday that it attacked more than 30 ISIL targets in Syria between February 3 and 12, hitting the armed group\u2019s infrastructure and weapons storage facilities with \u201cprecision munitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sub-Saharan Africa<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Africa: ECOWAS-AES Feud Weakens Security Cooperation as Terrorism Spreads<\/a><\/span>
\nAfrica Defense Forum (United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nArmed groups are exploiting growing tensions between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger deepen their cut ties to the regional bloc. Extremist groups such\u00a0as\u00a0 The\u00a0ISSP,\u00a0Jama\u2019at\u00a0Nusrat al-Islam\u00a0wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and other Boko Haram splinter factions have intensified their violence and spread southward and westward. Sahel specialist,\u00a0Seidik\u00a0Abba, says that the lack of cooperation between both groups and weak cooperation between ECOWAS members Benin and Togo enable terrorist expansion. Abba claims the only way to relieve tensions is for states to prioritize people’s internet access\u00a0above all else\u00a0and break from both external influences and\u00a0alignment\u00a0politics.<\/p>\n

Botswana: Botswana Defence Force Receives C-130 Hercules Parts from U.S.<\/a><\/span>
\nAfrica Defense Forum (United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe Botswana\u00a0Defence\u00a0Force (BDF) received approximately $1 million in spare parts from the U.S. to\u00a0maintain\u00a0its fleet of C-130 Hercules transport\u00a0aircraft. This delivery, consisting of 12,000 items, is intended to support the BDF\u2019s capabilities in humanitarian\u00a0assistance, disaster relief, and regional peacekeeping operations. The U.S. previously donated a C-130H\u00a0aircraft\u00a0worth $30 million to Botswana in 2024 and has approved the transfer of two more. U.S. Ambassador Howard Van Vranken praised the BDF’s high maintenance standards and the enduring security partnership between the two nations.<\/p>\n

Ethiopia\/Angola\/Kenya\/African Union Member States: AU Executive Council Opens 48th Ordinary Session with Strong Call for Unity, Sustainable Water Management and Accelerated Continental Integration<\/a><\/span>
\nAfrican Union Press Releases (Ethiopia)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council opened in Addis Ababa, focusing on the 2026 theme of achieving sustainable water and sanitation systems. Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf highlighted the importance of water as a collective resource for peace amid climate change and discussed ongoing institutional reforms. While the council noted progress in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the return of Gabon and Guinea to constitutional order, it expressed concern over persistent terrorism in the Sahel and Horn of Africa.\u00a0The session aims to prepare for the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly and address strategic priorities like Agenda 2063.<\/p>\n

Guinea-Bissau: Guinea-Bissau Makes Winter Olympics Debut With Teen Skier Tang<\/a><\/span>
\nallAfrica\u00a0(South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nGuinea-Bissau is set to make its Winter Olympics debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy,\u00a0where\u00a0Winston Tang, a 19-year-old skier, will compete in Slalom. Following in the footsteps of his father, Thomas Tang, who\u00a0represented\u00a0Chinese Taipei at the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics, Winston says\u00a0he’s\u00a0focused on delivering his best performance. His father, now secretary-general of the Guinea-Bissau Winter Sports Federation, expressed his pride at his son’s debut.<\/p>\n

Kenya\/Somalia: Kenya to Reopen Somalia Border in April After 15-Year Closure<\/span>
\nallAfrica\u00a0(South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, United States)
\nKenyan President William Ruto announced the reopening of the border with Somalia in April, ending a 15-year closure triggered by al-Shabab militant attacks. The decision aims to revitalize cross-border trade and support local communities that have been isolated since the 2011 closure. While heavy security will remain at the crossings to prevent smuggling and terrorism, the reopening is specifically expected to\u00a0facilitate\u00a0the export of miraa (khat).\u00a0Previous\u00a0plans to reopen the border had been suspended due to surges in regional violence and cross-border crimes.<\/p>\n

Liberia: No Immunity for Former Liberian Finance Minister, Court Declares<\/a><\/span>
\nallAfrica\u00a0(South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe Supreme Court of Liberia has ruled that former Minister Samuel\u00a0Tweah\u00a0and other former officials cannot invoke national security immunity to avoid prosecution in one of the country’s most politically sensitive corruption trials. After the defendants were accused of transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2023 from the Central Bank of Liberia to the Financial Intelligence Agency, the trial will\u00a0proceed\u00a0following the Court’s ruling that constitutional immunity applies only to the President.<\/p>\n

Niger: Rebels Target Niger Junta\u2019s Oil Revenue<\/a><\/span>
\nAfrica Defense Forum (United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nIn an effort to\u00a0weaken the ruling junta in Niger, the Patriotic Movement from Freedom and Justice (MPLJ), a Nigerian rebel that split from the Patriotic Liberation Front (FPL), has intensified attacks on the country’s oil infrastructure. The group says oil revenues are propping up the military regime, which they believe to be illegitimate, and has called for the restoration of the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. With a focus on Chinese operators, including China National Petroleum Corporation, repeated sabotage has resulted in millions in lost revenue and delayed debt repayment to China.<\/p>\n

Nigeria: China Denies Sponsoring Illegal Mining, Terrorism in Nigeria<\/a><\/span>
\nallAfrica\u00a0(South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nFollowing allegations by five US lawmakers that the Chinese government is sponsoring illegal mining in Nigeria and funding militias for protection, the Chinese government has rejected them. The Chinese Embassy in Nigeria described the accusations as\u00a0false, and\u00a0reiterated that Chinese nationals\u00a0are required to\u00a0comply with\u00a0Nigerian mining laws. While US lawmakers alleged that some Chinese miners paid militias for protection, China insisted it respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and works with authorities to improve mining governance.<\/p>\n

Nigeria: Ukraine Identifies Nigerians Fighting On Frontline For Russia<\/a><\/span>
\nallAfrica\u00a0(South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nTwo Nigerian nationals’ bodies have been\u00a0identified\u00a0after they were recovered in the Luhansk region of Eastern Ukraine by Ukrainian military intelligence. According to the Ukrainian military, the two Nigerians were allegedly recruited in mid-2025 and died fighting for Russia in the ongoing conflict, with documents\u00a0reportedly containing\u00a0their contract details. The claims have been dismissed by Andrey\u00a0Podyolyshe, the Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, who says no government-backed programs exist to recruit Nigerians for the war.<\/p>\n

South Africa: South Africa: Desperate Measures – Joburg Residents Pushed to the Brink After Days and Even Weeks Without Water<\/a><\/span>
\nallAfrica\u00a0(South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nResidents in several Johannesburg neighborhoods have faced severe water outages lasting up to\u00a023 days, leading to hygiene crises in schools and homes. A specialized school for children with autism reported struggling with blocked toilets and the\u00a0high cost\u00a0of cleaning supplies, relying on neighbors’ boreholes to survive. Residents expressed frustration over the lack of information from city leadership and Johannesburg Water, especially after a labor dispute halted water tanker\u00a0deliveries. The crisis has forced some residents to spend significant amounts on private water suppliers, while others fear the spread of disease due to dry sewage systems.<\/p>\n

Sudan: Civilians and aid operations under fire as Sudan airstrikes intensify<\/a><\/span>
\nUnited Nations Office at Geneva (Switzerland)\u00a0<\/em>
\nEscalating aerial attacks and drone strikes in Sudan have resulted in the deaths of children and damage to schools and UN facilities, including a World Food\u00a0Programme\u00a0warehouse. The UN warned that strikes near key supply routes in the Kordofan region are endangering humanitarian workers and civilians in what has become the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Despite the violence, a multi-agency convoy successfully delivered 800 metric\u00a0tonnes\u00a0of food to Kadugli. The “Quintet” diplomatic group, including the AU and EU, has called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities and a humanitarian truce ahead of Ramadan.<\/p>\n

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe moves to scrap direct presidential elections and extend term limits<\/a><\/span>
\nSemafor (United States)<\/em>
\nZimbabwe is advancing legislation to\u00a0eliminate\u00a0direct presidential elections and extend presidential term limits from five to seven years. If passed, these changes would allow 83-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa to remain in office until 2030, beyond his currently mandated final term. Under the new bill, the head of state would be elected by Parliament rather than the\u00a0general public. While government ministers argue the move will reduce “election mode toxicity” and increase stability, critics view it as a significant democratic setback that\u00a0consolidates\u00a0the ruling\u00a0Zanu\u00a0PF party’s control.<\/p>\n

South & Central Asia<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Afghanistan: Red Cross Helps Two Million Patients, Women, and Children in Afghanistan in 2025<\/a><\/span>
\nKhaama (Afghanistan)<\/em>
\nThe International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent delivered health services to over two million people in Afghanistan during 2025 crises. The IFRC warns that Afghanistan will face one of the world\u2019s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, underscoring the need for continued international\u00a0assistance\u00a0and emergency preparedness.<\/p>\n

Bangladesh: ‘Very hopeful’: Cautious optimism among Gen Z Bangladeshis after key vote<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nOn Saturday, Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) secured six out of 297 constituencies.\u00a0Many young Bangladeshis feel the NCP did not live up to the hopes of the people after 2024 uprising with many wanting a new political class.<\/p>\n

Bhutan: Wangchhu HEP brings new hope to communities after decades of wait<\/a><\/span>
\nKuensel\u00a0(Bhutan)\u00a0<\/em>
\nAfter decades of waiting, the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) has finally\u00a0began\u00a0the 570 MW\u00a0Wangchhu\u00a0Hydropower Project to produce power for the surrounding communities, sparking new hopes of continued living in the area.<\/p>\n

India: India’s pollution is becoming an economic roadblock<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Economist (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe crisis of India\u2019s air pollution is rising with about\u00a01.7 million people\u00a0in India dying annually due to poor air conditions. While it is not affecting the health of the people but has also created significant economic losses in which supply chains, consumption, and attracting businesses to remain in India is becoming challenging.<\/p>\n

Kyrgyzstan: Letter of 75 elders. Three detained in the case of calling for riots<\/a><\/span>
\nKloop\u00a0(Kyrgyzstan)\u00a0<\/em>
\nThe Ministry of Internal Affairs reported 75 people appealing to hold early elections, sparking serious debates and led to the detainment of three people.<\/p>\n

Nepal: 18.23 million ballot papers printed for 142 constituencies<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Himalayan Times (Nepal)\u00a0<\/em>
\nNepal has begun its election season with voting to occur within its 142 constituencies with 20.323 million ballot papers to be printed in total.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka’s strategic location offers it outsized importance: top U.S. official<\/a><\/span>
\nDaily Mirror (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nU.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Paul Kapur, a key official of the Trump administration, said Sri Lanka\u2019s strategic location offered outsized importance and can make it a target for coercion.<\/p>\n

Tajikistan: Emomali Rahmon’s video message amid rumors about him<\/a><\/span>
\nOzodi\u00a0(Tajikistan)\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>
\nPresident of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon released a rare three-minute video congratulating Chinese President, Xi Jinping on the Chinese New Year and his excitement of beginning of bilateral relations. President Rahmon\u2019s message is being viewed as an attempt to diminish rumors surrounding his health due to his limited public appearances and that he may have traveled to Hainan.<\/p>\n

Turkmenistan: Turken Official Dismisses Reports of Torture<\/a><\/span>
\nTurkmen News (Netherlands)\u00a0<\/em>
\nA senior Turkmen official has denied reports of torture of human rights activists in custody, instead blaming the activists for their arrests or injuries.<\/p>\n

Uzbekistan: Chinese Companies Tapped to Modernize Uzbek Hydropower Plants and Introduce AI in Energy<\/a><\/span>
\nFergana News (Moscow)<\/em>
\nUzbekistan\u2019s national company\u00a0Uzbekhydroenergo\u00a0has signed agreements with multiple Chinese corporations to implement artificial intelligence within their hydropower plants (HPPs) to increase modernization.<\/p>\n

Western Hemisphere<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Argentina: Clashes Between Protestors and Police Erupt as a Result of New Controversial Legislation\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nAs of February 11th, thousands of protestors have taken to the streets of Buenos Aires as the Senate has rolled back employment benefits with new reformist legislation that has also challenged the country\u2019s right to organize labor strikes and diminished the power of organized labor groups.<\/p>\n

Barbados: Sitting Prime Minister Wins Third Term with 30 seats in Parliament\u00a0<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Guardian (United Kingdom)\u00a0<\/em>
\nOn February 12th, Mia Mottley, formerly sitting Prime Minister from the Labor Party, won a third term in this year’s Barbado\u2019s presidential election. Including taking all 30 seats in Barbado\u2019s parliament and thus, has unseated the sitting opposition party leader, Ralph Thorne. Announcing that she is looking to take care of the country\u2019s democracy considering the fact it was only 75 years ago the people of Barbados were given the right to vote without owning property.<\/p>\n

Canada: Shooter in Canada Takes the Lives of 9 People and Injuries 25 Others at a School and Home<\/a><\/span>
\nAP News (United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nOn February 10th, a shooting at a secondary school in northern British Columbia left 7 people dead and 25 injured, while 2 more were found dead at a nearby home. A woman who police believe to be the shooter was also found dead from an\u00a0apparently self-inflicted\u00a0wound. School shootings are rare in Canada, which has strict gun control laws, and this shooting was the deadliest since 2020.<\/p>\n

Cuba: Mexican Government Sends Ships to Cuba with Humanitarian Aid Amid U.S. Oil Blockade<\/a><\/span>
\nAl Jazeera (Qatar)\u00a0<\/em>
\nAs of February 12th, two Mexican ships carrying humanitarian aid have docked in the harbor of Havana, as the United States continues measures to cut off the island from outside fuel supplies following its initial oil embargo on January 3rd. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said maintaining Cuba\u2019s sovereignty is paramount among her priorities. Experts at the United Nations have warned of an imminent humanitarian \u201ccollapse\u201d in Cuba as oil supplies dwindle.<\/p>\n

Puerto Rico: Governor of the Island Passes New Law Classifying the Fetus as a Human Being as Critics Warn of Consequences<\/a><\/span>
\nAP News (United States)\u00a0<\/em>
\nOn Thursday, February 12th, Puerto Rico\u2019s governor signed a bill that amends law to recognize a fetus as a human being. Doctors and legal experts warn that this will have deep ramifications. The amendment, in Senate Bill 923, was made to an article within Puerto Rico\u2019s Penal Code that defines murder. Some celebrated the amendment, while opponents warned it opens the door to evEthientually criminalizing abortion, which remains legal in Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n

Venezuela: Venezuela\u2019s Congress Postpone Vote on Amnesty Bill to Protect Political Dissidents<\/a><\/span>
\nFrance24 (France)\u00a0<\/em>
\nOn February 13th, after\u00a0failing to reach\u00a0an agreement on how it would be applied, Venezuelan lawmakers postponed the adoption of a landmark amnesty bill designed to end the use of courts to crack down on dissent and potentially release hundreds of activists still behind bars. Before debate of the bill began, thousands of protestors had poured into the streets of Caracas to demand the release of political prisoners. Lawmakers agreed to continue the debate on February 19.<\/p>\n

\n

The SHU World Review is produced by the Student Research Assistants of the DiploLab<\/a><\/span> at the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. Some summaries may be copied from article text. Back issues are available in Seton Hall\u2019s repository.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

East Asia & the Pacific Australia: Support firms for Angus Taylor to win Liberal leadership, though Ley expected to achieve ‘good result’ ABC\u00a0News (Australia)\u00a0 Backers of Angus Taylor\u00a0and of\u00a0Sussan Ley acknowledge that support is firming for Mr. Taylor to become Liberal leader. Senator James McGrath, who supported\u00a0Ley\u00a0last ballot, declared his intention to support a leadership spill on Wednesday afternoon. Cambodia: 319 more foreigners deported in online scam crackdown \u2013 brings total to 1379 in last… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5878,"featured_media":164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53,5],"tags":[31,158,119,123,6,127,159,109,155,143,54,110,8,100,64,112,73,156,71,80,120,91,107,9,24,33,10,66,58,150,67,113,11,105,62,137,16,40,18,141,29,142,25,88,121,60,93,157,19,74,136,35,47,69],"class_list":["post-160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-53","category-issues","tag-afghanistan","tag-agedntina","tag-algeria","tag-angola","tag-australia","tag-bangladesh","tag-barbados","tag-bhutan","tag-bosnia","tag-botswana","tag-cambodia","tag-canada","tag-china","tag-cuba","tag-egypt","tag-ethiopia","tag-france","tag-guinea-bissau","tag-india","tag-indonesia","tag-iran","tag-israel","tag-italy","tag-japan","tag-kenya","tag-kyrgyzstan","tag-laos","tag-liberia","tag-myanmar","tag-nepal","tag-niger","tag-nigeria","tag-north-korea","tag-palau","tag-palestine","tag-philippines","tag-poland","tag-puerto-rico","tag-russia","tag-somalia","tag-south-africa","tag-sri-lanka","tag-sudan","tag-sweden","tag-syria","tag-taiwan","tag-tajikistan","tag-turkmenistan","tag-ukraine","tag-united-kingdom","tag-united-states","tag-uzbekistan","tag-venezuela","tag-zimbabwe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5878"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":163,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions\/163"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/diplolab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}