Morning Digest: FBI finds no evidence of Epstein’s sex trafficking for powerful men; India, Canada agree to work plan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on February 9, 2026.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation pored over Jeffrey Epstein’s bank records and emails. It searched his homes. It spent years interviewing his victims and examining his connections to some of the world’s most influential people. But while investigators collected ample proof that Epstein sexually abused underage girls, they found scant evidence the well-connected financier led a sex trafficking ring serving powerful men, an Associated Press review of internal Justice Department records shows. An examination of Epstein’s financial records, including payments he made to entities linked to influential figures in academia, finance and global diplomacy, found no connection to criminal activity, said another internal memo in 2019.

In a first since Canada accused India of being involved in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing in 2023, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Ottawa on February 7, 2026. Mr. Doval met his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Canadian PM. The visit was part of a bilateral security dialogue between the two sides. The visit by Mr. Doval was ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India in March. The two sides acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens. They agreed to a shared work plan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on respective priorities.

The governing party of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a two-thirds supermajority in a key parliamentary election on Sunday (February 8, 2026), Japanese media reported, citing preliminary results, earning a landslide victory thanks to her popularity. Ms. Takaichi, in a televised interview with public television network NHK following her sweeping victory, said she is now ready to pursue policies that would make Japan strong and prosperous. NHK, citing results of vote counts, said Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, alone secured 316 seats by early on Monday (February 9, 2026), comfortably surpassing a 261-seat absolute majority in the 465-member lower house.

With a focus on enhancing defence cooperation, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a bilateral meeting on Monday (February 9, 2026) at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The discussions are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in the defence sector, a senior Defence official said. Speaking at the India-EU Forum 2026 on Saturday (February 7, 2026), Mr. Dendias described India as an indispensable partner for Europe, highlighting New Delhi’s growing strategic and economic importance for the European Union and Greece in particular.

Four Indian medical students who were injured in a stabbing spree by a juvenile in a Russian university are “stable and recovering well,” the Indian mission said here on Sunday (February 8, 2026). These four Indians were among at least six people injured in the stabbing attack on Saturday at the State Medical University in Ufa, about 1,200 km east of the Russian capital, in the Bashkortostan Republic. Indian consular officials from Kazan on Sunday visited the four students at the hospital where they were taken after the stabbing incident.

Administration of Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Sunday (February 8, 2026) imposed prohibitory orders in the Litan area of the district “until further notice”, following tension between Naga and Kuki-Zo villagers over an assault case. District Magistrate Asish Das said the restrictions, under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, were imposed on apprehension of breach of peace and public tranquillity in the area. The restrictions came into force from 7 p.m. on Sunday (February 8, 2026). The district administration also requisitioned the services of the Army and paramilitary forces, including the Assam Rifles, as a preventive measure.