India on Saturday reacted to the US-Israel strikes on Iran and urged all sides to remain calm. The Ministry of External Affairs said, “India is deeply concerned at the recent developments in Iran and the Gulf region.” It added, “We urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritise the safety of civilians.”   The statement said dialogue and diplomacy should be used to reduce tensions. It also stressed that sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.   The MEA said Indian missions are in touch with nationals in the region. Advisories have been issued asking them to remain vigilant and follow local security guidance. (PC: HT)

An Indian national in Bahrain said he heard a siren followed by six to seven blasts after Iran targeted a US naval base in the country.   Asif, an IT worker from Haryana, said they received a government alert around 11.30 am asking people to take shelter. “Within 10–15 minutes, we heard a loud explosion,” he said. Soon after, lifts stopped and residents were told to use stairs and evacuate.   “I heard six or seven blasts. Most were intercepted,” he added.   Shops closed early and flights were suspended. He urged the Indian government to evacuate those who want to return. (PC: India Today)

An Air India flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv (AI139) was forced to **turn back mid-air and divert to Mumbai after Israel shut its airspace following military strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026. The airline said the decision prioritised passenger and crew safety amid the escalating conflict and closures affecting flights in the region. IndiGo and other carriers are also monitoring conditions closely and advising passengers to check flight statuses as disruptions continue due to the security situation. The closures come amid heightened tensions after joint US-Israel actions against Iran. (PC: Air India)

In Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, two men convicted of murdering a man by running him over were sentenced to life imprisonment by Additional District and Sessions Judge Nijendra Kumar. Moments after the verdict, the convicts threatened the judge, telling him they knew his address and village and warning they would harm him, officials said. The chilling threat inside the courtroom has raised serious concerns about judicial safety and courtroom decorum. Police and court authorities are now reviewing security measures for the judge and taking the incident seriously. The victim, Pukhraj, was killed in the Dhampur area in 2024.

Japan has pledged support for infrastructure and connectivity projects that will link Northeast India to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Horii Iwao said during the KIZUNA‑6 India–Japan Intellectual Conclave. He emphasised Tokyo’s commitment to boosting regional integration and development under the broader India–Japan strategic partnership, including encouraging private‑sector cooperation in economic and clean energy sectors. The initiative aims to strengthen transport and trade links from landlocked northeastern states toward maritime routes, enhancing economic opportunities and strategic ties in the Indo‑Pacific. Japan also stressed people‑to‑people cooperation and sustainable growth. 

Campaigners have taken a petition with over 20,000 signatures to Buckingham Palace urging King Charles to prevent the closure of Veeraswamy, the UK's oldest surviving Indian restaurant, founded in March 1926 on Regent Street. The Crown Estate, which manages the Grade II-listed Victory House, declined to renew the restaurant's lease citing plans for comprehensive modernisation. Co-owner Ranjit Mathrani called the decision "short-sighted," saying "100 years of history is being relegated to the dustbin." Celebrity chefs Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux and Richard Corrigan signed the petition. Veeraswamy, which received a Michelin star in 2016 and catered twice at Buckingham Palace, described itself as a "symbol of Indo-British cultural connections."

India and the European Union have agreed on a five-year Most Favoured Nation status as part of their landmark Free Trade Agreement, confirmed in a draft released Friday. Under the deal, 93% of Indian exports will enter the 27-nation EU bloc duty-free, while EU luxury cars face reduced import tariffs potentially dropping from 110% to 40%, eventually reaching 10%. The agreement unites the world's fourth-largest economy with the second-largest economic bloc, forming a combined market of 2 billion people representing 25% of global GDP. Negotiations began in 2007, paused in 2013 and resumed in June 2022. The deal was formally announced on January 27 following marathon talks with PM Modi. (PC: India Today)

The Apple Farmers' Federation of India (AFFI) has announced a protest outside Parliament during the Budget Session's second leg in March 2026, demanding the scrapping of the India-US interim bilateral trade agreement. AFFI convener and Jammu & Kashmir MLA M.Y. Tarigami and co-convener Rakesh Singha condemned what they described as the "total annihilation of import tariffs" on Washington apples, reduced from 50% to nil under the agreement. They called it an "unequal treaty" and a "death knell" for India's domestic apple industry. Farmers from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be mobilised for the demonstration, protesting what they term a major surrender of India's economic interests. (PC: The Hindu)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will skip Punjab and avoid Bhangra dancing during his first official visit to India, deliberately distancing himself from predecessor Justin Trudeau's widely mocked 2018 trip. Carney to arrive in Mumbai with the aim of reset strained Canada-India relations, soured after Trudeau alleged Indian government links to the assassination of a prominent Sikh separatist, a claim India repeatedly denied. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed new measures are in place tracking criminal money, digital threats and diaspora surveillance. Some Sikh groups have criticised Carney's approach. After India, Carney will visit Australia and later meet Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi to explore trade in autos, energy and critical minerals. (PC: The Tribune)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on 27 Feb 2026 for his first official visit to India, running through 2 March, aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Narendra Modi. The four-day trip includes business engagements with industry leaders, discussions on trade, investment, energy and technology, and delegation-level talks in New Delhi. Both sides plan to review progress under the India-Canada Strategic Partnership and launch negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The visit marks a diplomatic thaw after years of strained relations. (PC: Reuters)