Morning Digest: Ex-V-P Dhankar denies citing illness in resignation; U.S. says it supports Pakistan’s ‘right to defend itself’ against Afghanistan, and more

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.

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.

Never claimed I was ill while resigning, says former V-P Jagdeep Dhankhar

Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said he had never claimed that he was ill while resigning from his post. “I only said I was giving priority to my health, which everyone should do,” he said at Sadulpur in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Thursday (February 26, 2026). Mr. Dhankhar made the remarks at a small gathering at the residence of Congress MP Rahul Kaswan. He had visited the town to enquire about the health of Mr. Kaswan’s father and former Churu MP Ram Singh Kaswan.

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.

How Pakistan and the Taliban, former allies, slid into ‘open war’

“Our patience has run out”, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif wrote in a social media post on Friday (February 27, 2026). “Now it is open war between us and you.” Mr. Asif’s remarks came after Pakistan carried out air strikes on Kabul and Kandahar, Afghanistan’s two largest cities, and Paktia, a border province. The strikes were launched hours after Afghan troops attacked Pakistani border posts. Those attacks, in turn, followed earlier Pakistani strikes this week, which Islamabad claimed were carried out in retaliation for recent terror attacks inside its territory.

T20 World Cup: Jacks and Rehan’s late charge snatches top spot for England

Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed emerged as unlikely heroes for England and landed a sucker punch on New Zealand with their unbeaten 44-run seventh-wicket alliance, snatching a four-wicket win in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight Group 2 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday (February 27, 2026). With 43 needed off the final three overs, Rehan launched the incursion against Glenn Phillips with a waft over long on. Jacks made the most of short-pitched bowling to dispatch a maximum over long-on and two consecutive boundaries — first down the ground and then square-leg.

T20 World Cup match preview | Pakistan targets big win over Lanka to progress

Pakistan will be eyeing a big win over Sri Lanka to seal a semifinal spot as the two sides clash in the final Super Eight Group 2 match of the T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (February 28, 2026). Pakistan was given a lifeline following England’s thrilling four-wicket victory over New Zealand on Friday. Pakistan has just a solitary point, and a victory will take it level with New Zealand on three points. It could come down to net run-rate as to who will join group topper England in the last-four stage.

Published – February 28, 2026 07:12 am IST