Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman was cheered by supporters and surrounded by photographers as he left his office in the capital Dhaka. The BNP has claimed victory in the first election since the 2024 uprising that ousted long-time leader Sheikh Hasina.
Published On 13 Feb 2026
Robert F Kennedy Jr has said he is “not scared of a germ” because he “used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats”.
The US health secretary, often called RFK Jr, made the confession to podcaster Theo Von during an episode of his show, This Past Weekend.
It came as the pair discussed their shared history of drug abuse, and attending support meetings together before they got cancelled during COVID. They later formed a “pirate” group that continued meeting during the pandemic.
Mr Kennedy reflected on his decades in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse.
He said: “I’m not scared of a germ… I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.”
“I know this disease will kill me,” he continued, referring to addiction.
“Like, if I don’t, if I don’t treat it, which means for me going to meetings every day. It’s just bad for my life.”
Protect Our Care, a non-profit fighting for affordable healthcare in the US, called for Mr Kennedy to step down after the interview.
In a statement, it said he was “the most dangerous, in over his head, ill-suited person ever to lead such an important federal agency that has life-and-death power”.
Brad Woodhouse, the organisation’s president, offered a one-word response: “Resign.”
Read more: RFK Jr: Who is Donald Trump’s health chief?
The confession, from the man heading up the government’s health policy, got more pushback on social media.
Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democratic representative from Pennsylvania, posted on X: “For some reason I don’t trust this guy on public health.”
While Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, highlighted a double standard on attitudes towards addiction.
He wrote: “Just a reminder that the Trump admin calls immigrants who’ve fallen into drug addiction ‘the worst of the worst’ criminals, no matter how long ago their addiction problems.”
Read more:
JFK’s granddaughter reveals terminal cancer diagnosis
RFK Jr announces US is scrapping $500m of vaccine projects
Mr Kennedy has been open about his past drug addiction, which began after his father, also called Robert F Kennedy, was assassinated in June 1968 in Los Angeles, California.
He was twice arrested for drug offences; for cannabis possession in 1970, and heroin possession in 1983. He credits the latter arrest for pushing him to get sober.
Mr Kennedy made a name for himself as a vaccine sceptic during the coronavirus pandemic.
He has a history of repeating debunked claims, including linking vaccines with autism in children.
The broader market decline was triggered by fading expectations of near-term US rate cuts following strong American jobs data and an overnight 2.03% drop in the Nasdaq, which intensified concerns about global technology valuations.
Equity benchmarks remained under severe pressure in afternoon trade on Friday, with the Sensex down 826.65 points or 0.99 per cent to 82,848.27 and the Nifty falling 264.85 points or 1.03 per cent to 25,542.35 at 1:00 pm, as technology stocks continued their sharp decline amid mounting concerns over artificial intelligence-led disruption to the country’s labour-intensive IT services model.
The Nifty IT index tumbled 1.79 per cent to 32,568.00 from its previous close of 33,160.20, extending Thursday’s steep 4.72 per cent fall that marked its worst single-day decline in ten months. Coforge led the losses with a 4.57 per cent drop to ₹1,356.60, followed by Oracle Financial Services Software down 2.42 per cent to ₹6,600.00, TCS falling 2.36 per cent to ₹2,685.10, Infosys declining 2.24 per cent to ₹1,355.00, and Wipro down 2.18 per cent to ₹214.30. LTIMindtree fell 1.70 per cent to ₹5,123.00, HCL Technologies dropped 0.93 per cent to ₹1,462.30, while Persistent Systems slipped 0.52 per cent to ₹5,423.50, Mphasis declined 0.36 per cent to ₹2,455.10, and Tech Mahindra posted a marginal 0.07 per cent gain to ₹1,537.60.
The broader market decline was triggered by fading expectations of near-term US rate cuts following strong American jobs data and an overnight 2.03 per cent drop in the Nasdaq, which intensified concerns about global technology valuations. Citi noted that unlike the Cloud migration era, the current AI shift poses unique challenges for Indian IT firms, which have doubled in size since then and now face incumbency risk as dominant players being disrupted rather than challengers. The brokerage highlighted that AI’s impact is more pervasive than Cloud, which primarily affected infrastructure, while new revenue streams from AI remain small and exploratory, unable to offset losses in traditional work.
Swapnil Aggarwal, Director at VSRK Capital, said the weakness is largely driven by selling pressure in IT due to concerns around global demand slowdown, cautious tech company commentary, and uncertainty related to AI-led disruptions and job losses. “At present, this appears to be more of a sentiment-driven correction rather than the start of a deeper structural downturn. Domestic macro fundamentals remain relatively stable, but the market is lacking strong upward momentum, which may keep indices range-bound in the near term,” Aggarwal added, recommending investors adopt systematic investment plans or systematic transfer plans to navigate volatility.
N ArunaGiri, CEO of TrustLine Holdings, presented a more balanced view, arguing that AI is likely to dramatically compress the software development lifecycle and could expand demand rather than shrink it. “Lower costs and faster execution may unlock a much larger volume of projects across enterprises and consumers. Large enterprises operate in highly complex environments characterized by deep legacy software stacks, stringent regulatory environments, and mission-critical systems requiring reliability and high security,” ArunaGiri said, adding that specialized IT service providers will continue playing critical roles in integration, compliance, and large-scale transformation.
Among broader market losers, Hindalco dropped 4.98 per cent to ₹916.35, Hindustan Unilever fell 3.59 per cent to ₹2,323.30, eternal declined 3.46 per cent to ₹287.70, Adani Enterprises slipped 2.85 per cent to ₹2,148.80, and ONGC fell 2.68 per cent to ₹268.95. Gainers included Eicher Motors up 1.64 percent to ₹8,073.00, Bajaj Finance rising 1.15 per cent to ₹1,010.55, TMPV gaining 0.40 per cent to ₹385.00, Apollo Hospitals up 0.07 percent to ₹7,544.00, and State Bank of India adding 0.07 per cent to ₹1,193.20.
Market breadth remained weak with 2,752 stocks declining against 1,256 advancing on the BSE, while 156 stocks hit 52-week lows compared to 76 touching 52-week highs. The Nifty Midcap 100 fell 1.38 per cent to 59,633.80 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 declined 1.39 per cent to 17,101.10, while Nifty Bank dropped 0.74 per cent to 60,290.15.
Published on February 13, 2026
Last Updated:
The Irish team has suffered a big setback in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Team captain Paul Sterling is out of the tournament due to injury.
Working as Chief Sub Editor in Network 18 Group since October 2025. 9 years experience in journalism. Started career with sports beat in ABP News Digital. Reputable institutions like India TV and Navbharat Times Group…read more
On Call Welcome to another installment of On Call, The Register’s weekly reader-contributed column that tells your tech support tales.
This week, meet a reader we’ll Regomize as “Henry” who shared a chilling story from his time delivering internal desktop support for a major internet service provider.
This is a story that doesn’t deserve On Call’s usual light touch. The Register shares it in the hope it perhaps starts a conversation among readers about how to cope with the worst workplace moments. As you’ll see at the end of the story, we’re working on a plan to help foster that conversation.
Back, now, to Henry, who told us an important part of his job was keeping unauthorized software off company computers to protect the ISP from being sued for running pirated programs.
He enforced that policy with daily software inventory scans and when he found minor infractions, used remote access privileges to remove offending applications.
When he found serious violations, company policy required Henry to confiscate a user’s PC and inform management who would commence a formal investigation.
Henry eventually discovered a colleague who worked late and had downloaded “extreme amounts of pirated software.”
He reported it to his superiors, who ordered immediate confiscation.
After the investigation, the culprit begged for lenience, and management decided a brief suspension would suffice.
That was still too much for the pirate, who on his return to work seethed with rage.
“He would tell anyone who listened that the next time he saw me, he would put a bullet in my face,” Henry told On Call.
Henry felt this colleague was capable of violence, so he did not take the matter lightly.
Thankfully, soon after the suspension ended, his antagonist left the business and although the experience rattled Henry, he had no reason to ponder it for years after.
Until he learned, via news reports, that his former colleague had started a small business and murdered his partner in a dispute over borrowed money.
“I hope to never see him again,” Henry told On Call.
And with luck, none of us will, as the news report Henry showed us states the murderer will remain in prison for at least another 15 years – and possibly many more.
If you experience threats of violence in the workplace, report it to your employer and do not hesitate to call emergency services if you feel in immediate danger.
If your employer is not supportive, file a complaint with the relevant authorities:
Has working in tech support put you in an unsafe situation? If so, On Call is interested to hear your story, which you can share by clicking here to send us an email.
We will handle any such contributions with great care, and with a view to using them in future stories about how to handle extremely difficult workplace moments rather than the weekly mirth of On Call. ®
bangladesh The picture of the 13th parliamentary elections has become clear. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has won 213 out of 299 seats. Tariq Rahman, who is leading the party, will be the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh, he can take oath on 14 February. At the same time, Jamaat-e-Islami alliance was reduced to 70 seats. After the GenZ Protest and elections, the political developments in Bangladesh seem to be changing rapidly. Now former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wajed has given a big statement regarding the Bangladesh elections.
The interim government led by Mohammad Yunus had banned former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami Party from contesting elections. Sheikh Hasina is living at some secret place in India after being out of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, his son Sajeeb Wajed has given a big statement in an interview regarding the return of his party in Bangladesh and contact with BNP. In an interview given to CNN-News 18, Sajib Wajed described Bangladesh Nationalist Party as the biggest party of the country and hinted at opening the way for dialogue.
‘The party will make a comeback in Bangladesh’
During the interview, Sajib Wajed said, “Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is a big political party in the country. We will contact them soon. During the conversation, he said that due to the ban on Awami League, BNP got an open field in the elections. He also emphasized that Awami League will make a comeback in the coming time. Wajed further said, Awami League is not going anywhere, the people of Bangladesh love our party. We will make a comeback in Bangladesh.”
BNP gets full majority in Bangladesh elections
BNP has got absolute majority in the parliamentary elections held in Bangladesh. tariq rehman Can take oath as Prime Minister of Bangladesh on 14 February. Prime Minister Narendra Modi He also congratulated BNP on its victory in the elections and talked about working together.
Reference #18.50200117.1770976127.328363c1
https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.50200117.1770976127.328363c1
In Khagaria, a nurse committed suicide by hanging herself last Thursday (February 12, 2026) evening. She was identified as Bhavani Kumari (aged 35-36 years), daughter of Nand Kumar Singh, resident of Lohia Nagar, Begusarai. Bhavani was a nurse in Khagaria Sadar Hospital. Before committing suicide, he wrote a suicide note in which he made serious allegations against four people including the lady police station chief of Begusarai.
Bhavani’s marriage took place last year (2024) in Muzaffarpur. She left for the hospital from her maternal home on Thursday morning. Father Nand Kumar Singh said that when he had called in the afternoon, he had not picked up. When he did not even call till evening, I started getting worried. After this the house reached his official residence in Khagaria. The door was locked from inside. The local police station was informed. After this, when the door was broken, Bhavani was found hanging.
In the suicide note, Bhavani has made serious allegations against her husband Divya Prakash, her father, brother (brother-in-law). It is written that the husband beats. Uses abusive language. He even used to come to Khagaria Sadar Hospital and abuse and beat her. He has also tried to commit murder by strangulation several times. In the suicide note, Bhavani accused the Begusarai Mahila Police Station Head that whenever she went to lodge a complaint, no action was taken on her application.
Addressing her mother, Bhavani wrote in the suicide note, “I am fed up with life now. I can’t bear this anymore, that’s why I am leaving. After my death, don’t give my body to my in-laws. Use the money in my account for the work of both my brother and sister. After this, give whatever money is left to the orphanage.”
In this case, Chitragupt police station incharge Chandrakant said that when the door was broken, Bhavani Kumari was found hanging with a noose around her neck. The FSL team is coming today (Friday, February 13, 2026) in the morning and investigating. After this, post mortem of the dead body will be done. Till now no written application has been given by the family members. After the application, action will be taken on it.
Also read- Patna News: Another student dies in Patna, 2 boys seen running in CCTV, family says murder happened
Would-be first-time buyers have the biggest choice of low-deposit mortgages for at least 18 years, new data shows, suggesting that 2026 is looking positive for those trying to get a foot on the property ladder.
In recent months many banks and building societies have been loosening their affordability rules or launching deals that let people borrow 95% of the property’s value, and in some cases more than that.
Saving up a deposit is one of the biggest challenges facing would-be homeowners, who can find that each month most of their money is being swallowed up by rent and living costs.
At the start of this month there were 537 deals available that let people borrow 95% of a property’s value, the financial data provider Moneyfacts said this week. That is almost double the 274 available in February 2024.
Rachel Springall at Moneyfacts says the number of 95% “loan-to-value” (LTV) deals now on sale is the highest since March 2008. She adds: “This year is setting itself up to be a fruitful one for first-time buyers, and really, they need all the help they can get amid the lack of affordable housing.”
At the time of writing, new two- and five-year fixed-rate deals for first-time buyers hoping to borrow 95% started at about 4.47% and 4.53%, respectively.
If you can stump up a deposit of 10%-plus, there will be even more deals to access. At the start of February, there were a record 981 mortgages on the market that allow people to borrow 90% of a home’s value.
Earlier this month, Santander grabbed headlines when it launched a mortgage for first-time buyers that lets people borrow up to 98% of the property’s value. The deal is a five-year fixed-rate loan requiring a deposit of at least £10,000.
While Santander is the largest lender so far to go above 95%, it is not the first. The Skipton and Yorkshire building societies have deals that allow people to borrow up to 100% and 99% of a property’s value, respectively, alongside a few other products of this type.
However, there are often restrictions and exclusions when it comes to who can apply and which properties are eligible.
New research issued this week by the Building Societies Association (BSA), a trade body, claims that many aspiring first-time buyers “could be closer to owning their own home than they think”. However, it says too many are ruling themselves out before exploring what is possible.
Its findings showed that almost half (47%) of people who want to buy their own home had never spoken to a lender or mortgage broker to check what options were available to them. Among those who had, 46% had not done so in the last year.
Yet when shown the various deals available from building societies that require only a small deposit, or no deposit at all, two-thirds of those trying to get on the property ladder said they would be able to buy sooner than they thought. The BSA said this highlighted “a clear gap between perception and reality”.
12:55 PM, 13-Feb-2026
12:44 PM, 13-Feb-2026
11:53 AM, 13-Feb-2026
Answering the questions of SP MLA Dr. Ragini Sonkar, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that whatever appointments are made by UPPSC and SSC. Its full calendar is released which has just been released for 2026. Since 2017, appointments have been made on 47,000 posts in which the rules of reservation are being followed. After this, there was an uproar in the House due to which the Speaker of the Assembly got up and left for some time.
11:33 AM, 13-Feb-2026
SP MLA Dr. Ragini Sonkar. – Photo : amar ujala
Whoever you are friends with, from lie to truth, you continue your conversation.
These days you are the owner of the market, keep whatever price you want.
He said that nowadays the vacancies are being given by the Commission. Wrong information is given in it. How will a youth preparing for an exam prepare if he is given wrong information? The government should inform how many posts are vacant and when will they be filled.
Raising the question, he said that in the state, it takes three to three years from the examination to the appointment, in such a situation, three to four years are lost from the life of the youth.
11:17 AM, 13-Feb-2026
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. – Photo : amar ujala
09:31 AM, 13-Feb-2026
09:28 AM, 13-Feb-2026
During the discussion on the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address, SP member Mukul Yadav said that Shankaracharya is respected in the entire country, yet there was indecency with him in the Magh Mela. Alleged that the Tehsildar level officer asked him for proof of being Shankaracharya. Despite being on strike for nine days, no official came to meet him. After this he returned without bathing.
BJP member Rishipal Singh rejected these allegations and said that Shankaracharya was not stopped from bathing and he was lathicharged during the SP government in 2015. He accused the opposition of turning religious issues into political weapons.
09:27 AM, 13-Feb-2026
In the Assembly, SP MLA Ragini Sonkar raised the issue of drowning of children of Khatik community in Prayagraj, Sardhana MLA Atul Pradhan raised the issue of murder of mother and kidnapping of daughter in his assembly constituency. Alleged that report was not filed in the case and the law and order situation in the state was collapsing. On the issue raised by the SP MLAs, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said that 31 cases are registered against the person who was shot by the police in Prayagraj. He died of heart attack.
The families of those children who died due to drowning have been given an assistance of Rs 4 lakh each by the government. A report of this matter has been registered. In the case of Sardhana, it was said that after the report was filed, the accused has been sent to jail. While the Parliamentary Affairs Minister was replying, the SP MLAs started raising slogans expressing their dissatisfaction and walked out of the House.
09:10 AM, 13-Feb-2026
Proceedings are to be held in both houses of the UP Legislature today. The Governor’s address was discussed in both the Houses of the Assembly and the Legislative Council on Thursday. Today CM Yogi can answer the discussions held in both these houses. On Thursday, there were heated confrontations between the ruling and opposition members several times over Shankaracharya, law and order and demolition of houses with bulldozers.