Grief, Elections, and Regime Change: A World in Turmoil

Tumbler Ridge, Canada, and Tehran, Iran, were grappling with vastly different crises on February 13, 2026, as the Canadian town reeled from a shooting and Iran faced international scrutiny over its treatment of protesters. Meanwhile, political shifts were underway in Bangladesh and the United States, with former President Donald Trump commenting on the situation in Iran.

In Tumbler Ridge, a Canadian mining town, residents were struggling to come to terms with a shooting perpetrated by one of their own. According to The Guardian, the community was reaching for unity in the face of grief, with residents gathering at a makeshift memorial. The paper noted that the day of the shooting, February 10, had begun like any other, with a typical cloudy haze and winter chill.

Across the globe, in Iran, the regime faced accusations of cracking down on protesters. Sky News reported that an Iranian doctor, Yaser Rahmani-Rad, was arrested and detained after speaking out about the treatment of injured protesters. Dr. Rahmani-Rad, an internal medicine specialist, had accused security forces of arresting injured protesters inside hospitals and removing medical equipment.

Meanwhile, political landscapes were shifting in other parts of the world. In Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a decisive victory in the 13th parliamentary election, returning to power after years under Sheikh Hasina's rule, according to Al Jazeera. The election was framed by many as a dramatic comeback.

In the United States, former President Donald Trump commented on the situation in Iran, stating that a change in power there "would be the best thing" that could happen, according to Euronews. Trump's remarks came after he confirmed he was sending a second aircraft carrier group to the Middle East. Euronews also reported that Republicans were facing challenges in Texas ahead of the midterm elections, with the state becoming a focal point for political battles.