At least nine people died in a shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in north-eastern British Columbia, Canada. Police found six victims dead inside the school, with a seventh dying during hospital transport. The suspected shooter was found deceased with an apparent self-inflicted injury. Two additional victims were discovered at a nearby residence believed connected to the incident. Approximately 25 others suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while two were airlifted with serious conditions. RCMP received active shooter reports at 13:20 local time in the Rocky Mountain foothills community of 2,400 residents. Officers are searching additional properties for potential victims. Local schools closed for the week. Police confirmed no outstanding suspects or ongoing public threat. (PC: X)

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi denied pushing for bilateral cricket talks with India during Sunday's ICC meeting in Lahore, insisting discussions focused solely on "getting respect for Bangladesh." His clarification follows Pakistan's reversal of its T20 World Cup boycott threat against India's February 15 Colombo match. Speculation had suggested Pakistan conditioned withdrawal on resuming bilateral series with India, dormant since 2012-13. Naqvi categorically rejected these claims, stating the government reversed its boycott only after ICC acknowledged injustice toward Bangladesh. The ICC subsequently called Bangladesh's absence "unfortunate," promised no sanctions, and awarded them hosting rights for a 2028-31 event. A PTI report claims undisclosed "concessions" were offered to Pakistan, details pending post-tournament disclosure. (PC: X)

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer identifies India as a critical "waystation" for American companies exiting China, though emphasizing domestic manufacturing remains Washington's priority. Speaking to Fox News, Greer acknowledged India's vast workforce and growing manufacturing capacity make it vital for diversifying global production amid US-China decoupling efforts. However, he stressed reciprocity, insisting the relationship remain a "two-way street" benefiting American workers and exports. The remarks reflect Washington's "China Plus One" strategy, where India serves as a preferred secondary hub while America rebuilds its industrial base. India's "Make in India" initiative and Production Linked Incentive schemes align with US supply chain security goals, positioning India as a regulated partner in achieving economic resilience. (PC: X/@ANI)

Mrinank Sharma, an Indian-origin AI safety engineer at Anthropic, has resigned after two years, citing global "interconnected crises" beyond just AI threats. In his farewell message, he expressed gratitude for meaningful work including studying AI sycophancy, developing safeguards against AI-assisted bioterrorism, and writing early AI safety cases. Sharma highlighted his pride in promoting internal transparency and examining how AI assistants might diminish human authenticity. He warned the world approaches a threshold requiring wisdom to match technological capacity, noting pressures within organizations and society to compromise core values. Without a fixed next role, Sharma plans exploring writing and academic pursuits beyond engineering.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered a scathing parliamentary address, accusing the US of exploiting Pakistan "worse than toilet paper" before discarding it. He condemned Pakistan's post-1999 realignment with Washington over Afghanistan, calling it disastrous. Asif rejected official narratives claiming religious duty drove Pakistan's Afghan involvement, asserting the anti-Soviet war served American geopolitical interests, not genuine jihad. He blamed military rulers Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf for entangling Pakistan in external conflicts whose consequences remain devastating. After 9/11, Pakistan turned against the Taliban supporting US counter-terrorism efforts, only to face continued violence, radicalization, and economic strain after Washington's withdrawal. Asif declared these "irreversible mistakes" left Pakistan bearing uncompensated losses as a discarded pawn.

India's Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2026, mandate permanent metadata embedding in all AI-generated content, creating an unerasable digital fingerprint. Unlike removable watermarks, this "digital DNA" stays embedded in files across platforms, enabling complete traceability to originating AI models and creators. Rule 3(3) requires platforms to embed unique identifiers and technical provenance mechanisms, strictly prohibiting tools that remove such markers. Visible disclosure standards include 10% coverage for visual content and 10% duration for audio. Platforms enabling metadata removal lose legal safe harbor protection. The law aims to combat AI-driven misinformation by ensuring anonymity cannot shield deepfake creators, providing investigators smoking-gun evidence for three-hour takedowns and potential criminal proceedings under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. (PC: X)

US Customs and Border Protection officially notified removal of the additional 25% tariff on Indian goods effective February 7, 2026, following President Trump's executive order. The department confirmed duties eliminated for products entering consumption or withdrawn from warehouse from that date. This follows the India-US trade deal reducing tariffs from 50% to 18%. The August 2025 tariff penalty over Russian oil purchases has been lifted, though reciprocal tariffs remain. Trump's order claims India committed to stopping Russian oil purchases and increasing US energy imports, though India hasn't confirmed this. The framework includes India reducing tariffs on US industrial, food, and agricultural products. (PC: X)

Former Army Chief General MM Naravane shared Penguin Random House India's clarification Tuesday regarding his memoir "Four Stars of Destiny," intensifying the political controversy. Penguin reiterated the book remains unpublished, distinguishing between announced titles, pre-orders, and published books. BJP leaders attacked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who cited a 2023 Naravane tweet stating "my book is available now" as evidence of inconsistency. Penguin clarified the tweet referenced only a pre-order link, withdrawn within two days. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called Gandhi a "national embarrassment," questioning how he accessed the book and alleging possible Copyright Act and Official Secrets Act violations. Penguin warned current copies constitute copyright infringement.

Unidentified assailants brutally killed 62-year-old Hindu shopkeeper Susen Chandra Sarkar in Trishal, Mymensingh district, Bangladesh, Monday night. Attackers struck him with sharp weapons inside Bhai Bhai Enterprise, shuttered the shop, and fled with several hundred thousand taka. Family discovered him blood-covered when he failed to return home; he died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. His son Sujan reported no known conflicts, demanding swift justice. This attack intensifies minority safety concerns following December's killing of radical youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council recorded 51 communal violence incidents in December 2025 alone, ahead of February 12 parliamentary elections, the first since Sheikh Hasina's August 2024 removal. (PC: X)

The ICC confirmed no financial, sporting, or administrative penalties will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board regarding the T20 World Cup controversy. Bangladesh retains rights to approach the Dispute Resolution Committee under existing regulations. As part of the understanding, Bangladesh will host an ICC event between 2028-2031, subject to standard hosting processes, demonstrating confidence in their capabilities. ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta emphasized Bangladesh remains a priority cricket ecosystem deserving long-term investment despite short-term disruptions. An ICC delegation led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja met with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB President Aminul Islam in Lahore Sunday, finalizing a roadmap through mutual consultation after Pakistan's initial boycott announcement. (PC: AFP)