Nation

Tariq Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), will be sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister today. The BNP secured a landslide victory last week, winning two-thirds of the seats in the general elections. From India, Speaker Om Birla is scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony. This marks a new chapter in Delhi-Dhaka relations. 2. BJP Targets Uddhav Thackeray Over Tipu Sultan Remarks; Congress Fires Back The controversy over Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal’s remarks on Tipu Sultan continues. BJP has now involved former CM Uddhav Thackeray, accusing Congress of disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In response, Sapkal challenged the BJP, saying if any historical inaccuracy was made while comparing Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan’s valo...

New Delhi: Observing a sharp rise in complaints of sexual assault arising from false promises of marriage, the Supreme Court on Monday issued a caution to young individuals regarding pre-marital physical relationships. The court emphasized that couples should exercise extreme caution before engaging in intimate relations before marriage. However, it also acknowledged that such advice may seem old-fashioned to some. During a hearing on a bail petition of a man facing charges under alleged false promises of marriage, Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan questioned how the woman involved had agreed to travel to Dubai, where the two engaged in a physical relationship. The bench remarked, “It happens with consent. We may be old-fashioned, but a boy and a girl before marriage are comp...

New Delhi, February 16, 2026: We bring you today’s five major stories, covering global politics, technology, sports, and weather updates. 1. Former Ukrainian Minister Arrested While Attempting to Flee Ukraine’s former Energy Minister Galushchenko was taken into custody while trying to leave the country. He had resigned last year following allegations of corruption in the energy sector. Authorities apprehended him at the border as he attempted to evade legal action. 2. Delhi Police Takes a Fun Dig After India Beats Pakistan In a thrilling India vs Pakistan cricket match in Sri Lanka, the Indian team secured a resounding victory, sparking celebrations across India and social media memes mocking Pakistan’s defeat. Delhi Police joined in the fun with a humorous post, delighting cri...

New Delhi, February 16, 2026: India is charting an ambitious course in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing inclusive and ethical AI that benefits all. The upcoming India AI Summit 2026 is expected to spotlight India’s vision for AI, garnering global attention, particularly from the Global South. AI for All: A Vision Rooted in Inclusion Last year, at the Paris AI Action Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi articulated the mantra “AI for All”, setting the stage for India to host the next AI summit. Drawing parallels with the G20 Summit in Delhi in 2023, where nations reached consensus on the Delhi Declaration amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India aims to use the summit as a platform for AI diplomacy and inclusive development. Prime Minister Modi had emphasized t...

New Delhi, February 16, 2026: Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, praised the Indian Army for its decisive action during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan and highlighted the growing need for closer US-India defense cooperation amid rising Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Operation Sindoor: Lessons and Tactical Excellence During his visit to India on Sunday, Admiral Paparo expressed deep empathy for the tragic events preceding the operation and lauded the Indian Army’s tactical response. “India’s commitment to learning from past conflicts is evident in the way it executed Operation Sindoor,” he said. When asked about Pakistan’s use of Chinese-made weapons, Admiral Paparo noted that such long-range, complex systems include advanced sens...

Munich, February 16, 2026: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a landmark dinner meeting with his counterparts from the G4 nations—Japan, Germany, and Brazil—during the Munich Security Conference, 2026. This marked the first-ever dedicated meeting of G4 foreign ministers, underscoring the growing importance of their coordinated efforts on global governance. UNSC Reform Tops the Agenda The central focus of the meeting was the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a step seen as essential in the evolving geopolitical landscape. The ministers emphasized the need to strengthen international trust in the UN and reaffirmed its critical role in maintaining global stability amid rising uncertainty worldwide. A senior official familiar with the discussions s...

New Delhi: The much-anticipated India AI Impact Summit 2026 kicks off today at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate the event at 5 PM. The summit features special pavilions representing 13 countries, highlighting India’s growing role in the global AI ecosystem. Ahead of the inauguration, PM Modi shared a global message on social media platform X, emphasizing the summit’s unifying purpose. He wrote, “Bringing the world together to discuss AI! Starting today, India is hosting the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi. I warmly welcome leaders, industry captains, innovators, policymakers, researchers, and tech enthusiasts from around the world. The theme of the summit is ‘Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay’—welfare for all, happiness for all—which r...

The recent general elections in Bangladesh have delivered a decisive message: the Pakistan-backed Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, suffered a setback, failing to secure power. However, despite losing the opportunity to form the government, Jamaat’s presence as a significant opposition force could still pose challenges to strengthening India-Bangladesh relations. BNP Victory Signals a Strategic Opening The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, secured over two-thirds majority, marking a clear mandate from the electorate. Analysts view this as a practical opportunity for India to forge stronger ties with Dhaka, especially after years when the interim Mohammad Yunus government was perceived to be leaning closer to Pakistan and China. Under Yunus, there were reports ...

By Pankaj Singh | February 16, 2026 Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has once again sparked political controversy with remarks that appeared to support Pinarayi Vijayan remaining Chief Minister of Kerala. The comments come at a sensitive time, as Congress is striving to regain power in the southern state ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Shortly after Aiyar’s statement, Congress moved swiftly to distance itself. The party clarified that Aiyar has not had any formal association with the Congress for several years and speaks entirely in his personal capacity. Pawan Khera, head of Congress’ Media and Publicity Department, emphasized that Aiyar’s views are his own and do not represent the party. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, while tagging Khera’s post on X, r...

By Mrityunjay Rai | Edited by Akshay Shrivastava | February 16, 2026 World War II remains one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, leaving behind a trail of devastation that shook the world. Yet, the question of which nation deserves the title of the “true hero” of this global conflict has resurfaced on social media, with Britain often at the center of the debate. In his new book, Advance Britannia: The Epic Story of the Second World War, 1942-1945, historian Alan Allport sheds fresh light on Britain’s wartime journey. A sequel to his widely acclaimed Britain at Bay, Allport’s work challenges long-held perceptions about Britain’s role in the Allied victory. Britain: Hero or Survivor? Allport argues that while Britain, under Prime Minister Winston Churchill, is often cel...