Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has noted that the BRICS grouping is steadily transforming into a broad global structure attracting growing international interest, reflecting shifts in economic and political power beyond traditional Western alliances. In an exclusive interview with TV BRICS, Lavrov noted that the bloc now extends beyond Eurasia to include countries across Latin America and Africa, and is likely to expand further as new centres of influence emerge worldwide. "Many centres of rapid economic growth, financial power, and political influence have appeared, and the world is being reformatted amid competitive struggle," he said, describing the organisation as part of a wider transition towards a multipolar global order, as reported by TV BRICS. Lavrov emphasised the economic weight of the grouping, stating that the combined gross domestic product of BRICS nations, measured by purchasing power parity, already surpasses that of the Group of Seven (G7). According to him, this trend underscores the increasing role of emerging economies in shaping global development agendas. He added that BRICS could evolve into a coordinating platform aligning development strategies in infrastructure, social policy, and economic cooperation across Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America. The grouping, he said, effectively acts as an "umbrella" supporting regional integration processes across continents. The minister also highlighted practical cooperation projects, including initiatives connecting South Asia with Russia's Far East. Among them are plans involving the Northern Sea Route and the International North-South Transport Corridor, which aim to enhance trade connectivity and logistics efficiency. Lavrov's remarks come as BRICS continues to broaden engagement with partner countries and deepen economic coordination among members, signalling a potential shift in the global institutional balance. He added that the organisation's expansion reflects demand for alternative platforms of cooperation and dialogue in an increasingly competitive and interconnected global economy. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
17 February,2026 02:27 PM IST | Moscow, Russia | ANIAn international group of researchers has developed a way to identify and forecast hotspots for some of the world’s most dangerous scorpion species. By analysing environmental conditions, the scientists determined which factors allow highly venomous scorpions to survive and spread. Their findings could help better understand where scorpions are most likely to occur across. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 February,2026 09:33 AM IST | Nairobi | AgenciesChina’s Robotera has showcased its L7 robot performing a traditional Chinese sword dance to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse. The L7 is a full-sized humanoid robot developed in collaboration with Tsinghua University. It stands at 5.6 feet tall and weighs in at around 65 kg. The robot is made of a combination of titanium and carbon fiber, making it both strong and lightweight. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 February,2026 09:30 AM IST | Beijing | AgenciesWeave Robotics has launched its first-ever stationary robotics platform that can fold laundry in 30 to 90 minutes. Named Issac 0, the company launched the autonomous robot as a prequel to their upcoming robot Issac, which will be released later this year. Issac 0 is currently shipping in the Bay Area, following the launch announcement on February 11. However, the robot still relies on human teleoperators who help it improve task accuracy every week. Issac 0 is a compact, stationary home robot designed for practical integration into the home. It runs on a 600W power system, using a standard 120V outlet, and supports both Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi for reliable operation and remote updates. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 February,2026 09:30 AM IST | San Francisco | AgenciesResearchers in Sweden created artificial animals that over time develop functioning vision from scratch — from simple light sensitivity to the ability to discern objects. Artificial animals developed functioning vision without any instruction. The results show how AI can be used to understand the inner secrets of evolution. The researchers created the virtual animals and released them into a synthetic world, giving them tasks on how to navigate, avoid obstacles and find food. Each generation showed small variations, and just like in nature, those that coped the best passed on their characteristics. The difference was that all this happened inside a computer – and happened much faster. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 February,2026 09:28 AM IST | Stockholm | AgenciesA passenger train derailed in the Swiss Alps after an avalanche swept away a railway track in southern Switzerland. The incident took place at around 7 am local time. Several people have been injured in the incident, authorities have not yet shared actual numbers. The incident took place in the canton of Valais. The area is known for heavy winter snowfall and has popular Alpine rail routes. The derailment led to disruption of the key rail corridor that linked Lotschberg route through the Alps. The Swiss Federal Railways announced that train services have been suspended between Goppenstein and Brig. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 February,2026 09:28 AM IST | Valais | AgenciesFour candidates from minority communities won in the Bangladesh general elections, with all being nominees of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Nitai Roy Chowdhury are two Hindu candidates who won. They won from a Dhaka seat and western Magura constituency defeating their rivals fielded by the Jamaat-e-Islami. Roy is a member of the BNP’s highest policy-making standing committee while Chowdhury is one of prominent vice presidents of the party as well as a senior advisor and strategist for its top leadership. The third minority MP-elect is Saching Pru, a senior BNP leader and follower of Buddhist faith, representing Marma ethnic community in southeastern hill district of Bandarban, from where he was elected. The fourth minority candidate, Dipen Dewan, belongs to the Buddhist majority Chakma ethnic minority group, who won from a constituency in southeastern Rangamati hill district. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
17 February,2026 09:26 AM IST | Dhaka | AgenciesBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer (party leader) Shafiqur Rahman said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman has assured them of taking action to curb the post-poll violence in the country. Following BNP's landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy visit to the Jamaat chief. Shafiqur Rahman assured him of the party's cooperation in discharging the constitutional duties. In a Facebook post, Shafiqur Rahman wrote, "We envision building a Bangladesh that is free from fascism, sovereign in its decision-making and founded upon justice. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, together with the 11-party alliance, remains committed to establishing a prosperous, stable and modern state grounded in democratic values and constitutional governance. In our discussions, he (Tarique Rahman) reaffirmed that steps are being taken regarding incidents of post-election violence, including actions to address harm against opposition supporters and minority communities. We welcome this assurance and reiterate that no citizen, regardless of political affiliation, should face intimidation or insecurity." "We will cooperate fully on matters of national interest, yet we will discharge our constitutional duty as a firm and principled opposition. Where the government acts in the public interest, we will support. Where accountability is required, we will speak. Our objective is not confrontation but correction; not obstruction, but oversight. The people deserve a parliament that safeguards justice, protects rights and advances the nation with stability and confidence," the social media post read. According to Prothom Alo, Tarique Rahman entered the Jamaat Ameer's home in the Bashundhara residential area of the capital at 7:10 pm on Sunday. The meeting was described primarily as a courtesy call, during which leaders exchanged pleasantries and indicated that contemporary issues could also be discussed. The visit takes place amid preparations for forming the new government, following the BNP's commanding majority in the 300-seat parliament, securing well over the 151 seats required, and positioning Tarique Rahman as prime minister-designate. In the same polls, Jamaat-e-Islami, previously an ally of the BNP, contested as a rival and emerged as the second-largest party, establishing itself as a key opposition force. Election Commission figures showed the BNP-led alliance securing 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led bloc won 77. Hasina's Bangladesh Awami League was barred from participating. A post-poll violence broke out in Panchagarh district in Bangladesh, with National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Sarjis Alam claiming that over 30 homes and businesses belonging to party leaders and activists were targeted after the results were announced, Prothom Alo reported. Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of the NCP for the northern region, alleged that attacks occurred at more than 30 locations involving the homes and business establishments of party leaders and activists after the results were declared. Echoing these claims, the defeated candidate of the 11-party electoral alliance in the Panchagarh-1 constituency accused leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of involvement in the incidents, according to Prothom Alo. While in Tetulia upazila, one such account emerged from Swapan Rana, an EasyBike driver who alleged that he was attacked after the election. Rana claimed the confrontation stemmed from his campaigning activities and his daughter's affiliation with the NCP's Nari Shakti unit. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 02:08 PM IST | Dhaka | ANINorth Korea said Monday it completed a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of North Korean soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, the latest effort by leader Kim Jong Un to honor the war dead. State media photos showed Kim Jong Un walking through the new street - called Saeppyol Street - and visiting the homes of some of the families with his increasingly prominent daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, as he pledged to repay the "young martyrs" who "sacrificed all to their motherland." In recent months, North Korea has intensified propaganda glorifying troops deployed to fight in Russia's war against Ukraine, such as establishing a memorial wall and building a museum. Analysts see it as an effort to bolster internal unity and curb potential public discontent. Kim in recent months has sent thousands of troops and large quantities of military equipment, including artillery and missiles, to fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine, as the leaders align in the face of their separate confrontations with Washington. South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers last week it estimates that about 6,000 North Korean troops were killed or wounded during their deployment in the war, but did not provide a breakdown of fatalities. The agency said last year it believed roughly 600 had died. The spy agency believes North Korean forces are benefiting from the war by gaining modern combat experience and Russian technical support that could improve the performance of their weapons systems, according to lawmakers who attended last week's closed-door briefing. The construction of the new street comes as North Korea prepares to open a major ruling party congress later this month, where Kim is expected to announce his major goals in domestic and foreign policy over the next five years and take further steps to tighten his control. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 February,2026 12:33 PM IST | Seoul | APFormer Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khanum spoke out against Khan's treatment in jail and his worsening health. Khan has been in jail for over 800 days and his plight has been deteriorating raising serious concerns about his treatment in the jail. Khanum vented her frustration out in a post on X. She wrote, "Our demand has been clear from the beginning: Imran Khan has to be examined and treated by specialist doctors in the presence of his personal doctor (Asim Yousaf) along with a family member present at Shifa International in Islamabad." "The Govt rejected the specialist recommended by our doctors, so they were provided with alternative names. We had given Uzma Khan's name to represent our family. We were told that Imran Khan's sisters will not be permitted and we must provide an alternative name to represent the family. We then gave them our cousin Nausherwan Burki's name to represent the family. We are very disturbed when they rejected his name as well," she wrote further. "This is unacceptable! Our concerns are growing as to WHY are they rejecting our family member to be present? Are both names (Uzma and Nausherwan) being rejected because they are highly qualified doctors?" She added. Earlier, a medical team examined PTI founder's at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Sunday, conducting an eye check-up that lasted about an hour, sources told Dawn. The examination followed a Supreme Court order issued after Imran claimed on February 12 that his right eye retained only 15 per cent vision. The court directed the formation of a medical board to assess his condition and allowed him to speak with his children before February 16. Dawn reported that although government officials hinted on Saturday that Imran would be transferred to a hospital, no transfer had taken place by Sunday afternoon. At 3:45 pm, Imran's sister, Noreen Khanum, posted on X that an ambulance had arrived at the jail to move him to a hospital. She added, "But, this is unacceptable to us without us and Khan sahib's personal doctors being taken into confidence." The jail superintendent dismissed reports of a transfer as a "rumour," stating that Imran was only undergoing an examination." The medical team will examine Imran's eyes, conduct different tests, and decide whether there is a requirement to move him to a hospital or if he can be retained in jail and continue the treatment here," the superintendent said. Sources told Dawn that a team of five doctors conducted a detailed eye examination, collected blood samples, and measured blood pressure.
16 February,2026 11:55 AM IST | Islamabad | PTIIn a coordinated effort, the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force, alongside the Railway Protection Force and the Bhopal Forest Division, successfully intercepted a trafficking operation involving 311 rare and endangered turtles. These turtles were discovered in an AC First-Class coach of the Patna-Indore Express train in Madhya Pradesh, after being illicitly transported from Uttar Pradesh. Among the rescued species were endangered Crowned River Turtles, Indian Tent Turtles, and Indian Roofed Turtles, all protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 11:52 AM IST | Indore | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1771316082202_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Pic/X (@mfa_russia)")
