World

Following Bangladesh’s 13th Parliamentary elections, the Tarique Rahman-led BNP formed a cabinet where 70% of ministers are businesspersons. Transparency International Bangladesh warned of potential conflicts of interest, noting that most MPs, especially from BNP, are also millionaires

Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was arrested over alleged misconduct while UK trade envoy, overshadowing King Charles III’s reign. Andrew has been stripped of titles; historical royal crises and family tensions highlight the monarchy’s vulnerability to public scrutiny

Pakistan and 13 other nations condemned remarks by Mike Huckabee supporting biblical claims over Arab lands. The joint statement rejected Israeli sovereignty over occupied territories, reaffirming support for a Palestinian state and regional stability

Nine backcountry skiers were killed in an avalanche on Castle Peak near Lake Tahoe in California. Authorities in Truckee recovered the victims after days of severe weather, as multiple agencies conducted a complex mountain rescue operation

Pakistan launched midnight strikes on seven militant hideouts in Afghanistan after deadly attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Bannu. Islamabad blamed TTP and ISKP, citing Kabul’s inaction under the Doha Agreement, further straining bilateral ties

A day after the US Supreme Court struck down his sweeping import taxes, President Donald Trump announced plans for a 15 per cent global tariff, signalling he will continue escalating trade measures using alternative legal powers despite growing political and legal pushback

India will face South Africa in their T20 World Cup Super Eight opener in Ahmedabad. While India’s batting has shown inconsistencies, the team relies on Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy to deliver with the ball against a strong Proteas line-up

New Zealand and Pakistan shared a point after their opening T20 World Cup Group 2 Super Eights match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, was abandoned due to incessant rain. Both teams now face crucial upcoming matches against England and Sri Lanka

Smriti Mandhana’s 82 and Jemimah Rodrigues’ 59 powered India to a 17-run win in the third Women’s T20I against Australia, securing a historic 2-1 series victory and their first bilateral T20I series triumph in Australia since 2016

Microsoft has appointed Indian-origin executive Asha Sharma as Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft Gaming. She will succeed Phil Spencer and report to Satya Nadella. Sharma brings wide experience from Microsoft, Instacart, and Meta

Ukrainian drones struck an industrial site in Russia’s Udmurt Republic, reportedly targeting the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, a major missile factory. Eleven people were injured, three hospitalised. Videos show smoke and structural damage; Ukrainian authorities have not commented.

A suicide attack during an intelligence-based operation in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed two security personnel. Five militants from the banned TTP-linked group Fitna al Khwarij were also killed after an exchange of fire, averting a civilian attack.

A 4.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Pakistan on Saturday, a day after a stronger 5.9 tremor. No casualties or damage were reported. Recent quakes highlight the region’s vulnerability due to its location along active tectonic plate boundaries.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticised the KP Chief Minister’s proposed “Release Imran Khan Force,” calling it unconstitutional. The announcement follows opposition protests demanding the jailed former prime minister’s release, intensifying political tensions across the country.

India has strongly opposed proposals for a new ‘third category’ of UN Security Council membership, arguing it would undermine genuine reform and delay expansion of permanent seats. Both the G4 (India, Japan, Germany, Brazil) and the L.69 group of developing nations rejected the idea.

The US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, ruling that only Congress can impose taxes. Former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal led the challenge, calling the verdict a major victory for constitutional separation of powers

The US trade deficit widened to $70.3 billion in December, with the annual goods gap with India reaching $58.2 billion in 2025. Imports outpaced exports as goods trade drove the expansion of America’s overall deficit.

After the Supreme Court restricted emergency tariff powers under IEEPA, the Trump administration imposed a temporary 10 per cent global tariff under Section 122. Existing Section 232 and Section 301 duties remain in force as alternative legal measures are pursued.

Jakub Mensik stunned World No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the Qatar Open quarter-finals, securing a career-best win. He will now face Frenchman Fils in the semi-final, who made a strong return from injury by defeating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets

India’s 26-member squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 has been revealed. The team, placed in Group C, will face Vietnam, Japan, and Chinese Taipei in the group stage, with hopes of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027

Australia ended their T20 World Cup campaign on a high note, thrashing Oman by nine wickets in their final group match. Adam Zampa’s four-wicket haul and Mitchell Marsh’s blistering 64 guided the team to the joint-fastest chase in tournament history

The US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump’s global tariffs, ruling that emergency powers cannot be used to impose import taxes. The 6–3 verdict reasserts Congress’s authority over tariffs and deals a setback to Trump’s trade agenda

Signing the accord offers the symbolic advantage of a “seat at the high table,” but strategic caution must guide New Delhi’s choices

NASA successfully completed a second fueling test of its Artemis II Space Launch System rocket at Kennedy Space Center, addressing prior hydrogen leaks, as engineers assess March launch readiness for the first lunar crewed mission since Apollo 17