Morning Digest: Trade deals from position of strength, says PM Modi; India beats Pakistan to qualify for Super 8 at T20 WC, and more

T20 World Cup India vs Pakistan: Kishan, bowlers seal Team India’s passage to Super Eight

The Indian juggernaut rolled on even as the rains that were forecast stayed away at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on an electric Sunday (February 15, 2026). The defending champion rode on Ishan Kishan’s muscular 77 and its potent attack to defeat Pakistan by 61 runs in the ICC T20 World Cup Group A match. The win also helped India qualify for the Super Eight stage.

India has entered recent trade agreements from a position of strength: PM Modi

India recently entered into a spate of trade agreements, including with the European Union and the United States, “from a position of strength”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday (February 15, 2026), adding that these deals were designed to expand global market access for Indian manufacturing and services.

Opposition slams PM Modi for ‘hollow words’ in ‘scripted’ interview

The Congress on Sunday (February 15, 2026) dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interview with news agency Press Trust of India as “no interview at all”, describing it as a “carefully scripted” and “desperate PR exercise”. The Left criticised Mr. Modi for comments divorced from micro-realities of the Indian economy, while the Trinamool Congress said the Prime Minister spoke “hollow words”.

Tarique Rahman reaches out to Opposition leaders ahead of swearing-in ceremony

Two days ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for the new government of Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman and Prime Minister-designate, Tarique Rahman, reached out to Opposition leaders on Sunday (February 15, 2026). In a reconciliatory gesture, Mr. Rahman visited Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leader Shafiqur Rahman at his residence, even as the JeI held consultations with members of the 11-party alliance about seeking a recount in 32 parliamentary constituencies. The BNP Chairman also met the National Citizen Party’s (NCP) convener, Nahid Islam.

Across West Bengal, youth line up to apply for unemployment aid

Thousands of young people across West Bengal queued up on Sunday (February 15, 2026) to fill in registration forms for the Banglar Yuva Sathi Scheme, which provides an unemployment allowance of ₹1,500 per month. The scheme was announced by the State government during the State Budget for the financial year 2026-2027, and is now being touted by the ruling Trinamool Congress as a major poll plank for the upcoming Assembly election.

Om Birla to represent India, as PM Modi declines Yunus invite to swearing-in ceremony for Tarique Rahman

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will represent India at the swearing-in of Tarique Rahman as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Sunday (February 15, 2026). An invitation to the February 17 ceremony was sent by Bangladesh’s interim advisor Muhammad Yunus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (February 14, 2026), a day after Mr. Modi and Mr. Rahman, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief, spoke over the telephone.

AI Impact Summit 2026 begins on February 16; Modi to inaugurate an India AI Expo

Global tech leaders Sundar Pichai and Sam Altman and leaders of about 20 countries, including Brazil and France, are among those from about 100 countries expected to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit this week. The event kicks off on Monday (February 16, 2026) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the “India AI Impact Expo 2026”, including pavilions from 13 other countries.

Netanyahu says U.S. deal with Iran must dismantle nuclear infrastructure

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday (February 15, 2026) he told U.S. ​President Donald Trump last week that any U.S. deal with ‌Iran must include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, ​not just stopping the enrichment process.

Israel will begin contentious West Bank land registration in new step to deepen control

Israel will begin a contentious land regulation process in a large part of the occupied West Bank, which could result in Israel gaining control over wide swaths of the area for future development, according to a government decision on Sunday (February 15, 2026).

Rubio to visit Eastern Europe, bolster ties with pro-Trump leaders

U.S. Secretary of ​State Marco Rubio is set to begin a two-day trip on Sunday (February 15, 2026), to bolster ties with Slovakia and ‌Hungary, whose conservative leaders, often at odds with other European Union countries, have ​warm ties with President Donald Trump.

Cotton farmers oppose Goyal’s U.S. import remarks, warn of price crash

Groups of cotton farmers across the country have protested Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s recent statement that if India purchases raw cotton from the United States, processes it domestically, makes cloth, and exports the finished products back to the U.S., then the country can also avail a zero reciprocal tariff—similar to a facility reportedly extended to Bangladesh. Farmers’ organisations argued that by taking such a stand, the Centre ignored the interests of domestic cotton cultivators.

Pinarayi will be Kerala CM again, says Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in poll-bound Kerala drew unexpected praise from senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday (February 15, 2026), who went to the extent of saying that he was “sure” that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan “will be the next Chief Minister.”