Bill Clinton denies wrongdoing at grilling on Epstein ties

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton denied wrongdoing on Friday (February 27, 2026) to a congressional panel probing his links to Jeffrey Epstein, as Democrats seek to shift focus onto U.S. President Donald Trump’s own ties to the notorious sex offender. Mr. Clinton features prominently throughout the Epstein files, but he insists that he broke ties well before the disgraced billionaire’s 2008 conviction for sex offences. “I saw nothing, and I did nothing wrong,” Mr. Clinton said in his opening statement, shared on social media.

Canada PM Mark Carney arrives in Mumbai on four-day India visit

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in India on Friday (February 27, 2026) as he hopes to reset ties and double trade, offsetting the damage from his country’s fracturing relations with the U.S. He arrived in Mumbai, where he is expected to attend several events before travelling to New Delhi. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (March 2, 2026).

U.S. says it supports Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ against Afghan Taliban

The United States said on Friday (February 27, 2026) it supported ‌Pakistan’s “right to defend itself” against attacks from ​Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers after Islamabad said earlier ⁠in the day that the neighbouring countries were in “open war.” Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers had said on Friday they ‌were willing to negotiate after Pakistan bombed their forces in major cities. “The United States ‌supports Pakistan’s right to defend itself against ‌attacks ⁠from the Taliban, a Specially Designated Global ⁠Terrorist group,” a State Department spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Trump says he’s ‘not happy’ with Iran nuclear talks but awaits further rounds

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday (February 27, 2026) he’s “not happy” with Iran talks so far, but that he’ll wait to see what happens in additional rounds of negotiations with the West Asian country over its nuclear program. “I’m not happy with the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we have to have. I’m not thrilled with that. We’ll see what happens. We’re talking later,” Mr. Trump told reporters as he left the White House on Friday. “We’re not exactly happy with the way they’re negotiating. They cannot have nuclear weapons,” Mr. Trump said.

PM Modi to launch nationwide HPV vaccination drive on February 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign on Saturday (February 28, 2026) from Ajmer. The campaign aims to protect 14-year-old girls across the country from cervical cancer, a disease that remains a significant health concern in India. All States and Union Territories will virtually join the programme that will start at 11.30 a.m., the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

Return Social Science textbook, delete online posts, NCERT tells public

A day after the Supreme Court banned a Social Science textbook over a section on “corruption” in the judiciary, the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) on Friday (February 27, 2026) asked people to return the book and take down related social media posts. The NCERT reiterated that it had withdrawn the Class 8 textbook. In its advisory issued on Friday (February 27, 2026), the NCERT called for any “individual or organisation” in possession of the book or any material related to it to return it to the Publication Division of the Department of Education in Social Sciences in New Delhi “at the earliest possible”. Anyone who had posted any material related to the controversial section on social media or online should delete it, it said.

14 JNU students arrested over protest granted bail, JNUSU says bail conditions ‘stringent’

Following their arrests early on Friday (February 27, 2026) morning, after a protest on Thursday (February 26), 14 Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, including three office bearers of Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), have been granted bail. They will be released after verification of their permanent addresses. In a statement, the JNUSU said, “Since all of the students are originally not from Delhi, the process of verification itself becomes a process of elongating imprisonment. Many of the students have suffered serious injuries along with deteriorating health conditions. Moreover, the upcoming days come filled with court holidays as well.” The students are planning to appeal for a modification in the bail conditions on Saturday (February 28), the union said.

Trinamool nominates former DGP, Supreme Court lawyer to Rajya Sabha

The ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday (February 27, 2026) announced four candidates, including former Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, for the upcoming elections to the Rajya Sabha. The other nominees are State Minister Babul Supriyo, Supreme Court lawyer Menaka Guruswamy, and actor Koel Mallick. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to them. May they continue to uphold Trinamool’s enduring legacy of resilience and its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every Indian” the Trinamool Congress posted on social media.

Warner Bros signs $110 billion deal with Paramount, its executive discloses in townhall

Warner Bros Discovery has agreed to ​be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a $110 billion deal signed on Friday (February 27, 2026) morning, according to an ‌audio clip of a global townhall by the company, which was ​reviewed by Reuters. “Netflix had the legal right to match the PSKY ⁠offer. As you all know, they ultimately decided not to do that. That then resulted in a signed agreement with PSKY as of this morning. So that’s where everything stands,” Bruce Campbell, ‌Warner Bros’ chief revenue and strategy officer, said in the townhall.

Iran designated as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, says Rubio

U.S. Secretary of ​State ⁠Marco Rubio said on Friday (February 27, 2026) he has designated ‌Iran as a state sponsor ‌of wrongful detention. “The ‌Iranian ⁠regime must ⁠stop taking hostages and release all Americans unjustly ​detained in ‌Iran, steps that could end this designation and associated ‌actions,” Mr. Rubio said ​in a statement. The move comes as ⁠tensions mount between the U.S. and ‌Iran, even as the two countries conducted talks over Iran’s nuclear program on Thursday.

‘The Kerala Story 2’: HC stays single judge order halting film release

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Friday (February 27, 2026) permitted the release of the Hindi feature film The Kerala Story 2 -Goes Beyond, a day after a Single Bench of the court issued a fortnight-long stay on its release. The court permitted the screening if the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) issues a certificate stating that the alleged controversial portions in the film’s teaser and trailer do not find mention in the film.

Meghalaya issues health advisory after meningococcal infection scare

Days after two Agniveer trainees died of suspected meningococcal bacterial infection at a training centre in Shillong, the Meghalaya government has issued an advisory urging people to avoid crowded places and follow health protocols. One of more than 30 trainees at the Assam Regimental Centre (ARC) died at the Military Hospital Shillong a week ago.

U.S. allows some embassy staff to leave Israel, citing safety risks

The U.S. ​will permit non-emergency government personnel and ‌family members to leave Israel over ​safety risks, the U.S. ⁠Embassy in Jerusalem said on Friday (February 27, 2026), amid growing concerns about the risk of ‌a military conflict with Iran. The embassy did not elaborate ‌on the safety risks leading ‌to the “authorised ⁠departure”, which allows affected ⁠personnel to decide whether to leave.