World News LIVE: Tarique Rahman takes oath as Bangladesh PM today, Yunus quits, Indian man arrested by ICE, and other top developments

Peru could see 8th President in eight years as Jose Jeri faces removal vote

Peru’s Congress began debating whether to remove President Jose Jeri over undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman. A simple majority can censure him, unlike impeachment, which requires 87 votes. If removed, Peru would see its eighth president in eight years. Fernando Rospigliosi has said he will not assume the presidency if Jeri is ousted, as per a Reuters report.

Taliban-Pakistan standoff softens with release of soldiers during Saudi-backed talks

Afghanistan’s Taliban government said it freed three Pakistani soldiers captured in October border clashes. According to a Reuters report, the handover in Kabul was mediated by Saudi Arabia, months after deadly fighting strained ties and shut key crossings.

US and Iran reach understanding on 'guiding principles' during Geneva nuclear talks

Iran and the US agreed on basic guiding principles during indirect nuclear talks in Geneva, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said. Oil prices eased, but key disputes over sanctions, missiles and past strikes are still unresolved. Aims toward reaching a potential agreement, according to a Reuters report.

'Culture brings us together': Emmanuel Macron on meeting Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha and Shabana Azmi

French President Emmanuel Macron added a touch of cinematic glamour to his diplomatic visit to Mumbai, holding a special interaction with Bollywood celebrities on Tuesday. The French leader and First Lady Brigitte Macron met prominent figures of Indian cinema including actors like Anil Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha and Shabana Azmi. Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar also joined the special meeting along with Grammy Award-winning musician Ricky Kej. Taking to his official X handle, Macron shared pictures of their gathering, showing the leader interacting with the celebrities. "Alongside legends of Indian cinema. Culture brings us together," he wrote in the caption.

'These initiatives will boost bilateral trade, investment...': PM Modi after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron

"To further encourage mutual investment, we are signing agreements to eliminate double taxation, ensuring that our citizens and companies are not taxed twice. These initiatives will boost bilateral trade, investment and the movement of people. Together, they form the roadmap for our shared prosperity," said PM Modi after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron.

'Happy to turn this partnership into a special strategic partnership', says French President Emmanuel Macron on Indo-Pacific trade

French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are holding discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation across an array of areas at Lok Bhavan, Mumbai. Additionally, they are also discussing regional and global issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in the Indo-Pacific President Macron was quoted as saying by The Indian Express, "In the past eight years, India and France have collaborated in several sectors, and we are happy to turn this partnership into a special strategic partnership."

Ecuador: Miss Universe collapses during parade appearance

Miss Universe Fatima Bosch worried onlookers when she suddenly fell to her knees while riding a parade float at a festival in Ecuador. Videos of the moment quickly spread on social media. According to a report by People, the incident happened on Sunday, February 15, at the Fruit and Flower Festival in Ambato, Ecuador. Bosch was standing on a florally-decorated platform, smiling and waving to the crowd, when she reached for a railing behind her and then dropped down in her mint-coloured gown. Clips shared online showed the shocked reaction of spectators, who gasped and called out as the unexpected event unfolded. A woman quickly climbed onto the float to help Bosch, who stayed conscious and spoke with her.

Lifting sanctions 'inseparable' part of any deal, says Iran as nuclear talks with the US begin in Geneva

Amid the ongoing discussions with the US about Iran's nuclear programme, Tehran stated that lifting sanctions is an 'inseparable' part of any agreement. Talks are taking place in Geneva, with Oman facilitating the process. Tehran has shown some cautious optimism about Washington's "more realistic" stance on the nuclear program. Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, warned on Tuesday that the US warship in the Gulf could be sunk as nuclear talks began. "We constantly hear that they (the United States) have sent a warship toward Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon that can sink it," Khamenei said, according to Hindustan Times.

'Honoured to be in Dhaka': Om Birla posts picture upon arrival in Dhaka

Upon arriving in Dhaka for the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman, who is set to become the new prime minister of Bangladesh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla shared a picture on X. He wrote that he is "honoured" to be in Dhaka representing India. In his post on X, he stated, "Honoured to be in Dhaka representing India at the swearing‑in ceremony of the new government led by H.E. Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister. It’s an important moment that will strengthen people‑to‑people ties and shared democratic values between our two nations." Check post here.

Tarique Rahman takes oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman took the oath of office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday. The BNP has formed a new government after almost 20 years.

'No one is entitled to a visa', says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that visas to the United States are "not a right". He warned that they will be revoked if foreign visitors participate in activities that threaten American national security, reported News 18. Rubio emphasised that visa permissions are conditional. "I've said this repeatedly. I don't know why it's so hard for some to comprehend it. No one is entitled to a visa. Visas are not a right. There is no constitutional right to a visa. A visa is permission to enter our country as a visitor," he was quoted as saying.

Canada PM Mark Carney plans 2-day India business trip in March

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to visit India for a business-focused two-day bilateral trip at the beginning of March, reported Hindustan Times. He will travel to New Delhi and Mumbai. The agenda includes improving cooperation in defence, trade, energy, agri-foods and other sectors between the two countries, according to India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Dinesh Patnaik. The visit is in the planning stages. Although final dates are not confirmed, he is expected to be in India on March 1 and 2.

Do Epstein files expose Ellen DeGeneres as Hollywood’s ‘most prolific cannibal’? Viral claims debunked

Recent social media posts claimed that newly released Jeffrey Epstein files link Ellen DeGeneres to cannibalism. The allegations surfaced on X, formerly Twitter, alleging connections between DeGeneres and criminal acts involving children, but lack any verified evidence. Viral posts on X claiming that newly released Jeffrey Epstein files “expose” former television host Ellen DeGeneres as a cannibal are false. The allegations began circulating widely on February 14, asserting that documents released by the US Department of Justice tied DeGeneres to criminal acts involving children. Within days, the posts had garnered millions of views. Read the full story here.

Elon Musk on track to become world’s first trillionaire; net worth hits $850 billion

Elon Musk may be on track to become the world’s first trillionaire, with his net worth currently estimated at $850 billion as of February 2026. Earlier this month, he became the first individual to cross the $800 billion mark, further widening the gap between himself and other top billionaires. To put the scale into perspective, Musk’s wealth now exceeds the combined net worth of Google co-founders Larry Page ($251 billion) and Sergey Brin ($231 billion), along with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($219 billion). Read the full story here.

'Get the files out': Hillary Clinton turns heat on White House as Donald Trump says 'nothing to hide'

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the Trump administration is hiding and "covering up" how it dealt with the Epstein files, while President Donald Trump said that the documents "totally exonerated" him and "pulled in" the Clintons into the scandal. "Get the files out," Clinton was quoted as saying by Independent on Monday from Berlin, where she was appearing at the World Forum. "They're slow-walking this," she said. Read the full story here.

Why has ICE arrested Indian-origin man in New Jersey?

An Indian-origin man accused of various crimes, including the sexual assault of a minor, has been arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He has been identified as Vodela Yashaswi Kottapalli and accused of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, shoplifting and public disorder in New Jersey, reported The Times of India. Read the full story here.

Yunus says Bangladesh is ‘no longer submissive’, references China and ‘Seven Sisters’ in farewell speech

Amid mounting domestic criticism, Bangladesh’s outgoing Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus delivered a farewell address that strongly emphasised sovereignty and foreign policy independence, while making remarks that indirectly referenced India’s northeastern “Seven Sisters.” His speech came after an 18-month interim tenure shaped by political upheaval, institutional strain, and concerns over minority protection following the July 2024 uprising. Read the full story here.

Who was Roberta Esposito? Pawtucket arena shooting suspect identified as daughter claims, father was ‘very sick’

A deadly shooting at Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on February 16, 2026, left three people dead, including the suspect, and several others critically injured. The gunfire erupted during a youth ice hockey game and is being investigated as a possible family dispute. Authorities said the suspect died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. One victim was pronounced dead at the arena, while another succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Three others remained in critical condition as of late afternoon. Read the full story here.

'We must stay united': Tarique Rahman sends strong message before taking oath as Bangladesh PM today

In some time, BNP chief Tarique Rahman will be taking the oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The ceremony will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad at 3:30 PM (4 PM local time). President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to Rahman and his cabinet. Earlier in the day, all newly elected MPs will be sworn in. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a sweeping win in the 13th parliamentary elections, held on February 12. The BNP won 209 out of 297 seats, giving it a clear majority. Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League was barred from contesting the elections. Read the full story here.

Yunus quits as chief adviser of Bangladesh, urges protection of democracy ahead of BNP government formation

The 18-month interim government chapter in Bangladesh is coming to an end. Before handing over power to the BNP government led by Tarique Rahman, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced his resignation in a farewell address to the nation on Monday.In his farewell speech, Yunus delivered a clear message to the country. He said that the practice of democracy, freedom of speech and the right to question power that began over the past 18 months must not be lost. Read the full story here.