UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans for a new digital ID scheme for all adults who want to work in the country. The ID will be stored on mobile phones and include name, date of birth, residency status, and a photo. Starmer said the move will help tackle illegal working and make UK borders “more secure.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the plan a “desperate gimmick,” while the Liberal Democrats raised privacy concerns. Despite criticism, Labour’s strong majority means the plan could move ahead. A public consultation will begin soon before legislation is introduced. (PC: BBC)

Nepal's interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki announced national elections by March 5, 2026, with a groundbreaking decision to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years. This historic move follows massive Gen Z-led protests demanding greater youth representation in Nepal's democratic processes. The policy shift aims to significantly boost youth participation in the country's political landscape, making Nepal one of the few nations globally to extend voting rights to 16-year-olds. The announcement comes amid growing youth activism across South Asia, with young Nepalis demanding more voice in governance decisions affecting their future. The electoral reforms represent a major concession to youth demands and could set a precedent for democratic participation across the region, potentially influencing similar movements in neighboring countries.

President Donald Trump kept Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir waiting for nearly an hour at the Oval Office before their scheduled meeting. Trump addressed reporters from the Oval Office, saying, "they're coming, and they may be in this room right now. I don't know, because we're late." The Pakistani officials were made to wait as Trump boasted to reporters, signed a TikTok deal and flaunted his new Pakistan 'peace broker' image. Despite the diplomatic awkwardness, the closed-door meeting eventually proceeded, marking warming ties between Washington and Islamabad. Trump called Sharif a "great leader" after the meeting concluded, signaling improved bilateral relations despite the initial delay.

The White House has endorsed a proposal for former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to lead a transitional administration in Gaza, known as the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA). This plan, modeled after international transitional administrations in Kosovo and Timor-Leste, would position Blair as Gaza's supreme political and legal authority for up to five years. Initially operating from Egypt, GITA aims to eventually enter Gaza with a UN-endorsed multinational Arab force. The initiative seeks to lay the groundwork for Palestinian unification under the Palestinian Authority (PA), though it faces skepticism due to Blair's controversial past, particularly his support for the 2003 Iraq War. Arab states insist on a clear roadmap to statehood for participation, while the PA has reiterated its readiness to govern Gaza.   

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the White House before 5 p.m. local time for a private meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. This marked the first time a Pakistani prime minister entered Trump’s Oval Office, with no prior PM doing so since Imran Khan in 2019. The closed-door talks are expected to cover bilateral relations, trade, regional security and global challenges. Trump praised both Sharif and Munir as “great leaders,” reflecting a visible shift toward closer U.S.–Pakistan engagement. 

Small US companies are worried after President Trump announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. The programme allows skilled foreign workers to join US firms. Startups and nonprofits say the fee is too high and may stop hiring foreign staff. Abhishek Singh, a software manager, and Karen Brady of Ryther, a health nonprofit, expressed concern over workforce shortages. Big tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft can afford it, but smaller firms struggle. Experts warn the policy could hurt innovation and push firms to hire abroad. For now, the fee applies only to future applicants. (PC: BBC)

The UK government plans to introduce a mandatory digital ID for all adults. The “Brit Card” would prove a person’s right to live and work in the country. People would need it to start a job or rent a home. The move aims to reduce illegal work and small boat crossings. The system, inspired by Estonia, will be app-based and linked to a central database. Civil liberty groups have criticized the plan, calling it intrusive. A government consultation and legislation will be required before rollout. (PC: Sky News)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail for criminal conspiracy in a case linked to illegal funds from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris court acquitted him of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007-2012, said he will appeal and called the case politically motivated. He was also fined €100,000. Other accused included former interior ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, found guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy. Sarkozy could face imprisonment in Paris in the coming days. (PC: BBC)

The government has cancelled the FCRA licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL). Officials said the group committed repeated violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The action came a day after violent Ladakh protests over statehood that left four dead. The Home Ministry blamed Wangchuk’s speeches for provoking attacks on a BJP office and the election officer’s office. Investigations flagged “serious financial irregularities,” including misuse of foreign donations. Wangchuk, seen as the face of the Ladakh statehood movement, said he is ready to face arrest. (PC: X)

Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius has warned that Russian satellites are shadowing satellites used by German forces. Speaking at a space conference in Berlin, he said: “Russia and China have expanded their capabilities for warfare in space rapidly over the past years. They can disrupt satellite operations, blind satellites, manipulate or kinetically destroy them.” He pointed to two Russian Luch/Olymp satellites, launched in 2014 and 2023, that have been following Intelsat satellites. French and US firms earlier flagged “unfriendly” moves by these satellites. Pistorius stressed that Germany must build offensive space powers to act as a deterrent. (PC: X)