Newly elected members of Bangladesh parliament are set to take oath on February 17, Dhaka Tribune reported on Saturday. The cabinet members are scheduled to be sworn in later the same day, the the report said, citing Election Commission secretary Akhtar Ahmed.The 13th parliamentary election took place on February 12, with polling conducted in 299 of the country’s 300 constituencies. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) emerged dominant, securing 209 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68. The National Citizens Party (NCP), a member of the 11-party alliance, captured six seats, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, contesting under the same coalition, won two.Earlier, in his first address to the nation post victory in polls, BNP chief Tarique Rahman talked about “Bangladesh First” policy when it comes to the foreign relations with its neighbours. “We have cleared ourselves regarding the foreign policy which is in the interest of Bangladesh, and the interest of the Bangladeshi people comes first. By protecting the interest of Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi people, we will decide our foreign policy,” he said.He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be invited for the swearing-in.His return to Bangladesh signals a major realignment in Dhaka’s political landscape. After spending 17 years in exile, the 60-year-old leader is set to assume the prime minister’s office following the BNP’s sweeping electoral victory.His ascent is likely to reshape India-Bangladesh ties, which had strengthened during Sheikh Hasina’s rule but experienced friction after her removal. Rahman has indicated a practical, measured stance toward New Delhi, underscoring the need for “mutual respect and understanding” in bilateral engagement.Several core issues are expected to define the next phase of relations: border management, allegations of illegal migration and insurgent activity across frontiers; the sharing of transboundary river waters, particularly the Teesta and Padma; the safety of Hindus and other minorities amid recent incidents; and economic cooperation, including prospects for expanded trade and investment.

FILE – Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan gives a press conference at his home, in Lahore, Pakistan, on May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary, File)

Pakistan’s information minister Ataullah Tarar on Saturday announced that imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan will undergo treatment for an eye condition at a specialised medical facility, days after the Supreme Court ordered a medical evaluation amid growing concerns about the cricketer-turned-politician’s eyesight.Also Read | ‘Intervention is necessary’: Pak SC on Imran Khan’s ‘vision loss’; allows ex-PM to speak with his sonsTarar wrote on X that an examination would be conducted by leading eye specialists as part of Khan’s ongoing treatment, which began in late January after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder-chairman claimed “partial loss of vision” in his right eye.

The minister, however, did not specify the medical facility or the date of treatment and urged the public to avoid speculation.“A detailed report will also be submitted to the Supreme Court. Conjecture, speculations, and efforts to turn this into political rhetoric and mileage for vested interests may please be avoided,” Tarar posted.Earlier this week, Khan’s lawyer and PTI member Salman Safdar told the Supreme Court that the ex-premier had lost roughly 85% of vision in his right eye. The court subsequently directed authorities to arrange a medical assessment by a panel of doctors and facilitate a telephone call between Khan and his two UK-based sons before February 16.PTI supporters have staged protests in the capital, Islamabad, and other cities, demanding that their party chief be shifted from prison to a hospital for specialised treatment. Some lawmakers from PTI and its allies are also staging a sit-in outside Parliament.‘We were not consulted’: Imran Khan’s sisterMeanwhile, Khan’s sister Aleema Khan reacted angrily to Tarar’s announcement, saying the family had not been consulted and demanding that family members and his personal physician be present during any future procedures.She confirmed that, following the Supreme Court’s directive, authorities had arranged a call between her brother and his two sons, who live with their mother and his former wife, British screenwriter and producer Jemima Goldsmith.Khan was removed from office in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022. He has alleged that his ouster was the result of a US-backed “conspiracy” involving political rivals and Pakistan’s then army chief, Qamar Javed Bajwa — allegations denied by Washington, Pakistan’s military, and Khan’s political opponents.The issue of Khan’s partial vision surfaced in late January when the federal government said the former prime minister had undergone a medical procedure for an eye condition and was in “good health.”The PTI made a strong showing in the February 2024 parliamentary elections but did not secure a majority in the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament. The party alleged the vote was “rigged,” a claim the government has denied.(With AP inputs)

In a significant development in the Rs 10 crore defamation case filed by music composer and singer Palaash Muchhal, the Bombay High Court has restrained Marathi actor Vidnyan Mane from making defamatory remarks against the composer.The interim relief comes after Muchhal moved the court alleging that Mane made “false” and “outrageous” accusations in the media, which he claimed damaged his reputation.Welcoming the court’s order, Muchhal’s advocate Shreyansh Mithare described it as a “relief” and said the matter now requires proper legal scrutiny.

‘This is a personal attack on Palaash’

Speaking about the controversy, Mithare told ANI, “There has been a lot of controversy about Palaash Muchhal, especially surrounding his marriage. But now both the families have chosen their own paths, and Palaash is trying to move on with his life. This controversy is not about the two parties but from a third party. A man named Vidnyan Mane from Mumbai’s Sangli has claimed to have given Rs 40 lakhs to Palaash for making a film. He also claimed that the money has not been returned.”He further stated that Mane’s remarks went beyond a commercial disagreement and entered the realm of personal allegations.“Vidnyan Mane has made some defamatory statements in the media. He has also made some allegations about Palaash’s marriage. This is a personal attack on Palaash. We had sent him a defamation notice of Rs 10 crores. After he didn’t stop making such statements, we reached out to the High Court, which has now issued a restraining order. The court has restrained Mane from talking about Palaash and his family to the media until the case is decided,” Mithare said.Mane has been directed to present his statement with supporting evidence before the court on March 11.“I think that the third person, Vidnyan Mane, must be investigated on the basis of what he is saying and why he is doing it. Palaash is a strong boy and is mentally prepared to fight the matter legally,” the advocate added.

What the complaint states

According to the complaint, Muchhal met Mane in Sangli on December 5, 2023, after the latter showed interest in investing in film production. Muchhal allegedly suggested that Mane could invest in his upcoming project Nazaria as a producer. He is said to have informed Mane that after the film’s release on OTT platforms, he could earn a profit of Rs 12 lakh on an investment of Rs 25 lakh and also offered him a role in the film.The two reportedly met twice thereafter, and by March 2025, Mane allegedly paid a total of Rs 40 lakh. The project, however, did not materialise, following which Mane demanded a refund but allegedly received no response. He subsequently approached the Sangli police and also levelled allegations concerning Muchhal’s personal life. Muchhal’s legal team, including advocates Siddesh Bhole and Shreyansh Mithare, submitted before the court that while there may have been a commercial dispute, the public statements made by Mane — including references to an alleged incident dated November 23, 2025 — harmed not only the composer’s reputation but also that of his family members.With the High Court’s restraining order now in place, the matter will proceed in court, where Mane is expected to present his defence backed by evidence.

The Don shows tough love to friends and allies on Valentines DayThe author of The Art of the Deal has no patience with the weatherworn adage — Build Bridges, Not Walls. Donald Trump has a penchant for doing the exact opposite to ‘win friends and influence people.’In a fresh display of tough love ahead of Valentine’s Day, Trump accusing Canada of trying to “take advantage of America” threatened to block the opening of a new bridge between the US and its northern neighbour.In a lengthy post on his mouthpiece Truth Social, Trump doubled down on his often-cited claim that Canada has “treated the United States very unfairly for decades.”Demanding that the US be “fully compensated for everything we have given them,” Trump claimed that Canada will own both sides of the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario. He also accused Ontario of refusing to stock some US-produced alcoholic products in shops and complained about Canada’s tariffs on dairy products.The latest spat with Canada came weeks after Prime Minister Mark Carney earned his wrath at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January for boldly asking middle powers to stand up to “great powers” using economic pressure.This time the provocation came from nearer home with six Republican lawmakers joining Democrats to adopt a House resolution to block Trump’s Canada tariffs.Not the one to retreat, he defiantly dug in accusing Canada of having “taken advantage of the United States on Trade for many years,” and suggesting, “They are among the worst in the World to deal with, especially as it relates to our Northern Border.”Then came the inevitable ominous warning to the lawmakers: “Any Republican, in the House or the Senate, that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!”Faithful MAGA followers were quick to endorse with, “Hey Canada👇 your days are numbered‼️😆”Then as America’s European allies gathered at the annual security conference in Munich under the looming shadow of an absent Trump, German chancellor Friedrich Merz offered him a rare public rebuke.Under Trump in his second term, the United States’ claim to global leadership “has been challenged, and possibly squandered,” said Merz warning Washington not to make things worse and further squander the trust of its allies.“In the era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone,” he said even as he acknowledged a more vigorous Europe, better able to defend itself and its own interests, would help “forge a healthier trans-Atlantic relationship.”But the staff at the security conference was more blunt. In a report before the gathering, they called Trump a “wrecking ball” and one of the “demolition men” destroying the norms and institutions of the international order.And at home, Trump took his wrecking ball to the climate change fight by erasing a 2009 bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life.At a White House event Trump, who has referred to climate change as “a hoax” and a “scam,” hailed the decision to erase limits on emissions from cars, power plants and other industries “the single largest deregulatory action in American history.”As a part of his attempt to boost the fossil fuel industry, Trump later signed an executive order instructing the US military to purchase more coal-based electricity and said that the Energy Department will pay for upgrading coal plants in four states.Meanwhile, the ghost of Epstein that has dogged Trump for more than a year, again loomed large as the Justice Department released about three million pages of documents related to its years long investigation into the convicted sex offender.The New York Times found more than 5,300 files with references to Trump and related terms, including salacious and unverified claims, as well as documents that had already been made public.Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche was quick to absolve Trump saying the Justice Department looked into sexual misconduct allegations against the President, but did not find credible information to merit further investigation.Trump himself praised Attorney General Pam Bondi for her “fantastic” performance “under intense fire from the Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics,” at a Congressional “Hearing on the never ending saga of Jeffrey Epstein.”“The one thing that has been proven conclusively, much to their chagrin, was that President Donald J. Trump has been 100% exonerated of their ridiculous Russia, Russia, Russia type charges,” he posted proclaiming, “Actually, it is the SLIMEBALL Democrats, many of them big Donors and Politicians, that have been proven GUILTY!”But Bondi, according to an NBC report, is under pressure from Trump to produce a result more than a year after she created a “Weaponization Working Group” to prosecute his perceived enemies. The group was created ostensibly to root out “abuses of the criminal justice process” by federal law enforcement officers in their investigations of Trump when he was out of power.Even as he has criticized Bondi in private, Trump publicly declared his trust in her saying,“Pam is doing an excellent job. She has been my friend for many years. Tremendous progress is being made against radical left lunatics, who are good at only one thing, cheating in elections and the crimes they commit.”Come Valentine Day, Trump greeted his followers with three cards “Made just for you 💌”One with a map of Greenland in a heart served notice on his latest object of desire asking, “It’s time we define our situationship.”The second took a dig at Democrats avowing “My love for you is as strong as Democrats’ love for illegal aliens” and “l’d fly 1,537 miles to have a drink with you!”And the third one depicted POTUS 45 & 47 holding his latest fiat “Executive Order: 4547” proclaiming, “UR MyValentine” — Love it or hate it!(By arrangement with The American Bazaar, www.americanbazaaronline.com)

Tarique Rehman (PTI image)

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman on Saturday said that Dhaka’s foreign policy would be guided by the principle that “people come first,” including in its ties with India.In his first address after the party’s sweeping electoral victory, Rahman said that the country’s national interest would remain the central focus of his government’s external engagement.Responding to a question on relations with New Delhi, Rahman said: “The interests of Bangladesh and its people comes first and it will determine our foreign policy,” he said.Rahman also used his first address to call for national unity following the decisive mandate. The BNP secured more than a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections, the first since the 2024 uprising that led to the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.According to the Election Commission, the BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats. Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League was barred from contesting the polls.In his speech, Rahman dedicated the victory to those who, he said, had sacrificed for democracy. “Freedom loving pro-democracy people of the country have once again brought victory to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” he said.“This victory belongs to Bangladesh, belongs to democracy, this victory belongs to people who aspired to and have sacrificed for democracy,” he added.He urged political forces to work together despite differences. “Our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united,” Rahman said.

Adviser’s remarks on ‘Hindu extremism’

Even as Rahman adopted a measured tone on foreign policy, his adviser Humayun Kabir made pointed remarks about radicalisation in the region.In an interview with PTI, Kabir said, “Radicalisation is a problem in South Asia. We see Hindu extremism and far-right intolerance growing in Indian society, and in Pakistan, we also hear of extremist elements. In Bangladesh, it is not at that level, but there are some issues.”He called for stronger regional cooperation and information sharing to counter extremism and said a BNP government would seek “balanced relations” with all countries, including India.“What we want are balanced relations. We will not limit our relationships to a single country,” Kabir said, referring to criticism that the previous government was overly aligned with New Delhi.

PM Modi congratulates Rahman

Soon after the results were declared, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rahman on his party’s victory and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strong bilateral ties.In a post on X, PM Modi wrote: “I convey my warm congratulations to Mr Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership.” He added, “I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals.”PM Modi also spoke with Rahman and reaffirmed India’s commitment to close bilateral ties. In a post on X, PM said, “Delighted to speak with Mr. Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections.” He added, “I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.” The BNP, in turn, thanked India for recognising the electoral verdict and expressed hope that relations would strengthen under the new government.

What the BNP’s victory means for India

Rahman’s return marks a significant political shift in Dhaka. The 60-year-old leader returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile in Britain. He is the son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.Under Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, India and Bangladesh developed close strategic and security ties. However, relations saw strains after her ouster.The BNP’s earlier terms in office were marked by periodic friction with India, particularly during its 2001–06 coalition with Jamaat-e-Islami, when New Delhi raised concerns about insurgent groups allegedly operating from Bangladeshi territory. In contrast, India viewed Hasina as a dependable partner on security cooperation.Despite that history, Rahman has recently signalled a pragmatic approach. In previous remarks, he has emphasised “mutual respect and mutual understanding” in ties with India.Several sensitive issues are expected to shape the next phase of bilateral relations — including border security, alleged illegal migration, water-sharing of transboundary rivers such as the Teesta, and the safety of minorities.The safety of the Hindu community, in particular, remains a closely watched issue. Just days before the elections, a 62-year-old Hindu trader, Susen Chandra Sarkar, was hacked to death in Mymensingh district. Authorities have said investigations are ongoing. India has previously expressed concern over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, calling them a matter of grave concern.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was not pleased with Anthropic’s Super Bowl ads making fun of ChatGPT. But it seems they did the job that OpenAI’s arch-rival Anthropic intended to. According to data analyzed by BNP Paribas, the maker of the Claude chatbot Anthropic saw visits to its site jump 6.5% following its Super Bowl advertisement that made fun of rival OpenAI’s decision to bring ads to ChatGPT. As per the report, the Claude gain, which took it into the top 10 free apps on the Apple App Store, beat out chatbot and artificial intelligence competitors OpenAI, Google Gemini and Meta. Daily active users also reportedly saw an 11% jump post-game, the most significant among AI companies. OpenAI’s ChatGPT had a 2.7% bump in daily active users after the Super Bowl and Gemini added 1.4%. But what is important to note here is that Claude’s user base is still much smaller than ChatGPT and Gemini.Advertisements from artificial intelligence brands took center stage at the big game, which brought in an audience of 125 million in the U.S., as platforms made their pitch to lure more customers in a competitive market that’s showing no signs of slowing.Anthropic’s Super Bowl ads that mae un of OpenAI for showing adsAnthropic spent millions of dollars on ads during America’s National Football League championship game to slam rival OpenAI for its plan to sell ads on its ChatGPT. Anthropic’s 30-second ads took a thinly veiled jab at OpenAI’s intentions to introduce ads in ChatGPT. The punchline: “Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude,” the name of Anthropic’s chatbot.

Sam Altman called Anthropic’s ads ‘clearly dishonest’

Not surprisingly, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was not happy with Anthropic’s Super Bowl ad campaign. In a post to social media platform X, formerly, Twitter, Altman called the commercials “deceptive” and “clearly dishonest.”Here’s what Sam Altman wrote in his 400-word long note on Anthropic adsFirst, the good part of the Anthropic ads: they are funny, and I laughed.But I wonder why Anthropic would go for something so clearly dishonest. Our most important principle for ads says that we won’t do exactly this; we would obviously never run ads in the way Anthropic depicts them. We are not stupid and we know our users would reject that.I guess it’s on brand for Anthropic doublespeak to use a deceptive ad to critique theoretical deceptive ads that aren’t real, but a Super Bowl ad is not where I would expect it.More importantly, we believe everyone deserves to use AI and are committed to free access, because we believe access creates agency. More Texans use ChatGPT for free than total people use Claude in the US, so we have a differently-shaped problem than they do. (If you want to pay for ChatGPT Plus or Pro, we don’t show you ads.)Anthropic serves an expensive product to rich people. We are glad they do that and we are doing that too, but we also feel strongly that we need to bring AI to billions of people who can’t pay for subscriptions.Maybe even more importantly: Anthropic wants to control what people do with AI—they block companies they don’t like from using their coding product (including us), they want to write the rules themselves for what people can and can’t use AI for, and now they also want to tell other companies what their business models can be.We are committed to broad, democratic decision making in addition to access. We are also committed to building the most resilient ecosystem for advanced AI. We care a great deal about safe, broadly beneficial AGI, and we know the only way to get there is to work with the world to prepare.One authoritarian company won’t get us there on their own, to say nothing of the other obvious risks. It is a dark path.As for our Super Bowl ad: it’s about builders, and how anyone can now build anything.We are enjoying watching so many people switch to Codex. There have now been 500,000 app downloads since launch on Monday, and we think builders are really going to love what’s coming in the next few weeks. I believe Codex is going to win.We will continue to work hard to make even more intelligence available for lower and lower prices to our users.This time belongs to the builders, not the people who want to control them.

An Indian national has pleaded guilty in a US court to plotting the assassination of a Khalistani terrorist and US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York in a $100,000 murder-for-hire scheme that US prosecutors say was directed by an Indian government employee.The US Department of Justice said Nikhil Gupta, 54, pleaded guilty before US Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn to murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026, before US District Judge Victor Marrero.

According to the Justice Department, the plot targeted Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen of Indian origin and leader of a US-based Sikh separatist organization advocating for the creation of Khalistan.“Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a US citizen in New York City,” said US Attorney Jay Clayton. “He thought that from outside this country he could kill someone in it without consequence, simply for exercising their American right to free speech. But he was wrong, and he will face justice. Our message to all nefarious foreign actors should be clear: steer clear of the United States and our people.”

How the $100,000 murder plot was set up

According to the Second Superseding Indictment and statements made in court, Gupta worked with others in India and elsewhere, including co-defendant Vikash Yadav, who US authorities identified as an Indian government employee.Yadav was employed by the Government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing.“In or about May 2023, YADAV recruited GUPTA to orchestrate the assassination of the Victim in the United States,” the Justice Department said.At Yadav’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate. That individual was in fact a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.The confidential source introduced Gupta to a purported hitman who was actually a DEA undercover officer.“YADAV subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by GUPTA, to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim,” the release said. “On or about June 9, 2023, YADAV and GUPTA arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder.”

Surveillance, instructions and timing

Prosecutors said Yadav provided Gupta with the victim’s home address in New York City, phone numbers and details about his day-to-day conduct. Gupta allegedly passed that information to the undercover officer and provided Yadav with regular updates, including surveillance photographs.Gupta directed that the murder be carried out quickly but instructed that it should not occur around the time of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state visit to the United States in June 2023.On June 18, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in British Columbia. The Justice Department said Nijjar was an associate of the intended victim and a leader in the Sikh separatist movement.“On or about June 19, 2023, the day after the Nijjar murder, GUPTA told the UC that Nijjar ‘was also the target’ and ‘we have so many targets.’ GUPTA also added that, in light of Nijjar’s murder, there was ‘now no need to wait’ on killing the Victim,” the release said.Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic on June 30, 2023, and later extradited to the United States.

Charges and potential sentence

Gupta pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.“The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge,” the Justice Department said.

US agencies react

FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky said, “Nikhil Gupta was a key participant in a murder-for-hire plot against a US citizen, a murder that was prevented thanks to the actions of US law enforcement. The US citizen became a target of transnational repression solely for exercising their freedom of speech. The message from the FBI should be clear—no matter where you are located if you try to harm our citizens we will not stop until you are brought to justice.”DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said, “It is often a slippery and dangerous slope from drug trafficking to deadly violence, as demonstrated by the murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by international narcotics and weapons trafficker Nikhil Gupta. This case is a stark reminder of the ruthless lengths criminals will go to in order to further their illegal enterprises. I commend the men and women of DEA’s New York Task Force Division for their outstanding investigative work successfully foiling Gupta’s assassination plot. Let there be no doubt: DEA remains steadfast in its mission to protect America. We will continue to leverage our superior investigative expertise and unmatched intelligence capabilities to dismantle the drug trafficking networks that threaten our safety and well-being of our communities.”FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. said, “At the direction and coordination of an Indian government employee, Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a United States citizen on American soil, facilitating a foreign adversary’s unlawful effort to silence a vocal critic of the Indian government. The FBI will continue to aggressively defend the homeland against any foreign adversaries who target our citizens for exercising their constitutionally protected rights.”The case is being handled by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, along with the FBI and DEA. Gupta remains in custody and will be sentenced later this year.

Valentine’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us every year. One minute you’re minding your business, and the next minute your phone is full of heart emojis, couple photos, and people declaring their undying love on Instagram. And whether you’re madly in love, secretly crushing, happily single, or somewhere in between, this day still makes you feel something.

Valentine’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us every year. One minute you’re minding your business, and the next minute your phone is full of heart emojis, couple photos, and people declaring their undying love on Instagram.

And whether you’re madly in love, secretly crushing, happily single, or somewhere in between, this day still makes you feel something. So if you’re staring at your phone thinking, “What do I even say this year?” Relax. I’ve got you. Here’s a big, honest, no-cringe collection of Valentine’s Day wishes and messages you can send in 2026. For your partner. Your crush. Your best friend. Even that one person who drives you mad but still owns a tiny piece of your heart.

For your partner (the one who knows all your moods)

And some days you don’t need poetry. You just need to say what’s real.

For your crush (aka butterflies with anxiety)

Crushes are awkward. Let them be awkward. That’s half the charm.

For your best friend (your emotional support human)

Friendship deserves this day too. Honestly, sometimes more

For long-distance love (when love lives on screens)

For the one you love quietly

For yourself (because yes, you count)

Short and sweet texts (when you just need one line)

Valentine’s Day doesn’t need grand speeches or perfect words. Half the time, the simplest message is the one that hits the hardest. And it doesn’t have to be romantic to be real. Love shows up in friendships. In quiet support. In staying. In choosing someone again and again, even on the boring days. So send that text. Drop that message. Say the thing you’ve been holding back. Because one honest line can mean more than a hundred fancy words.