Former US President Barack Obama has responded to a racist video shared on social media by President Donald Trump that showed him and Michelle Obama depicted as apes. Speaking on a podcast, Obama did not name Trump but said public discourse has worsened. He said the “decorum and a sense of propriety and respect for the office” once expected from leaders “has been lost.” The White House first defended the post as “fake outrage,” then said a staff member shared it and removed it. Trump later said he “didn’t see” that part of the video and did not apologise. (PC: BBC)

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales marked Valentine’s Day by posting a joint portrait on social media. The couple shared a black and white photo of themselves sitting side by side in a field. The message with the image read, “Happy Valentine’s Day.” The post appeared on X on Saturday. Around the same time, Meghan Markle shared a rare picture of Prince Harry with their daughter, Lilibet. Both posts drew wide attention online. The images were shared as part of Valentine’s Day messages and did not include any additional personal statements from the couples. (PC: Sky News)

The UK and several European countries said Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was killed using a rare toxin linked to South American dart frogs. The claim follows new analysis of samples taken from his body. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said “only the Russian government had the means, motive and opportunity” to use the poison in a Russian prison. A joint statement by the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands blamed the Russian state. Russia rejected the findings and called them an “information campaign”. Navalny died in a Siberian penal colony in February 2024 while serving a prison sentence. His wife has long alleged poisoning. (PC: BBC)

The UK and four other countries accused Russia of killing opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, confirming presence of "epibatidine" a South American poison not naturally found in Russia. His widow Yulia Navalnaya declared his 2024 Arctic prison death is now a "scientifically proven" murder, based on smuggled biological samples analyzed last September. The countries reported Russia to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for violating the Chemical Weapons Convention. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called it the "Kremlin's barbaric plot to silence his voice." Navalny was previously poisoned with Novichok nerve agent in 2020. Russian authorities strenuously deny involvement despite no innocent explanation for the toxin's presence.

At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticised what he called the west’s post‑war “delusion”, highlighting the dangers of mass migration and flawed economic policies. He argued that uncontrolled migration, deindustrialisation, and policy missteps have weakened social cohesion and threatened Western stability. Rubio called for nations to reassert border control, reform global institutions like the UN, and focus on strengthening domestic economies. While critical, he reaffirmed the importance of a strong trans‑Atlantic alliance, emphasising shared values and history as a foundation for future cooperation. (PC: AFP)

The acting mayor of Hebron, Asma al-Sharabati, said Palestinians are “not protected” after Israel expanded its control in the occupied West Bank.   Israel’s security cabinet approved new rules that increase its authority over planning and services in Palestinian-run areas. The changes also affect the Cave of the Patriarchs, a major religious site.   Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich said the move strengthens Israel’s roots in the land.   Palestinian leaders say the decision weakens past peace agreements. The UK government said it “strongly condemns” the decision and expects it to be reversed. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump said America will send a second aircraft carrier to West Asia. He warned Iran that more force will be used if nuclear talks fail. “If we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump said.   The US is moving the USS Gerald R. Ford to join the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region.   Trump said the move will strengthen America’s position in talks. Tensions remain high in the Middle East. Recent sea incidents have raised concerns. Gulf nations have warned that any military action could spark a wider conflict. (PC: AP)

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) regained control of the government in the 2026 general election, securing a commanding more than two‑thirds majority in the 300‑seat Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) after years out of power. BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, returning from years abroad, clinched victory in his constituencies and is poised to become the next prime minister. The election followed the end of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s long rule, with the ruling Awami League barred from contesting. Analysts say the result reflects popular desire for change, not a radical revolution, as BNP’s organisational strength delivered success at the polls. (PC: AP)

The United States is sending a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, from the Caribbean to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate, U.S. officials told media. The move will place two carrier strike groups in the region alongside the already‑deployed USS Abraham Lincoln, backed by destroyers and other naval assets. President Donald Trump said the deployment is a precaution in case negotiations with Tehran fail and stressed the need to reach a deal. Israeli leaders support efforts to pressure Iran on its nuclear and missile programs. The carrier is expected to take about a week to arrive. (PC: Reuters)

Senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a prominent figure from Bangladesh's minority Hindu community, won his Dhaka constituency in the country's 13th national parliamentary elections on Friday. Roy's victory represents significant minority representation within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's landslide win. His success comes at a crucial time following concerns about minority safety in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024. The election marks Bangladesh's first national vote since the mass uprising that ended Hasina's 15-year rule. Roy's win as a Hindu leader in a Muslim-majority nation underscores the BNP's attempt to project inclusive politics as it prepares to form the government after nearly two decades in opposition.