MUMBAI, India, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - India's Adani Group said Tuesday it plans to invest $100 billion by 2035 to develop "hyperscale AI-ready data centres", a boost to New Delhi's push to become a global artificial intelligence hub. The announcement comes as India hosts a five-day global AI summit that will see deliberations over issues ranging from job disruption to child safety. The $100 billion investment would catalyse an additional $150 billion in spending across "server manufacturing, advanced electrical infrastructure, sovereign cloud platforms and supporting industries", the Adani Group said in a statement. "Together, this is projected to create a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem in India over the decade," the statement noted. "The Adani Group is also in discussion with other major players seeking to establish large scale campuses across India thereby further cementing its position as India's premier AI infrastructure partner," the statement added.

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court challenging the legality of the referendum held on February 12 and seeking the cancellation of the results announced on February 13. Supreme Court lawyer ABM Ataul Majid Touhid filed the writ with the relevant branch of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. He said the petition may be heard next week by a High Court bench led by Justice Fatema Najib. Earlier, the referendum held on February 12 resulted in a victory for the proposed changes, with the “Yes” vote prevailing. A total of 48,074,429 voters cast ballots in favour of the changes, while 22,565,627 voters voted against them.

MOSCOW, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russia repelled more than 150 Ukrainian drones overnight, Moscow's defence ministry told state media on Tuesday, as Kyiv steps up its counterattacks ahead of talks in Geneva. "Overnight, air defence forces destroyed 151 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, as well as over the Black and Azov Seas," the ministry reported. In Russian-annexed Crimea, Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said two dozen drones were shot down during "one of the longest attacks in recent times". According to preliminary information, one child was wounded," he posted on Telegram. On Tuesday, the two sides are set to begin another round of diplomatic negotiations backed by the United States, after two previous rounds of talks mediated by the White House yielded no breakthroughs.

At least 14 killed in spate of attacks in northwest PakistanPESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Two bomb attacks and a gunfight between police and militants in northwest Pakistan killed at least 11 security personnel and three civilians, including a child, a security official said. "As a result, eight police and Frontier Corps personnel present inside the seminary were martyred and 10 others injured," he said. - Chinese targeted -Elsewhere, three police personnel and three militants were also killed during a search operation in Shangla district. Beijing has poured billions of dollars into Pakistan in recent years, but Chinese-funded projects have sparked resentment and their citizens have frequently come under attack. "In light of this, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and the district police launched a joint operation today under a coordinated strategy."

The newly elected members of the parliament (MPs) of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have taken oath at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Tuesday. The new cabinet is scheduled to take the oath in the afternoon at the South Plaza of the parliament, with the president set to administer the oath to the cabinet members. After administering the oath to the newly elected MPs, the CEC will also swear in the members of the Constitution Reform Commission. According to the Constitution, in the absence of the speaker or deputy speaker, the responsibility of administering the oath to new parliament members falls on the CEC. The Election Commission published the gazette of 297 elected MPs on February 13, following the February 12 elections.

MADRID, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A fire at an apartment block near Barcelona has killed five people and injured four others, the fire service of Spain's northeastern Catalonia region said on Tuesday. The blaze broke out on Monday evening in a storage room of the five-storey building in the town of Manlleu, around 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Barcelona, the service said in a statement. "Five people died this evening and four others sustained minor injuries," the firefighters said. Spanish media reported that the victims were young people who had gathered on the top floor. "For reasons unknown, the people inside were unable to get out" of the storage room and "nothing could be done to save their lives" despite the intervention of firefighters and ambulances, the service said.

Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain received the Bhutanese Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Photo : GOBDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay arrived in Dhaka today to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet led by Prime Minbister –elect Tarique Rahman, reaffirming the enduring friendship and close bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Bhutan. Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain received the Bhutanese Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival in the capital. Dasho Tshering Tobgay will attend the oath-taking ceremony of BNP Chairman and Prime Minister-elect Tarique Rahman in Dhaka this afternoon. “At the invitation of the Government of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay will attend the Oath-Taking Ceremony of H.E.

India's Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla arrives in Bangladesh to represent India at the swearing-in of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led new government. Photo: Bangladesh High Commission New Delhi. Photo : Bangladesh High CommissionDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – A high-level Indian delegation led by Lok Sabha (parliament) Speaker Om Birla arrived in Dhaka today to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-elect BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. The delegation came here on boarding an Indian Air Force special aircraft landed at Bangladesh Air Force Base in Dhaka. Indian Speaker Om Birla was received at the airbase by Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Riaz Hamidullah Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, said Indian high commission here.

Six newly elected MPs from the National Citizen Party (NCP) were sworn in as members of parliament on Tuesday. For the first time in the country’s history, a chief election commissioner administered the oath to newly elected MPs. However, BNP members did not take the oath as members of the Constitution Reform Commission. The elected MPs, including party Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, took their oaths. Nahid Islam, Akhtar Hossain, Hasnat Abdullah, Abdul Hannan Masud, Abdullah Al Amin, and Atikur Rahman Mojahid were sworn in as MPs.

Forty nine ministers and state ministers were sworn in at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the newly appointed members of the cabinet at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad. Earlier, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman took oath as the Prime Minister. With the oath taking ceremony, the journey of the new government under the leadership of Tarique Rahman officially began. This also marks the return of a BNP- led government after nearly two decades.

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgirl spoke to journalists at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban after parliamentary party meeting today. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said that they are optimistic that the country will advance far under Tarique Rahman's leadership. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman was unanimously elected as the leader of the parliament at a meeting of the parliamentary party held at 12:00 PM at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir informed journalists of this after the parliamentary party meeting. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman vacated the Bogura-6 seat while retaining the Dhaka-17 seat yesterday.

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As Bangladesh steps into a new political chapter with the promise of an Upper House adding fresh dimensions to governance, the national conversation on energy transition demands renewed attention. Bangladesh has embraced renewable energy to meet clean energy targets and climate commitments. Meanwhile, page 34, under the section on power and energy sector development (under chapter 3), inherits a challenge of expanding renewable energy capacity. This multi-layered approach ensures that information flows both upward and downward -- shaping national policy while also empowering citizens. As the country enters a fresh political era, the question is no longer whether women should participate in the renewable energy sector.