World News

'Sometimes you have to': Trump keeps military option open on Iran

Asked about the potential for use of force, Trump said the United States has the greatest military in the world. "I'd love not to use it but sometimes you have to," he said.

'They Have No Money': Trump hints at US ‘friendly takeover’ of Cuba

The Trump administration has imposed a strict oil embargo on Cuba since ousting Havana's key regional backer, bringing the island nation to the brink of economic collapse.

Afghan Taliban open to talks after Pakistan bombs Kabul, Kandahar

The strikes by Pakistan were the first time it had directly targeted its former allies over allegations they are harbouring militants; it described the situation as "open war".

Trump says 'not happy with Iran but more talks expected Friday' on Tehran's nuclear programme

According to a source cited by Reuters, Oman has stepped up its role, dispatching its foreign minister to Washington for discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.

India-EU FTA to include structured mediation mechanism

As per the draft text, an annexure on “model mediation procedures” outlines how disagreements related to trade measures can be handled.

Bill Clinton denies wrongdoing in Epstein probe as democrats push focus on Trump ties

Bill Clinton features prominently throughout the Epstein files, but he insists that he broke ties well before the disgraced billionaire's 2008 conviction for sex offenses.

Epstein probe: Bill Clinton tells House Panel 'I saw nothing and I did nothing wrong' in heated deposition

Bill Clinton denied wrongdoing before a US House panel probing his links to Jeffrey Epstein, defending his record as Republicans questioned him while Democrats urged that Donald Trump be called to testify.

Bill Clinton deposition focused on Epstein flights, DC visits

Hillary Clinton was questioned by the panel Thursday and told reporters afterward she is confident her husband knew nothing about Epstein’s crimes.

Rising Bharat Summit 2026: As elections loom, PM Modi attacks TMC, DMK govts, says 'they don’t care about poor'

At the Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Narendra Modi accused TMC and DMK governments of stalling Ayushman Bharat and housing schemes, alleging they “don’t care about the poor” ahead of crucial Assembly elections.

Rising Bharat Summit 2026: PM Modi says voters reject Congress, 'people don’t consider it worth voting for'

At the Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Narendra Modi said voters have steadily rejected Congress since 1984, accusing it of blind criticism, dynastic politics and opposing key national reforms.

Rising Bharat Summit 2026: India’s rise a ‘balancing’ force in Southeast Asia, says George Yeo

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo said India’s self-sustaining growth, reforms and FTA push have boosted its global standing, calling its rise a stabilising and balancing force in Southeast Asia.

Sticky inflation rattles Wall Street: Dow sinks 715 points, Nasdaq caps bruising February

Dow drops 715 points after January PPI jumps 0.5% and core inflation hits 0.8%. Nvidia, AI stocks slide as Nasdaq heads for worst month since March.

UK PM Starmer under pressure to tack left after Green election upset

The result underscores the recent fragmentation of UK politics and the disruption of long-held electoral certainties

Taliban seeks talks as Pakistan launches ‘open war’, says 'want peaceful resolution through dialogue'

The appeal for talks came hours after Pakistan launched a large-scale retaliatory military operation following what it described as attacks by Afghan Taliban forces on multiple border posts.

Rising Bharat Summit 2026: 'No need for them to become enemies,' George Yeo says India–China choice will shape global peace

Former Singapore foreign minister George Yeo said India–China cooperation will determine global peace, stressing there is “no need” for rivalry and their collective weight will shape 21st-century governance.

US embassy exit, China evacuation call: Is Washington positioning for Iran strikes? Here's what we know

US-Iran conflict: The developments come even as Oman-mediated talks between Iran and the United States resumed in Geneva. The negotiations are widely seen as a last attempt to avoid open conflict.

Even states with no income tax in US are flirting with taxing the rich

In Washington state, where income taxes have long been anathema, there is talk of a new levy on top earners

Deutsche Bank’s Epstein Files throw family offices into the open

For Deutsche Bank, the new details on its historical ties to Epstein sets back a long-running effort to shake off the lender’s previous reputation as a magnet for scandals

‘Make a clear choice’: DG ISPR asks Taliban to choose between militant groups and Pakistan

The remarks signal a dramatic deterioration in ties between two governments that were once seen as ideological allies following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Mark Carney begins India visit, skips Punjab stop: Why Canadian PM's trip breaks from predecessors | Explained

Notably absent from Carney's schedule is a visit to Punjab, a departure from the travel patterns of previous Canadian prime ministers and a decision that has drawn criticism from some Sikh groups.

Moderna gets EU approval for mRNA combination Covid-flu shot

It’s the first approved vaccine to protect against both respiratory diseases in a single dose.

Wheat crisis brewing in Pakistan? Indus Waters Treaty strain and Afghan conflict collide as supply dips

Pakistan faces a wheat shortfall of over 2 million tonnes amid Afghan conflict, Indus Waters Treaty tensions and reduced rainfall.

Pakistan details Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, terms Taliban ‘master proxy’ as it claims 274 killed in Afghan strikes

Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict: Detailing the military operation, Lt Gen Chaudhry claimed Pakistani forces had destroyed 83 posts and captured 17 during the clashes.

Ceasefire collapse to cross-border war: How TTP’s 'chilling threat' in 2022 has come full circle as Pakistan and Afghanistan clash

Pakistan’s long reliance on militant proxies, lax internal security strategy, and propensity to externalise its failures have brought it to a point where domestic insurgency has transformed into international conflict.

'India is strong enough to...': Afghan MP-in-exile urges denuclearisation of Pakistan after Kabul strikes

Afghan MP-in-exile Mariam Solaimankhil urges India to seek sanctions on Pakistan as Islamabad bombs Kabul and declares “open war”.

Pakistan–Afghanistan clashes: How Moscow, Beijing and Tehran aim to broker a fragile truce

Russia, China and Iran have urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to halt escalating military clashes, offering mediation and pressing for dialogue, restraint and an immediate ceasefire to prevent wider regional instability.

Strategic asset to strategic nightmare: How TTP has turned into Pakistan’s biggest security threat

The TTP’s rise illustrates a bitter irony. A militant landscape once seen as a strategic lever has transformed into a domestic insurgency that now threatens Pakistan’s own stability.

Netflix, Paramount shares jump as months-long fight for Warner Bros ends

Paramount Skydance maintained its dogged pursuit of Warner Bros, launching a hostile campaign to wrest the prize from Netflix

China dismisses 19 lawmakers, including 9 military officers, ahead of Congress as Xi Jinping’s crackdown deepens

China’s legislature has dismissed 19 deputies, including nine military officers, ahead of its annual National People’s Congress, as Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign continues targeting senior armed forces officials.

Afghanistan claims 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, 19 posts seized; Islamabad says 133 Taliban fighters dead

Afghan officials said Taliban fighters had captured 19 Pakistani outposts along the border after launching retaliatory operations in response to Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory.

Beyond Indian equities: Multi asset, global stocks, commercial real estate seen as alternate return avenues

Vishal Gupta, Alternative Investment Fund Manager at ICICI Prudential Asset Management; Ketul Sakhpara, Founder of Bayford Capital; and Anil Rego, Founder and CIO of Bright Horizons, shared their perspectives on alternative avenues capable of delivering equity-like outcomes.

'Leave Israel today': US ambassador advises immediate departure for embassy staff as Iran tensions rise

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee urges embassy staff in Israel to depart under authorised status as Iran nuclear talks continue and tensions persist.

Iran offers to 'facilitate dialogue' as Pakistan declares 'open war' on Afghanistan

Iran has offered to mediate after Pakistan declared “open war” on Afghanistan following cross-border strikes, highlighting sharp military imbalances and raising fears of wider regional instability along the volatile Durand Line.

'We can’t loosen Claude safeguards by Friday': Anthropic draws a hard line with Pentagon

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei drew a sharp red line 24 hours before the deadline, declaring his company “cannot in good conscience accede” to the Pentagon’s final demand to allow unrestricted use of its technology.

Afghanistan readying suicide battalion as Pakistan declares ‘open war’ after airstrikes on Kabul

Casualty figures released by both sides underscore the scale of the fighting. Pakistan claimed 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and more than 200 injured, with 27 posts destroyed and nine captured.

Indian students drifting away from US? Enrollment in American colleges see 45% dip, 25% rise in domestic B-schools

A GMAC white paper reports a 45% fall in Indian enrolments at US universities in 2025, driven by visa concerns and affordability issues, even as applications to Indian management programmes surge 25%.

Polls show more Americans questioning Trump’s mental sharpness

New surveys suggest concern about the president’s acuity is rising — including among a slice of his own supporters.

Why Anthropic walked away from the Pentagon’s AI demands

The company behind Claude says it would rather lose defence work than weaken its ban on autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance.

How a former Epstein associate rebuilt influence in Japan — and why it’s now backfiring

Joichi Ito’s return to prominence was powered by political backing and public money. New disclosures about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein are putting that second act at risk.

Allies to adversaries in 5 years: Three reasons why Pakistan and Afghanistan are on the brink of full-blown war

Pakistan’s long-standing strategy of using militant proxies and political manipulation in Afghanistan has unravelled. Under Asim Munir’s watch, coercion appears to have replaced diplomacy.

Why Trump is talking transition in Cuba instead of immediate regime change

After years of demanding Havana’s communist leadership fall, the administration now appears open to gradual reform — wary of chaos, migration and instability 90 miles from Florida.

Pakistan declares 'open war' with Afghanistan. Here’s how their militaries stack up

Islamabad says it is now in 'open war' with its neighbour after cross-border strikes. On paper, Pakistan’s forces dwarf the Taliban’s. On the ground, the equation is more complex.

Trump and Iran: The three paths in front of the White House

With US warships massed near Iran, the president is weighing diplomacy, limited force, or a much bigger gamble.

Is Asim Munir playing Bagram card to please Trump? Speculations grow over Pakistan’s motives in Afghan escalation

Is this escalation merely about border security, or is it linked to Pakistan’s alleged attempt to regain strategic relevance by dangling access to Afghanistan’s Bagram airbase before US President Donald Trump?

Who is Asif Merchant? Pak national on trial over alleged plot to assassinate US politician, possibly Trump

A Pakistani national, Asif Merchant, has gone on trial in New York over an alleged FBI-sting plot to assassinate US political figures, including possibly Donald Trump, ahead of the 2024 election.

Piyush Goyal says ‘deal will be rebalanced’ if circumstances change after US Supreme Court ruling

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India is closely watching developments after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump-era tariffs, calling the situation “evolving” and signalling that trade terms could be rebalanced if needed.

Britain’s Green Party wins Gorton and Denton seat in major setback for PM Keir Starmer

The Greens captured a historic fifth Commons seat in Gorton and Denton, pushing Labour into third place and deepening pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid mounting party unrest.

Trump administration faces first major court deadline today in tariff refund battle

The Justice Department must respond by February 27 as companies push to fast-track refunds that could total $175 billion after the Supreme Court struck down Trump-era tariffs.

OPINION | Leicester riots report’s claims on RSS and Hindutva questioned

RSSFACTS: A UK study links RSS and Hindutva to Leicester unrest. Critics say it misrepresents facts and ignores civilisational context and historical meaning of Hindutva 

Did Afghanistan shoot down Pakistan’s F-16? Kabul shares video, Grok says isn't real

Afghanistan claims it shot down a Pakistani aircraft as both sides trade allegations and casualty figures following Islamabad’s launch of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.