top news of the day | February 12, 2026

Retail inflation climbs to 2.75% in January 2026 under new CPI series

India’s key inflation rate accelerated ​to 2.75% in January on higher ‌food and precious metal prices, the ​maiden print under a ⁠revised data series showed on Thursday (February 12, 2026), returning to the Reserve Bank of India’s target band for ‌the first time since August. The new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series changes the ‌weighting of key components such as ‌food ⁠and housing, while moving ⁠the base year to 2024 from 2012.

Vote counting under way after polling ends across 299 constituencies

Bangladesh on Thursday (February 12, 2026) went to polls in the crucial 13th parliamentary elections, marred by sporadic incidents of violence, to elect a new government to replace the interim administration which took charge after the fall of the Awami League regime in August 2024. The voting in 299 out of 300 parliamentary constituencies was held along with a referendum on a complex 84-point reform package. Counting of votes in underway with early trends expected around midnight.

India-U.S. interim trade deal: Amendments in the White House factsheet reflect shared understandings, MEA says

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (February 12, 2026) said that the recent amendments made in the White House factsheet on the framework for the India-U.S. interim trade agreement reflect the “shared understandings contained in the joint statement” by the two countries. “Both sides will now work towards implementing this framework and finalising the interim agreement,” spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly press briefing.

Defence Acquisition Council clears proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets

Defence Acquisition Council on Thursday (February 12, 2026) cleared a proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter ‌jets from France’s Dassault Aviation. The clearance comes days before French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled visit to India for the Artificial Intelligence Summit. Around 18 aircraft are likely to be acquired in fly-away condition to meet the IAF’s immediate operational requirements, while the remaining jets would be manufactured in India, an official told The Hindu.

India to receive same garment benefits as Bangladesh under U.S. trade pact: Piyush Goyal

India will get concessional duty access for garments made using American yarn and cotton under its trade agreement with the U.S., similar to the benefits currently provided to Bangladesh, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday (February 12, 2026).

BJP’s Nishikant Dubey files notice to cancel Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday (February 12, 2026) said he has given a notice to initiate a ‘substantive motion’ against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and demanded that his Lok Sabha membership be cancelled and he be debarred from contesting elections for life.

Luxury car crash case: Shivam Mishra gets bail from Kanpur court

Shivam Mishra, son of local tobacco baron K.K. Mishra, got bail from a Court in Kanpur on Thursday (February 12, 2026), hours after his arrest in connection with the high-profile Lamborghini crash that left several people injured on the VIP Road earlier this week.

Muslim Personal Law Board objects to Govt’s mandate on Vande Mataram recitation

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Thursday (February 12, 2026) objected to the Union government’s directions that mandate the recitation of six verses of Vande Mataram at official functions and in schools before the national anthem — Jana Gana Mana. Describing the move as “unconstitutional and contrary to religious freedom” the Board, in a statement, maintained that it directly conflicts with the religious beliefs of Muslims.

Imran Khan’s ‘vision loss’: Pakistan Supreme Court orders medical board to examine jailed former Premier

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday (February 12, 2026) ordered authorities to set up a medical board to examine jailed former Premier Imran Khan’s eyes following a report about vision loss in one of them. The Supreme Court also ordered authorities to allow the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder to speak with his children.

You can’t denigrate section of society by such title: Supreme Court raps Neeraj Pandey on ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’

You cannot denigrate a section of society by using such a title, the Supreme Court remarked on Thursday (February 12, 2026) while rapping filmmaker Neeraj Pandey on his film ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’.A Bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Central Board for Film Certification and Pandey on a plea against the movie.