Month: February 2026

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that he is raising the 10% worldwide tariff on countries announced yesterday “to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level.”

In a post on his social media handle Truth Social, Trump also said that during “the next short number of months”, his Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue “the extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again”.

“Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been ‘ripping’ the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level,” Trump said.

“During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again – GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the post added.

In a major blow to Trump’s signature trade policy, the US Supreme Court on Friday ruled against most of his sweeping tariff measures. Trump later signed an order making 10 per cent global tariff on all countries, effective “almost immediately”

.A White House official told ANI on Friday that India is expected to pay this tariff, and this new tariff will remain in place until another authority is invoked, emphasising the expectation that trade partners abide by US trade deals.”Yes, 10% until another authority is invoked,” the White House Official stated when asked whether India will have to pay 10 per cent tariffs and whether they will replace previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The official also advised all the trade partners to abide by the trade deals.

The US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs.

Terming SC’s ruling as a “terrible decision”, Trump on Friday announced he would sign an executive order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. This authority allows for a temporary import surcharge (up to 15%) for 150 days to address balance-of-payments deficits.

India and the United States had on February 7 announced that they have reached a framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade (Interim Agreement). The framework reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to the broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, which will include additional market access commitments and support more resilient supply chains.

The Interim Agreement between the United States and India will represent a historic milestone in our countries’ partnership, demonstrating a common commitment to reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests and concrete outcomes, a joint statement said.

Key terms of the Interim Agreement included India eliminating or reducing tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional products.

It said the United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18 per cent under Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as amended, on originating goods of India, including textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and certain machinery. It also said that subject to the successful conclusion of the Interim Agreement, the US will remove the reciprocal tariff on a wide range of goods, including generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts.

The US had earlier imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent penalty for importing oil from Russia.

The government said earlier in the day that it is studying the implications of the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs and the steps announced by the President Trump Administration.

“We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday. President Trump has also addressed a press conference in that regard. Some steps have been announced by the US Administration. We are studying all these developments for their implications,” the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a brief statement. (ANI)

For weeks, rumours have been swirling that Sargun Mehta and Ravie Dubey are expecting their first child. Finally, on Saturday, Sargun addressed the buzz and denied the speculation, urging everyone to stop spreading baseless news.

Taking to Instagram, Sargun wrote, ” How do you know about a pregnancy that me and Ravi are unaware about? STOP IT .. KINDLY (folded hand emoji). News apparently knows before us about our ‘pregnancy for the last two years.”

“According to them, I have been pregnant. That’s one long pregnancy. Just calm down and stop spreading baseless news. It wouldn’t take much time to ask us or our team if the news is genuine before writing about it,” she added.

“Just CALM DOWN and STOP spreading baseless news. It wouldn’t take much time to ask us or our team if the news is genuine before writing about it,” she reiterated once again.

Ravie and Sargun tied the knot on December 7, 2013. The couple first met on the set of the TV show 12/24 Karol Bagh, where their on-screen collaboration blossomed into love during the shoot.In 2019, they launched their production company, Dreamiyata Drama, which went on to produce popular shows such as Udaariyaan and Junooniya.

Ravie will soon be seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming magnum opus ‘Ramayana’. As announced by the makers, Ranbir Kapoor will lead the narrative as Lord Rama, while Ravie Dubey will portray Lakshman.

Yash will be seen as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman.’Ramayana’ Part 1 is set to release on Diwali 2026, while the second instalment is set for release in Diwali 2027. (ANI)

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while addressing ‘Punjab Bachao Rally’ held in Amritsar, said that Punjab is not just a state but the soul of India.

The Chief Minister said this is the sacred land from where the message of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ spread across the world from Sri Harmandir Sahib. It is the same place where Jallianwala Bagh still bears testimony to the sacrifices of the freedom struggle. Punjab has given Mother India immortal sons such as Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, and Sukhdev.

He said that raising the slogan of ‘Punjab Bachao’ on such a great land brings pain but strengthens resolve. The Chief Minister said it is time for introspection, whether Punjab’s youth are moving towards a secure and confident future, or being pushed into the darkness of drugs and despair. Whether farmers are breathing a sigh of relief or are burdened by debt and uncertain policies. Whether traders are conducting business fearlessly or living under the shadow of extortion and insecurity.

Targeting the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party governments, he said that decades of Congress rule weakened Punjab through corruption and lax administration. The drug problem reached every village, but action remained confined to paperwork. Promises of loan waivers for farmers and employment for youth were made, but the expected results were not seen on the ground.

He said that even after the Aam Aadmi Party came to power, people’s expectations have not been fulfilled. Despite more than four years in office, drugs have not been completely eradicated, nor have large-scale employment opportunities been provided to youth.

The Chief Minister demanded that the Punjab Government issue a white paper detailing how many youth were given permanent employment in recent years and what concrete action has been taken against drug trafficking.

The Chief Minister said that in Haryana, Minimum Support Price (MSP) is being provided on 24 crops. Under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, Rs 5,000 crore has been allocated in the budget to provide assistance of Rs 2,100.

In case of crop loss due to natural disasters, full compensation is being given to farmers. He stated that while Rs 1,139 crore was given as compensation during the Congress tenure, the BJP’s double-engine government has provided Rs 15,500 crore to farmers.

He further informed that under the Ayushman/Chirayu Yojana, free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per family is being provided in Haryana, benefiting lakhs of beneficiaries. An amount of Rs 4,500 crore has been spent on treatment under this scheme.

In Haryana, Rs 3,200 per month is being given as Old Age Samman Allowance pension. In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab had promised to increase the pension from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500, which has not yet been fulfilled.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people of Punjab to give the BJP an opportunity in the 2027 Assembly elections for development, good governance, and security. He expressed confidence that Punjab will play a decisive role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to make India a developed nation by 2047.

He also assured that once a BJP government is formed, effective control will be imposed on organised crime in Punjab.

On this occasion, BJP leader Shwait Malik, programme convener Sahib Singh Muchhal, Raghubir Singh Chhinda, former MLA Bishan Saini, and other dignitaries were present. (ANI)

The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA), in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), launched an intensive crackdown on food adulteration in Kanpur, resulting seizing of more than 13 thousand litres of adulterated oil and over 1,000 KG of coloured waste.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 13,972 litres of adulterated oil and 1,350 kg of coloured waste. Additionally, officials raided a fake ghee manufacturing unit in Kalyanpur, and goods valued at ₹5.45 lakh were seized. All seized samples have been sent to a laboratory for further analysis, according to an official statement.

This campaign was launched at food outlets across the city as the festival season approaches. FSDA also conducts rapid raids in Lucknow during Ramadan and Holi. The campaign includes surprise inspections of cold storage facilities and dairies. During the raid, 1,320 kg of dates were seized. Along with that, 1,418 kg of coloured Kachri was also seized.

“Action was taken at Swaroop Cold Storage in Aishbagh. An inspection of Himalayan Cold Storage on Ayodhya Road was also conducted, and a raid was also carried out on dairies in the Havetmau area of Rae Bareli Road, with samples also taken from sweet shops. Food items were seized from the warehouse of a businessman in Aminabad. Strict action continues against adulteration ahead of the festivals,” the statement read.

Earlier, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a Comprehensive Online Training Programme on Food Safety Risk Assessment, along with a dedicated digital training portal, marking a significant milestone in strengthening India’s science-based food regulatory framework.

The training framework is aligned with international risk analysis principles while being tailored to India’s regulatory requirements, ensuring both global relevance and national applicability. As food systems grow increasingly complex due to emerging contaminants, antimicrobial resistance, technological innovations, and changing dietary patterns, building institutional capacity for risk assessment is essential to protect public health and ensure credible regulatory decision-making.

A core component of the training was Dietary Exposure Assessment, which was developed with WHO’s technical support and delivered by JECFA (Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), JEMRA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment), and JMPR (Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues) experts. (ANI)

In a major development in the ongoing probe into threats targeting Bollywood personalities, the Mumbai Crime Branch has issued a Look Out Circular (LOC) against Harichandra, alias Harry Boxer, a suspected member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, in connection with an extortion threat made to actor Ranveer Singh.

According to officials, Ranveer Singh received a threatening WhatsApp voice note on his manager’s phone number. The sender identified himself as Harry Boxer and demanded a ransom of Rs 20 crore.

Police confirmed that the voice note was sent using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to conceal the sender’s network identity and location. The threatening audio clip has been sent to Punjab and Haryana for verification, an official confirmed.

The Mumbai Police have recorded the statement of Ranveer Singh’s manager as part of the investigation. Authorities earlier confirmed a series of high-profile threats targeting actors Ranveer Singh and Aayush Sharma, with investigators suspecting links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

The developments come amid a broader probe into the January 31, 2024, firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu. Police believe the threats may be part of a coordinated intimidation campaign targeting prominent figures in the film industry. The Bishnoi gang had previously claimed responsibility for the firing through a social media post, officials said.

On February 17, five accused arrested in the Rohit Shetty firing case were produced before the MCOCA court after their police custody expired. The court remanded all five to police custody until February 23. The accused- Aditya Gaikki, Siddharth Yenpure, Samarth Pomaji, Swapnil Sakat and Asaram Fasale- were arrested from Pune. In court, Swapnil Sakat alleged that police coerced his statement and forced him to sign documents.

According to Mumbai Police sources, four individuals were involved in the Rohit Shetty firing case: Deepak Sharma, Sunny, Sonu, and one fugitive.

Deepak allegedly fired the shots while the others were present nearby. Sonu had lived in Kalyan for two years and recently returned to his village in Agra, where he was involved in supplying arms and was in contact with the other accused.

Sources said Deepak Sharma allegedly carried out the firing, while the other accused were not present at the exact spot during the shooting but were in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

Mumbai Police’s investigation into the Rohit Shetty house firing case has led to the arrest of 12 accused, including the main shooter, Deepak Sharma. The Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch is handling the case, with sections of the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) invoked.

Further inquiries are underway. (ANI)

Superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan are set to share the big screen with their upcoming film, which is tentatively titled KH x RK. The makers have released the promo video of the upcoming film on Saturday.

Directed by Dilipkumar Nelson, the film also boasts the soundtrack of the music composer Anirudh Ravichander.

The promo of the film reflected the director’s signature touch, highlighting the humour and quirky charm of Nelson. The clip has a lively interaction between the stalwarts of the Indian cinema industry. The video concludes with Rajinikanth’s swag as he stylishly passes car keys to Kamal Haasan before leaving the building.

Red Giant Movies, the official production house of the film, shared the promo on their X handle. While sharing the video, they wrote “Born Cool. Built Retro. Eternal Swag.”

On the work front, Rajinikanth will next be seen in ‘Thalaivar 173.’ The film is backed by Kamal Haasan and will be directed by Cibi Chakravarti. Rajinikanth was last seen in ‘Coolie,’ directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj.

The film, set in the Visakhapatnam docks, follows the story of a former coolie who uncovers a smuggling racket while investigating his friend’s death.

The sequel to the superhit film Jailer, starring Rajinikanth, was also announced last year, adding to the excitement for the fans.

As for Kamal Haasan, the actor was last seen in the film ‘Thug Life’, which was directed by Mani Ratnam. The movie didn’t perform well at the box office. (ANI)

Actor Priyanka Chopra is already thinking about the kind of guidance she would offer her daughter Malti Marie if she ever chooses to step into the entertainment industry.

In a recent interaction with E! News, Priyanka shared her advice for Malti, whom she shares with husband Nick Jonas.

If their four-year-old decides to pursue acting in the future, Priyanka’s message is clear: stay grounded, and focus on your craft.

“Focus on yourself and what your contribution is instead of all the noise,” she said, adding, “There can be so much distraction and pressure that comes from it. I think just focusing on your craft helps and protects you to be good at what you do,” as quoted by E! News.

Priyanka, who will next be seen in ‘The Bluff’, premiering on Prime Video on February 25, revealed that Malti is already familiar with life on set. According to the actor, her daughter has been accompanying her to work since infancy.

“She’s been on set with me since she was one year old,” Priyanka shared, adding that Malti even traveled at six months and joined Jonas on tour.

Growing up with parents deeply rooted in film and music, Malti’s exposure to the spotlight has been consistent.

Priyanka explained that she and Jonas have made conscious efforts to normalise their professions for their daughter. “Every parent has a job, Mama makes movies,” she said, describing how they introduce Malti to various departments on set- from craft services to assistant directors, producers, and hair and makeup teams.

“She’s seen the different departments, and I think she really loves coming to set with me. Her fascination and curiosity is just so much fun,” she told E! News.

Priyanka’s upcoming film, ‘The Bluff,’ is directed by Frank E. Flowers. Set in the Cayman Islands, the film promises high-octane action, with Priyanka taking on intense sword and gun sequences opposite Karl Urban. The film is slated to release on Prime Video on February 25. (ANI)

Karnataka’s Vijayapura District Police on Saturday organised a ceremony to mark the retirement of two veteran police dogs, Raksha and Stella, honouring their 12 years of service. Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi presided over the event, honouring the canines for their significant contributions to crime detection and security within the district.

District Superintendent of Police Lakshman Nimbargi announced the retirement of the two dogs, highlighting how the canines has helped the police identify more than 30 accused people across 600 criminal cases.

Speaking on the occasion, Lakshman Nimbargi said that Stella played a significant role in more than 600 criminal cases and helped the department in identifying more than 30 accused. He said that its contribution to crime detection is especially appreciated by the department.

The Raksha dog specialises in detecting bombs and contraband and was also used prominently in the VVIP security system. The retirement of both these dogs was an emotional moment for the department, with the police officials remembering their service.

At the same time, two new police dogs, Yoddha and Veda, were officially inducted into the service. Yoddha, a Belgian Malinois breed, specialises in crime detection, while Veda is trained in detecting bombs and explosives. The SP expressed confidence that the new dogs will further strengthen the department’s performance.

Meanwhile, more than 150 Indian breed dogs have been deployed across multiple operational theatres, including the Western and Eastern borders and in Anti-Naxalite operations, delivering “good results,” a press release said. According to the statement, their commendable performance has validated the decision to integrate Indian breeds into critical security and operational roles.

The Rampur Hound, originating from the princely state of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, was historically bred by the Nawabs for hunting jackals and large game. The breed is known for its speed, stamina, and fearlessness.

The Mudhol Hound, native to the Deccan Plateau, is traditionally associated with guarding and hunting. Local accounts link similar hounds to the Maratha forces, valued for their alertness and loyalty. The breed was later revived and refined by Raja Malojirao Ghorpade of Mudhol, who introduced it to the British as the “Caravan Hound.

“The BSF has not only been training these indigenous breeds at NTCD Tekanpur but has also taken the lead in breeding and propagation, both at NTCD and across various field formations,” the statement read. This initiative has since expanded to subsidiary K9 training centres, ensuring the large-scale development and deployment of Indian breed dogs across the Force. (ANI)

The Patiala House Court on Saturday sent four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar, Narsingh in 5 days police custody.

They have been arrested in connection with the AI Summit protest that was held at Bharat Mandapam on Friday. They were wearing T Shirts inscribed with the slogan ‘India US Trade Deal Compromised’.

The bail pleas of all accused have been dismissed by the court. The court rejected the bail pleas in view of the crucial initial stage of investigation, apprehension of Accused fleeing from justice, tampering with evidence, and termed it as premature .

Delhi Police argued that the accsued persons raised anti national slogans and protested on line of Gen Z protest of Nepal in order to defame the country at the international level. They protested when the international dignitaries were present at Bharta Mandapam.

Delhi police has registered a case for the alleged offences of obstructing public servant from performing the official duty, assaulting a public servant, hate speech, criminal conspiracy etc.

Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ravi granted five days custody of accused persons after hearing the submissions of Delhi police and additional public prosecutor (APP).

Police have sought custody of four accused persons to custody to investigate and unearth the Conspiracy, to identify and arrest the other persons involved in Conspiracy of the offence.

While opposing the remand application, advocate Rupesh Singh Bhadauria, Litesh Batra and Chitwan Godara submitted that accused belong to a opposition political party. They organised a protest at Bharat Mandapam, they used their right to protest. Their protest was a peaceful protest. It was also submitted that they are office bearers.

The protest was peaceful, there is no video that shows any aggression or violence. All the offences alleged against the accused persons attracts a punishment upto seven years only. There is no requirement of arrest and custodial remand.

The counsel for accused submitted that the FIR is nothing, but a political task.

The counsel also submitted that they are educated persons and they are degree holders.

Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Shrivastav submitted that accused raised anti national slogans. They were wearing T-shirts showing message against the Prime Minister.

While seeking five days custody, Delhi police argued that the anti-national slogans were raised in the presence of international leaders and dignitaries.

Their custody is required to arrest other accused persons who fled from the spot, to confront with the electronic evidence.

Delhi police further submitted that the custody of the accused persons was required to investigate the case effectively. Police said that three police men got injured when they tried to apprehend the accsued persons, their mobiles are to be recovered, to verify whether they were funded by any organisation is also to be investigated.

APP Shrivastav submitted that the accsued are four persons from four different places who come together, they printed T-shirts, in order to investigate the case five days custody is required.

While opposing the remand application the counsel for the accused submitted that they are being targeted as they belong to a opposition party, they have been beaten black and blue, there is a recession and protest are being held everywhere, can everyone be arrested.

There should be a justification for custodial remand. It should not be given in a mechanical manner, Advocate Rupesh Singh Bhadauria argued.

They are young, they have career, the political dissent shouldn’t be crushed in this way. It was a peaceful protest, the counsel said.

On the other hand APP submitted that if they are educated persons they should know the consequences of their acts.

The court asked the investigation officer why five days custody is required?

Investigation officer said that there is deep Conspiracy to defame, other protestors fled from the spot, for proper investigation custody is required. They are from different states and they are required to be taken to their places.

While arguing on the bail pleas, the Counsel for the accused said that there is no evidence to show that the protest was not peaceful. All the offences are not punishable for more than seven years. They are not required to be arrested and sent in custody remand.

The guidelines of Arnesh Kumar is not complied with, the counsel argued.

APP Shrivastav opposed the bail pleas and submitted that the allegations are serious in nature, there is Conspiracy to defame the country at international level. The don’t deserve to be released on bail. (ANI)

Pakistan’s Parliamentary body has raised red flags over what it termed as “unreliable and incomplete statistics” being reported on HIV/AIDS in the nation, cautioning that the country could face humiliation at international platforms if inaccurate data is forwarded to global health agencies, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, the concerns were voiced during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on National Health Services, chaired by Mahesh Kumar Malani. Lawmakers scrutinised figures presented by the health ministry and questioned their credibility, describing them as inconsistent with provincial data. Briefing the committee, officials said that the National AIDS Programme spends roughly $300 to $500 per year on each registered HIV patient.

However, PPP MNA Shazia Sobia Somro sharply criticised the ministry’s report, arguing that it failed to account for a significant number of cases across the country. She claimed that approximately 40,000 HIV patients were recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2025 alone, alongside around 300 cases in Islamabad and between 7,000 and 8,000 in Balochistan during the same year. Despite these numbers, the federal report listed only 81,000 patients nationwide and omitted detailed data from several regions. She warned that sharing such flawed statistics with international organisations could damage Pakistan’s credibility.

Somro further alleged that the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority had submitted outdated figures instead of updated data when asked to provide fresh statistics. She also drew attention to reports of illegal abortions, claiming they were taking place in as many as 60 per cent of certain cases, raising broader governance and oversight questions, as cited by The Express Tribune.

Responding to the criticism, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said it was unrealistic to expect years of systemic shortcomings to be resolved within months. He added that estimates placing Pakistan’s HIV burden at 300,000 were largely speculative. The minister also disclosed that under the Global Fund framework, 25 per cent of resources are channelled through the government, while 75 per cent are distributed to non-governmental organisations, highlighting structural complexities in the national HIV response, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)