Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered an unusually blunt critique of Islamabad’s past ties with the United States, telling the National Assembly that Pakistan was “used like toilet paper and then thrown away” after serving U.S. strategic goals, particularly in Afghanistan. He described the country’s alignment with Washington after 1999 and post-9/11 as a grave miscalculation that inflicted long-term damage, including prolonged violence and economic strain. Asif challenged the official narrative that Pakistan’s involvement in Afghan wars was driven by religious duty, instead calling it a damaging mistake. His remarks signal deep frustration in Pakistan’s political discourse over its foreign policy legacy. (PC: Getty Images)

Delhi Police have arrested a self-styled “baba,” Kamruddin, in the shocking triple murder of three people found dead inside a parked car near the Peeragarhi flyover. Initial indications of suicide shifted after investigators uncovered that Kamruddin had lured the victims with promises of “Dhanvarsha” (surprise money) through tantric rituals and fed them poison-laced laddoos and drinks, police said. CCTV footage reportedly shows him in the car with the trio before their deaths, and he is now booked for murder as part of a well-planned conspiracy for financial gain. The victims were Randhir (76), Shiv Naresh (47) and Laxmi Devi (40). Police continue probing motive and sequence of events. (PC: HT)

Bangladesh has withdrawn from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, refusing to send its cricket team to play matches in India due to alleged security concerns following the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL and broader political tensions. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its fixtures to Sri Lanka, but the request was rejected, leading to Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland. Sports adviser Asif Nazrul later claimed the decision was made by the BCB and players, not the government. The ICC has said no sanctions will be imposed on Bangladesh. (PC: X)

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026, Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed strong confidence that the DMK will retain power on its own while continuing its alliance with the Congress, dismissing speculation of rifts. At an India Today Roundtable, he criticised the BJP-AIADMK alliance’s “double engine” development model, calling it a “dabba engine” and accusing the NDA of spreading lies and communal tension ahead of the polls. Stalin rejected power-sharing demands from allies and reaffirmed DMK’s governance record. Campaigning has intensified across parties as the April-May election nears, with the BJP-led NDA pushing its narrative in the state. (PC: India Today)

Concerns are rising in Bangladesh’s 2026 general election as the once-banned Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami gains momentum ahead of Thursday’s vote, potentially reshaping the country’s political future and women’s rights. Critics warn that Jamaat’s leadership, including Shafiqur Rahman, openly opposes female political leadership, has suggested limiting women’s working hours, and the party has not fielded a single woman candidate, despite promises of cabinet roles, sparking alarms about a rollback of freedoms. Many women who played key roles in the 2024 uprising feel disenfranchised, and grassroots activists fear the election could threaten gains in gender equality even as younger voters support the party’s anti-corruption rhetoric. (PC: The Guardian)

The White House unintentionally included a reference to India’s digital services tax—often dubbed the “Google tax”—in its initial fact sheet on the India-US trade framework, suggesting India would remove it as part of the deal. The levy, a 6% equalisation tax on digital advertising by foreign companies, had already been abolished by India from April 1, 2025 under the Finance Bill 2025, long before the trade pact announcement. After realising the error, the White House deleted the mention from the revised document, now saying India will instead negotiate bilateral digital trade rules, aligning the fact sheet with agreed terms. (PC: AFP)

A mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada has left at least 10 people dead, including the suspected shooter, and 27 others wounded, in one of the deadliest school attacks in Canadian history. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to reports of an active shooter on February 10, evacuating all remaining students and staff safely. Six victims were found inside the school, with more fatalities at a nearby residence and on the way to hospital. Two critically injured victims were airlifted for treatment, while others received local care. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities say no further suspects are believed at large. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, who surrendered to Tihar Jail in a long-running ₹9 crore cheque bounce case, has received significant financial backing from music producer Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav, owner of GemTunes Music, pledging ₹1.11 crore to support him in his legal and financial crisis. Singh praised Yadav’s contribution to Indian cinema and called the gesture about solidarity, not money. Colleagues such as Sonu Sood and Gurmeet Choudhary have also offered assistance, urging the film fraternity to stand together. Politician Tej Pratap Yadav extended additional aid of ₹11 lakh to Yadav’s family. The case stems from dishonoured cheques related to a failed 2010 film loan. (PC: India Today)

The US White House has quietly revised its fact sheet on the recently announced India-United States interim trade deal, removing the mention of “certain pulses” from the list of American agricultural products for which India would reduce or eliminate tariffs. The earlier version also described India’s plan to buy over $500 billion in US goods as a commitment; the revised text now says India “intends” to make such purchases. Additional changes include softer language on digital trade and aligning the fact sheet more closely with the joint statement issued by both countries. The adjustments came after New Delhi flagged discrepancies. (PC: Reuters)

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his conduct in the Lok Sabha during a row over his attempt to quote from an unpublished “memoir” of ex-Army Chief General M M Naravane on the India-China border standoff. Rijiju accused Gandhi of defying the Speaker’s ruling, wasting House time and behaving immaturely, telling him “don’t behave like children” amid heated exchanges and disruptions in Parliament. The spat reflects broader tensions between the government and opposition over parliamentary decorum and national security discourse during the Budget Session. (PC: PTI)