India faced early trouble against USA in the T20 World Cup 2026 match after a sharp top-order collapse. The side slipped to 77 for six in 13 overs after a triple-wicket over from Shadley van Schalkwyk. Head coach Gautam Gambhir looked worried in the dugout as wickets fell quickly. During the drinks break, cameras caught him signalling captain Suryakumar Yadav to stay calm after his fifty. Suryakumar continued attacking despite the gesture. He finished unbeaten on 84 off 49 balls. He hit 21 runs in the final over to push India to 161 for nine. It became the second-highest score on T20 World Cup captaincy debut.

US President Donald Trump has refused to apologise after a racist video shared on his social media platform showed Barack Obama and Michelle Obama depicted as apes. The post was later deleted, with the White House blaming a staff member for sharing it by mistake. Trump said he did not see the full video and claimed he “didn’t make a mistake”. The clip sparked outrage across US politics. Democratic leaders, including Kamala Harris, criticised the post and urged Trump to apologise. Trump has a long history of attacking Obama, including promoting false claims about his birthplace.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States wants the war between Russia and Ukraine to end by June. He said both countries have been invited to the US for peace talks next week, possibly in Miami. There was no immediate response from Washington or Moscow. US President Donald Trump has been pushing for an end to the war since returning to office. Zelensky said recent US-backed talks in Abu Dhabi made little progress, with key issues still unresolved. Meanwhile, Russia has continued heavy drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing power cuts during winter. (PC: State Emergency Service of Ukraine)

The US has alleged that China carried out a secret nuclear explosive test in June 2020, days after the deadly Galwan Valley clash with India. US Under Secretary Thomas DiNanno told a UN forum that China conducted a yield-producing test on June 22, 2020, and used a method called “decoupling” to reduce seismic signals. He said the US was aware of Chinese tests “in the hundreds of tons” range. China rejected the claim and accused Washington of spreading a “China nuclear threat” narrative. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization said its monitoring system did not detect any nuclear test activity in China during that period. (PC: India Today)

Fresh documents released by the United States Department of Justice have brought renewed focus on disturbing claims linked to Jeffrey Epstein and his reported obsession with reproduction. The files include unverified references suggesting Epstein wanted to create children using his own DNA as part of a long-term plan. A former teenage victim has alleged that she gave birth in the early 2000s and that her baby was taken away shortly after birth, a claim that has not been independently confirmed. Earlier reports by The New York Times said Epstein spoke openly about using his New Mexico ranch to impregnate women. Investigators say there is no proof that such a plan was ever carried out.

Former Bangladesh Water Resources Minister and Awami League leader Ramesh Chandra Sen died on February 7, 2026, after falling critically ill in Dinajpur District Jail and being rushed to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:29 am. He was 85 and suffering from health issues. Sen, a five-time MP, had been arrested in August 2024 and was facing multiple cases, including murder. His death has raised fresh concerns over custodial treatment and sparked scrutiny of the interim government’s handling of senior political detainees ahead of Bangladesh’s national election. (PC: India Today)

Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein maintained contact with Indian billionaire Anil Ambani from 2017 to 2019, well before his 2019 arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges. The documents reveal exchanges about business, global affairs, and personal matters, including a March 2017 chat in which Epstein suggested a “tall Swedish blonde woman” to make a visit “fun,” and Ambani promptly replied “Arrange that.” The messages also show plans for meetings in New York and Paris and Epstein ordering books about the Ambani family’s history. Ambani’s representative declined to comment. (PC: X)

Iran and the United States held indirect diplomatic talks in Muscat, Oman, on February 6 aimed at reducing fears of a renewed regional conflict, especially after last year’s war and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The negotiations, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister, focused mainly on Iran’s nuclear programme and were described by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as a “good start,” though both sides acknowledged deep mistrust. Washington wants broader discussions including Iran’s missiles and regional influence, while Iran insists talks remain nuclear-focused. No breakthrough was announced, but both sides agreed to consult their capitals before possible further talks. (PC: AP)

The Dalai Lama's name appeared 169 times in recently released Jeffrey Epstein files, according to the US Department of Justice. The DOJ released over 3 million documents, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 photos exposing Epstein's connections to influential figures including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk. Emails from October 2012 suggest the spiritual leader was tipped to attend a function with Epstein. Journalist Michael Wolff claimed he saw the Dalai Lama at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse during gatherings, suggesting financial motivations for seeking philanthropic donations. The Dalai Lama's office did not respond to inquiries regarding donations or connections to Epstein. European outlet Nexta TV suggested Dalai Lama followers may have met Epstein. (PC: Times Now)

A suicide bomber killed at least 69 people and injured 169 at Tarlai Imambargah, a Shia shrine in Islamabad's Shehzad Town area. The attacker detonated explosives at the main gate during afternoon hours after alert guards prevented entry into the main worship hall. Video footage showed severe damage to the gate structure, shattered windows in nearby buildings, debris across roads, and dismembered bodies. Islamabad's Inspector General declared a citywide emergency as victims were transported to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and Polyclinic Hospital. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing "deep grief." This marks Islamabad's second major suicide bombing in three months, following November's court complex attack that killed twelve.