Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister, advocates for a "US security guarantee" as the sole path to peace in Ukraine. After an emergency summit in Paris, he emphasized that this approach is crucial to deter future Russian aggression and safeguard Europe’s collective security. Starmer is set to meet Donald Trump in Washington to discuss the key elements for a lasting peace. Amid Trump's unilateral peace talks with Russia, Starmer stressed that Europe must also contribute more to the region’s defense and security.

Morné Morkel, India's bowling coach, has departed from Dubai to return home after the death of his father. Morkel, a former South African fast bowler, was appointed as India's bowling coach in August 2024. He had previously shared the emotional moment of informing his father about his new role, highlighting their close bond. Morkel's first assignment with the Indian team was the Test series against Bangladesh in September 2024. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not yet announced who will assume Morkel's responsibilities during his absence.

On February 17, 2025, Delta Connection Flight, operated by Endeavor Air, crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport while arriving from Minneapolis. The Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft flipped upside down upon landing due to strong winds and icy runway conditions. Of the 80 people onboard—76 passengers and 4 crew members—18 sustained injuries, including one child, though none were critical. Emergency teams quickly evacuated passengers and contained a fire. The incident led to temporary airport closures, delaying flights. Investigations by Transport Canada and the NTSB are underway to determine the cause of the accident.

Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, has expressed strong confidence in the star batter's return to form as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches. Despite a challenging Test series in Australia, where Kohli managed 190 runs over nine innings, Sharma believes that the 36-year-old will showcase his champion qualities in the upcoming tournament. Speaking at The Restaurant Cricket League event, Sharma emphasized Kohli's proven track record and dismissed concerns over his recent performances. He stated, "Just because some matches went bad, does not mean the player is out-of-touch. When you look at his previous records, you will see what he did for the country."  

IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar was appointed as India’s new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Monday. Kumar, a 1988-batch Kerala-cadre officer, previously served as an Election Commissioner and worked with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. His term runs until January 26, 2029. The decision, made by a panel including PM Narendra Modi and Law Minister Arjun Meghwal, was opposed by Rahul Gandhi, who called the process “meaningless.” Kumar will oversee key elections, including the Bihar Assembly polls in 2025 and Lok Sabha elections in 2029. He is the first CEC appointed under the new selection law.

Taiwan is negotiating a multi-billion-dollar arms deal with the US, aiming to bolster defense amid China’s military pressure. Sources estimate the deal between $7-10 billion, including HIMARS rockets and coastal defense missiles. The White House has not commented, but US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz supports expediting arms deliveries. Taiwan plans a special defense budget focusing on precision ammunition and anti-drone technology. Despite Trump’s past criticism of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, his administration continues supporting Taiwan militarily, resisting China’s sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s government welcomes US backing, while China urges Washington to "correct its mistakes."

The Supreme Court will hear Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea on February 18 regarding multiple FIRs over his controversial remarks on India’s Got Latent. Allahbadia remains "out of contact," while co-accused Samay Raina’s request for a virtual hearing was denied by Maharashtra Police. The NCW has summoned the panelists again for March 6. A third FIR has been registered, adding to cases in Mumbai and Guwahati. Meanwhile, the contestant involved defended the comedians, stating they are being unfairly targeted. Allahbadia has been asked to appear before the cyber cell on February 24.

India revealed their official jersey for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, featuring the name of host nation Pakistan. Captain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Arshdeep Singh posed in the new attire. Speculation arose about India avoiding the Pakistan imprint, but BCCI confirmed adherence to ICC guidelines. The tournament begins on February 19, with India facing Bangladesh on February 20. The high-stakes India-Pakistan clash is set for February 23 in Dubai. Arshdeep Singh was also honored as ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year. The opening match will feature Pakistan vs. New Zealand in Karachi.

Israel announced it is preparing to receive the bodies of four hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, while efforts continue to bring back six living captives. Relatives marked 500 days since Hamas' October 7 attack by displaying the number 500 on Tel Aviv’s beach. Meanwhile, Israel confirmed the killing of Hamas' Lebanon operations chief Mohammad Shaheen in Sidon. Hamas described him as a military commander. Despite Lebanon’s deadline for full Israeli withdrawal by February 18, Israel said forces would stay in five strategic locations for security reasons. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun insisted the ceasefire agreement "must be respected."

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli addressed the suicide of Nepali student Prakriti Lamsal at KIIT, Bhubaneswar, amid protests. He stated that the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi dispatched officials to counsel affected students, allowing them to either stay in their hostel or return home. Protesting students accused the university of mishandling the case and alleged a cover-up. KIIT linked the incident to personal issues and ordered Nepali students to leave campus, sparking outrage. Hundreds of students demanded justice and transparency in the investigation. Videos showed them chanting slogans and confronting officials.