Delhi on alert: Lashkar-e-Taiba ‘plotting’ IED attack near Red Fort, Chandni Chowk area

An intelligence alert has been issued in Delhi after inputs warned of a possible terror threat near the Red Fort, with sources saying terrorists may target a temple in the Chandni Chowk area and that Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba is allegedly plotting an IED attack while keeping key religious places on its radar. The inputs also claim the group may be seeking to avenge a February 6 mosque blast in Islamabad, though authorities have not publicly confirmed specific details and security has been tightened at sensitive locations. The alert comes in the backdrop of the November 10 deadly car explosion near Red Fort which killed 15 people. Read full story

PM Modi, Brazil President Lula sign rare earths deal; aim for trade beyond $20 billion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva set a target of raising bilateral trade to $20 billion within five years and signed three agreements on digital partnership, rare earths and mining supply chains after they held talks in New Delhi during the Brazilian leader’s February 18–22 state visit, with PM Modi saying the goal reflects “trust” and stressing expansion of the India–MERCOSUR pact as Brazil remains India’s largest trading partner in Latin America; the leaders also pledged deeper cooperation in emerging technologies, renewable energy and sustainable fuels, while Lula described the engagement as a meeting of two major Global South democracies and called India a “digital superpower.” Read full story

4 Youth Congress workers sent to 5-day custody for ‘shirtless’ protest at the AI Impact Summit

A Delhi court granted five-day police custody of four members of the Indian Youth Congress arrested for staging a shirtless protest inside Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit, after Delhi Police alleged the demonstration was part of a larger conspiracy possibly linked to a protest pattern seen in Nepal and aimed at defaming the country internationally. Police told the court that the accused raised anti-national slogans against the India–US trade deal, wore T-shirts carrying messages targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and injured three policemen during the protest. Read full story

‘Studying all developments’: India reacts after US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs

The government said it is closely studying the developments and implications of the US Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down sweeping global tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, with the commerce ministry noting it has taken cognisance of both the judgment and subsequent steps announced by the US administration. The court, in a 6–3 verdict authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, held the tariffs violated federal law, after which Trump called the decision “terrible” and said he would impose a fresh 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 while keeping existing Section 232 and 301 tariffs in place. He also asserted that the India–US trade deal would remain unaffected. Read full story

Indian-origin executive Asha Sharma named CEO of Microsoft Gaming

Microsoft has appointed Asha Sharma, widely said to be of Indian origin, as chief executive of its gaming division, succeeding longtime Xbox head Phil Spencer, who is retiring after nearly four decades and will remain an adviser through summer, as the company faces slowing growth, rising costs and stiff competition in the global gaming market. Sharma will report directly to chairman and CEO Satya Nadella. The leadership change comes as Microsoft Gaming faces multiple pressures. Read full story