The US, Russia and China were among more than 80 nations that signed the New Delhi Declaration at the AI Impact Summit 2026. In total, 88 countries and international groups endorsed the pact.   The declaration stresses national sovereignty, wider access to AI and stronger global cooperation. It says the benefits of Artificial Intelligence must be shared equally. “The benefits of AI must be equitably shared across humanity,” the statement said.   The summit was held in New Delhi from February 18 to 20. It drew over five lakh visitors. Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called it a “grand success” and said India secured over USD 250 billion in investment commitments. (PC: X)

The UK government is considering a new law to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession over his past links to Jeffrey Epstein. Defence Minister Luke Pollard said it was the “right thing to do,” but added that any step should follow the police investigation. Andrew was recently arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation. He denies all wrongdoing. He had earlier stepped back from public duties after criticism over his ties to Epstein. Any change to the line of succession would need approval from Parliament and support from Commonwealth countries. (PC: BBC)

Two improvised explosive devices were found in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir as agencies warned of a possible Lashkar-e-Taiba plot targeting Delhi. Officials have not linked the recoveries to the alert, but security remains tight.   In Punjab, an IED was found in a bag near a police post in Amritsar. “A suspicious bag was spotted… the bomb disposal squad confirmed it as an IED and diffused it,” SSP Sohail Qasim Mir said. Another IED was detected in Ganderbal’s Safapora area in Kashmir and defused by the army’s bomb squad and J&K Police. Security has been stepped up across Delhi. (PC: India Today)

Punch-kun, the young Japanese macaque who recently won hearts after being accepted by his troop at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, has now made another adorable breakthrough. After overcoming early rejection and slowly bonding with adult members of the group, Punch has formed a playful connection with another juvenile macaque. Zoo officials shared that the pair were seen grooming, chasing, and sitting closely together — positive signs of social bonding in macaque communities. The new friendship marks another step in Punch’s emotional development and integration, delighting animal lovers worldwide who continue to follow his heartwarming journey.

In Bannu District of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a suicide attack during an intelligence-based military operation left two Pakistani soldiers dead and five militants killed, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday. The casualties included Lt Col Shahzada Gul Faraz and Sepoy Karamat Shah, who were killed after their security convoy was targeted by militants called Fitna al-Khwarij, a term used by authorities for alleged Indian-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters. Troops intercepted a vehicle-borne suicide bomber, averting a larger civilian tragedy, but militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the lead convoy, triggering intense combat. The clash highlights ongoing security challenges in northwest Pakistan’s militant-affected regions. (PC: Dawn)

Following a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down most of former President Donald Trump’s broad global tariffs as unlawful, the United States has announced a revised trade move affecting India. The court decided Trump exceeded his authority under emergency powers, invalidating tariffs that had been hitting Indian exports. In response, the Trump administration imposed a temporary 10 per cent import tariff on goods from all countries, including India, effective from February 24 under a different legal authority. This replaces previous higher levies that had been reduced as part of India-US trade discussions, potentially altering export costs and ongoing negotiations. (PC: PTI)

At Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque named Punch-kun has captured global attention after being embraced by his monkey troop following an emotionally difficult start. Born in July 2025, Punch was abandoned by his mother and initially rejected by other macaques, leading staff to care for him using a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort. Zookeepers slowly reintroduced him to the group, and recent viral footage shows an adult monkey hugging and grooming Punch — a key sign of acceptance and social bonding among primates. The touching moment has delighted viewers worldwide.

Security agencies in India’s capital have sounded a high terror alert following intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) may be planning an attack targeting a temple near the historic Red Fort in the Chandni Chowk area. The warning suggests militants could use an improvised explosive device (IED), allegedly as retaliation for a February 6 mosque blast in Islamabad. Authorities have intensified surveillance, increased patrols, deployed bomb squads, and tightened security at key religious and heritage sites across the city. Officials emphasise precaution, urging vigilance without panic. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil reaffirmed stronger economic ties during high-level talks in New Delhi, aiming to raise bilateral trade above $20 billion in the next five years, up from about $15 billion in 2025. They described the relationship as a “win-win partnership” covering critical minerals, technology, defence and pharmaceuticals, with expanded cooperation and business delegations underscoring mutual trust. Both leaders highlighted opportunities in strategic supply chains and broader India-MERCOSUR trade engagement to fuel growth. (PC: X)

Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, has sparked controversy by asserting that **Israel has a “biblical right” to territory stretching from the Euphrates to the Nile, citing the Old Testament promise to Abraham’s descendants during an interview with Tucker Carlson. Huckabee said it “would be fine if they took it all,” though he later clarified that Israel currently seeks only to live in peace and secure areas where its people reside. Critics say his remarks reflect strong evangelical support and downplay Palestinian rights, raising international concerns over U.S. Middle East policy.