China allegedly hacked mobile phones of senior British Downing Street officials between 2021-2024, compromising communications of aides to former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. The espionage operation, known as Salt Typhoon, may still be ongoing, potentially affecting current PM Keir Starmer. US intelligence warns the breach accessed text messages, calls, metadata, and location data. This forms part of a broader global campaign targeting Five Eyes intelligence partners including the US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The FBI warned Chinese hackers infiltrated telecommunications networks worldwide. Britain's MI5 alerted Parliament in November about Chinese state espionage threats, while parliamentary committees criticized government's inadequate response. (PC: Times Now)

India's historic trade deal with the EU eliminates tariffs on 96.6% of European exports, potentially making numerous products cheaper for Indian consumers. The agreement is one of the largest both parties have concluded, reduces duties from 50-150% to 0-20%, saving €4 billion annually. Key industrial goods seeing tariff cuts include machinery, aircraft, medical equipment, plastics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals dropping to zero percent. Motor vehicles will decrease from 110% to 10%. Agricultural products like wine, spirits, beer, olive oil, processed foods, and meat will see significant reductions. Prime Minister Modi announced this deal represents 25% of global GDP and one-third of global trade, creating major opportunities for Indians and Europeans alike. (PC: Instagram/@HindustanTimes)

A Lashkar-e-Taiba commander has publicly confirmed links with Hamas, raising concerns about expanding terrorist cooperation. Faisal Nadeem admitted meeting Hamas leader Khaled Mashal in Doha, Qatar, in 2024, accompanied by Pahalgam attack mastermind Saifullah Kasuri. This follows earlier reports of Hamas commander Naji Zaheer meeting Lashkar's Rashid Ali Sandhu in Pakistan's Gujranwala. Zaheer has reportedly visited Pakistan fifteen times since October 2023. Officials suggest these meetings indicate strategic efforts to build ideological and operational alliances involving training, fundraising, and propaganda collaboration. Indian intelligence agencies are closely monitoring developments and assessing implications for national security, with potential actions at FATF and international bodies. (PC: NDTV)

President Donald Trump warned Iran as US warships head toward West Asia, stating America has an "armada" moving in that direction while expressing hope it won't be needed. US officials confirmed aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and guided-missile destroyers will arrive in coming days, with additional air defence systems under consideration. The deployments follow US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June and aim to protect American bases while providing military options. Trump threatened intervention over Iran's protest crackdown, claiming Tehran cancelled nearly 840 executions following his warnings. He told reporters he hopes for a deal before it's too late, though tensions remain high between both nations.

Arijit Singh has clarified his decision to step back from playback singing, citing multiple reasons rather than a single incident. The 38-year-old singer explained he loses interest quickly and needs new creative challenges to thrive. He expressed eagerness to hear fresh voices that inspire him and wishes to focus on personal growth and independent music production. Singh reassured fans he'll honor existing commitments, with releases still appearing this year, and emphasized he won't stop making music entirely. His most recent playback work is "Maatrubhumi" from Battle Of Galwan. While stepping away from new playback projects, Singh will continue live performances and independent musical endeavors. (PC: X)

India’s free trade agreement with the European Union has accelerated wider changes in global trade ties. Following the deal, Canada and Brazil have moved to strengthen economic engagement with India. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is planning a visit to New Delhi in March to expand cooperation in energy, critical minerals and technology. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will lead a large business delegation to India in February. Officials and analysts link these moves to efforts by major economies to reduce dependence on the United States as tariff risks rise under President Donald Trump. The India-EU pact, signed on January 27, is seen as a central pillar of this shift. (PC: BBC)

Popular singer Arijit Singh has announced his retirement from playback singing. He shared the news in an emotional post on Instagram. Arijit said he will not take any new playback assignments. He thanked fans for their love and support over the years. The singer said his journey had been wonderful but gave no reason for the decision. Fans reacted with shock and disbelief online. Arijit is known for hit songs like Tum Hi Ho, Channa Mereya and Hawayein. He has won two National Awards and received the Padma Shri in 2025.

An ISKCON temple in Bangladesh was robbed in Brahmanbaria district on Monday. Thieves broke into the Sri Sri Pagal Shankar ISKCON temple at night. They stole 14 idols, cash worth 20,000 taka, and gold and silver ornaments. Several rooms were forced open. The priest said the temple does not feel safe anymore. This was the second theft at the temple since 2017. Police said a case is being filed and teams are investigating. The incident comes amid rising attacks on Hindus and their places of worship in the country. 

WhatsApp has launched a new high-security option for users. The feature is called “Strict Account Settings” and is rolling out from Tuesday. It offers stronger protection against hacking and spying. The mode blocks media from unknown senders and disables link previews. It also silences calls from unknown numbers. WhatsApp said the feature is aimed at journalists, activists and public figures. Its parent company Meta Platforms is the third major tech firm to add such a tool. Earlier, Apple and Alphabet introduced similar high-protection modes for high-risk users. 

India and the European Union have agreed on a major free trade deal. The agreement will cut tariffs on most European goods entering India. Import duty on European cars will fall to 10% from nearly 70% over time. Medicines, medical equipment, machinery and chemicals will also become cheaper. Tariffs on wine will drop to 20–30%, while duties on beer and spirits will be reduced. Over 90% of EU goods will see lower or zero tariffs. The EU expects exports to India to double by 2032. The deal may increase competition for Indian firms. (PC: Salman Ali/PTI)