Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter and a viral "weeping horse" meme have exploded as surprise mascots for China's 2026 Lunar New Year (Year of the Fire Horse, starting Feb 17), blending pop culture with auspicious symbolism.



Draco Malfoy & Viral Weeping Horse Drive the Chinese Lunar New Year Craze

Jamaat-e-Islami's 2026 Bangladesh election manifesto marks a notable shift, pledging women in cabinet roles and governance despite the party's history of conservative stances and no female candidates fielded.



Jamaat U-Turn: Women in Cabinet for Bangladesh Polls

Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has challenged the 2025 Bihar Assembly election results in the Supreme Court, seeking fresh polls over alleged violations via the state government's Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana cash scheme.


Bihar Polls Under Fire: Prashant Kishor Seeks Re-Election 

Australia's RBA hiked rates by 0.25% to 3.85% on February 3, 2026—the first major central bank move amid resurgent inflation at 3.8% (Dec 2025), signaling persistent capacity pressures in services, rents, and consumer spending.



Australia's Economy Warns: Inflation Here to Stay

Nepal gears up for March 5, 2026 general elections with Gen-Z youth leading poll preparations, including mass enrollment for temporary police service to bolster security.



Nepal Elections: Youngsters Lead Security Prep 

U.S. private sector hiring slowed sharply at the start of 2026, with employers adding just 22,000 jobs in January per ADP data-well below the expected 45,000 and December's revised 37,000.


US Private Jobs Crawl: Just 22K Added in January Slump

The New START treaty-the last major US-Russia nuclear arms control agreement limiting deployed strategic warheads, missiles, and bombers-expired on February 5, 2026, ending five decades of bilateral constraints and raising fears of an unconstrained arms race.


Russia-U.S. Nuclear Army Treaty Expires, Beijing Accelerates Nuclear Build-up 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed continued oil supplies and humanitarian aid to Cuba amid the island's energy crisis, following Venezuela's collapse as a reliable supplier.



 Mexico President Vows to Supply Oil & Aid to Cuba

Mediators from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt proposed a framework for US-Iran talks this week, including Iran halting uranium enrichment for three years and shipping its 440kg 60% enriched stockpile to a third country. This aims to curb Tehran's nuclear breakout potential amid escalating tensions.


Breaking: Proposal: Iran to Halt Uranium Enrichment for 3 Years, Will Iran Agree to the Deal?

Bangladesh’s Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami has released its 2026 election manifesto promising a softer line on women’s participation, including in governance and state institutions.



Jamaat’s Bangladesh U-Turn: Women Promised Role in Governance

PM Modi informed Rajya Sabha on February 5, 2026, that India has signed trade deals with 9 countries recently, calling them "future-ready" pacts positioning the nation as a global economic powerhouse amid US tariff challenges.


PM Modi: India Seals Trade Deals with 9 Nations in Global Push

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a public apology to Jeffrey Epstein's victims on February 5, 2026, expressing regret for believing Peter Mandelson's "lies" about his relationship with the convicted sex offender before appointing him UK ambassador to the U.S.


Epstein: UK PM Apologises Over Mandelson-Epstein Scandal

A tiger from Maharashtra forests has strayed into Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district near Rajamahendravaram, sparking panic after killing over eight cattle in recent days.


Andhra Pradesh: Tiger Migrates 300km, Triggers Cattle Carnage 

Dowry greed continues to claim lives of Indian women across professions, from tech professionals to defense commandos, highlighting the persistence of this social evil despite legal bans.


From Techie to Commando, Dowry Greed Claims Lives of Indian Women 

Peru's most notorious extortionist, Erick Moreno Hernández alias "El Monstruo," was captured and extradited from Paraguay to Lima in late January 2026, marking a major win against organized crime.


Peru's Most Wanted Extortionist, 'The Monster' Captured 

Karnataka politics erupts in chaos as BJP and JD(S) demand Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur's resignation over an alleged ₹6,000 crore liquor scam involving bribes for licenses and transfers.



Karnataka Chaos: BJP Demands Timmapur Resignation in ₹6K Cr Scam

Iran's IRGC Navy seized two foreign-flagged oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on February 5, 2026, detaining 15 foreign crew members for alleged fuel smuggling operations amid heightened regional tensions.



Breaking: Iran Seizes Dual Oil Tankers: 15 Crew Held in Gulf Raid

EU plans to overhaul its climate diplomacy strategy following a disappointing COP30 summit in Brazil, where it struggled to secure global support for ambitious emissions cuts amid US withdrawal under President Trump.


EU Rethinks Climate Game Plan Post-COP30 Setback

Kerala Police seized a massive explosives haul on February 4, 2026, after chasing down a truck on the Palakkad highway, uncovering nearly 18,000 gelatin sticks and over 4,000 detonators hidden under a load of watermelons.


Kerala Explosives Haul: 18K Gelatin Sticks Under Watermelons

China expressed regret over the expiration of the New START treaty between the US and Russia on February 5, 2026, calling it a setback for global arms control amid rising nuclear tensions.

China Laments New START Expiry: Arms Race Fears Rise

The Washington Post announced major layoffs on February 4, 2026, cutting over 300 journalists and staff-about a third of its roughly 800-person newsroom and 30% of total workforce in a drastic "strategic reset" amid heavy financial losses.


Washington Post Fires Third of Staff Across Departments

Russia-Ukraine war shows no quick end, with Russian forces grinding slow advances amid stalled US-led talks in UAE, per Trump's former NSA in WION interview. Trump personally pushed full Epstein files disclosure during transition.


 Trump Ex-NSA: Russia Eyes Slovyansk as Trump Seeks Epstein Reveal

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla revealed he advised PM Narendra Modi against entering the House on February 4, 2026, after learning Congress MPs planned to surround his chair amid protests over the India-US trade deal.

Om Birla: Speaker Stopped Modi Entry Over Opposition Trap 

UN warns of escalating ISIS terror threat across Africa, especially in the volatile Sahel region where attacks have surged amid security vacuums.



UN Alarm: ISIS Threat Rises Globally, Sahel 'Urgent'

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