Pax Silica a ‘Silicon Shield’ for India to protect its digital sovereignty

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

The US Pax Silica initiative represents a new strategic framework for the world where cooperation in semiconductors, critical minerals and AI infrastructure, potentially replaces conflict over technology, according to Industry experts.

For India, this is a transformational opportunity, as we move from being a large consumer of electronics to becoming a global design and manufacturing partner.

“With our strong semiconductor design talent, growing fabrication and packaging ecosystem, and large domestic demand, India can serve as the trusted bridge between East and West in this emerging alliance,” said Ashok Chandak, President, IESA and SEMI India.

Pax Silica also strengthens India’s digital sovereignty by ensuring secure access to semiconductors and AI infrastructure, which are now critical to defence, telecom, mobility and economic growth, he noted.

The US-led initiative brings together an initial group of countries closely tied to semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology supply chains, especially to reduce dependence on China.

Pax Silica aims to build a resilient, democratic and diversified technology ecosystem so that no single geography can disrupt the global flow of chips and compute.

“The message is clear: the future of technology will be built on trusted partnerships. Pax Silica gives India an opportunity to convert talent leadership into technology and manufacturing leadership,” said Chandak.

At the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’, India formally joined the Pax Silica coalition, marking a significant milestone in the strengthening of strategic technology and supply chain cooperation between India and the United States.

Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, framed the moment as one that transcends a ceremonial signing.

“We are not just holding a summit; we are building the future,” he said, emphasising that new foundations and new opportunities are being created for the younger generation.

For India, Pax Silica is the Silicon Shield. It protects our digital sovereignty and ensures that no single nation can ‘switch off’ India’s growth by choking our chip supply. “This isn’t just about high-tech factories; it’s about a million new high-value jobs,” Chandak added.(Agency)

About 55 pc of India’s US exports could drop to 2.8-3.3 pc tariff rates: Analysts

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

As US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, analysts said on Saturday that roughly 55 per cent of India’s exports to the US is likely to be subjected to Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs, instead of 18 per cent duties (which have now been lowered to 10 per cent).

MFN tariffs are the base rates the US applies to all World Trade Organisation (WTO) members and the average US MFN tariff on Indian goods is approximately 2.8 per cent to 3.3 per cent, which varies across sectors.

Analysts said that the Supreme Court ruling should prompt India to re-examine its trade deal with the United States.

The 6‑3 Supreme Court ruling said that the US administration exceeded its authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which the court said does not authorise sweeping “reciprocal” tariff measures. Chief Justice John Roberts said in the ruling that

“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration and scope,” however adding that the Trump administration failed to point at any statute in which Congress has previously said that the language in IEEPA could apply to tariffs, according to reports.

However, reports said that the court’s decision does not bar President Trump from imposing duties under other statutory authorities, which carry more procedural limits.

Meanwhile, President Trump has mounted a forceful and combative defence of his trade agenda after the Supreme Court curtailed his use of a key tariff authority, accusing unnamed “foreign interests” of influencing the justices, announcing a new 10 per cent global tariff and signalling that even steeper trade measures — including embargoes — could follow.

The White House has clarified that India will face a 10 per cent tariff temporarily following Trump’s announcement of a new global tariff order. The Trump administration has indicated that additional tariff authorities may be invoked in the coming weeks.

During the press conference, Trump signalled that other statutes — including Sections 232 and 301 — remain available and could support further action.(Agency)

Venus Williams awarded Indian Wells wild card

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has been granted a wild card entry into this year’s Indian Wells tournament, organisers confirmed.

The 45-year-old American will compete in both singles and doubles at the prestigious event in the Southern California desert, which runs from March 1–15.

Williams expressed her excitement about returning to one of her favourite stops on the tour.

“It’s great to be heading back to Indian Wells and returning home to California,” Williams said in a statement. “There’s nothing like competing in front of these incredible fans. I’ve made so many fun memories here over the years, and I’m grateful to the tournament for having me back,” she added.

A former world number one and four-time Olympic gold medallist, Williams has enjoyed significant success at Indian Wells in the past, reaching the semi-finals on three occasions. She last competed at the tournament in 2024, also as a wild card entrant.

Williams began her 2025 campaign at the Australian Open and continues to balance singles and doubles competition. Last year, she reached the U.S. Open doubles quarter-finals alongside partner Leylah Fernandez, demonstrating her continued competitiveness on the big stage.

At 45 years, Williams became the oldest player to compete in the Australian Open in the Open Era, drawing loud support from the Melbourne crowd in her first-round clash. The American showed flashes of her trademark power but was unable to sustain momentum across three sets against the 24-year-old Danilovic.

Williams edged a tight opening set before Danilovic struck back with greater consistency from the baseline in the second. The Serbian maintained her composure in the decider, breaking Williams at crucial moments to seal the match in just over two hours.

Despite the loss, Williams impressed with nine aces and a 71 per cent success rate on first-serve points, though five double faults proved costly. Danilovic capitalised on her opponent’s second serve, winning 73 per cent of those points and converting five of eight break-point opportunities.(Agency)

Kunal Kapoor says India’s move to regulate social media for kids is ‘not anti tech but pro future’

Mumbai, Feb 21, 2026

Actor Kunal Kapoor has voiced support for India weighing restrictions on social media access for children under 16, saying the move is not “anti-technology” but “pro-future”.

Kunal took to X, formerly called Twitter, where he re-shared a news about how “India with a population of 1.4 billion is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 16.”

Reacting to the ongoing discussions around regulating social media use among minors, Kunal said protecting young minds from algorithms designed to be addictive is the need of the hour.

He wrote: “This is much needed. It’s not anti tech but pro future. Have to protect young minds from algorithms engineered to be addictive. And it also gives us a chance to build our homegrown platforms, that are focused on growth, not just engagement,” tweeted the actor.

The Union government is reportedly considering restricting social media access for those below the age of 16, by amending the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Kunal started his career as an assistant director, and made his acting debut with the MF Hussain 2004 film Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities. His career breakthrough was with the Aamir Khan-starrer Rang De Basanti in 2006.

He was then seen in films such as Aaja Nachle, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Don 2, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Dear Zindagi, Veeram, Gold.

After a brief hiatus, Kunal earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Babur, in The Empire in 2021. The actor will be seen next in the magnum opus Ramayan along with Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi.

He will also make his Telugu debut in Vishwambhara. The film slated to be one of the most expensive Telugu films, will see him joining forces with Chiranjeevi. The actor is also a trained pilot and races rally and formula 3 cars.(Agency)

LoP Gandhi appears before Bhiwandi Court to sign fresh bond in 2014 defamation case

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress MP, reached a court in Bhiwandi on Saturday in connection with a defamation case filed against him in 2014.

His appearance comes as part of the procedural requirements after the death of his earlier guarantor, Shivraj Patil.

According to his counsel, LoP Gandhi is required to sign a fresh bond and furnish a new guarantor before the court. Advocate Narayan Iyer, who is representing Rahul Gandhi in the matter, explained earlier on Friday that since Shivraj Patil, who had stood as his guarantor, had passed away, the court directed that a new guarantor be produced.

The Congress MP is expected to complete the formalities, including signing the bond afresh, during the proceedings.

The defamation case, dating back to 2014, is currently at the evidence stage. Advocate Iyer stated that the complainant, identified as Rajesh, who is the chief witness in the case, has already been cross-examined. He added that the second witness, Ashok Saikar, who had investigated the private complaint at the time, has also been examined. However, his cross-examination under Section 202 of the Criminal Procedure Code remains pending.

Iyer clarified that Saturday’s proceedings are likely to focus mainly on the acceptance of the new guarantor and completion of bond formalities, with no cross-examination expected to take place during the day’s hearing.

Meanwhile, earlier on Friday, LoP Gandhi appeared before the MP/MLA court in Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur in connection with a defamation case linked to his alleged remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

LoP Gandhi maintained that the case had been filed against him out of “political malice”. He travelled to Sultanpur by road from Lucknow airport and left after completing the required formalities.

His statement was recorded in court. The total proceedings lasted around 20 minutes. The court has fixed March 9 as the next date of hearing.(Agency)

Three Hezbollah commanders killed in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon

Beirut, Feb 21, 2026

Three commanders from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and eight others were killed, with 35 more were injured, in a series of Israeli airstrikes on eastern Lebanon on Friday, according to official and Lebanese security sources.

Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported a preliminary toll, stating that over 10 individuals had died and more than 30 were wounded in the airstrike on a building in Riyaq, eastern Lebanon.

A source from the Lebanese Civil Defence told Xinhua news agency that the death toll had climbed to 11, with 35 injured, adding that search efforts for missing persons were currently underway.

Well-informed security sources revealed to Xinhua that among the deceased were three Hezbollah commanders: Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, Ali Zeid al-Moussawi and Mohammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi.

In a statement, Hezbollah mourned commander Hussein Mohammad Yaghi, stating that he had become “a martyr in defence of Lebanon and its people.”

Lebanese security sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes carried out six airstrikes on areas in eastern Lebanon, including Hezbollah sites.

Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect.

Earlier on February 16, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that Israel would face a “painful” response if tensions escalate, accusing the United States of directly supporting Israeli military operations and regional expansion.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony, Qassem said in a speech aired on al-Manar TV channel that Israel is pursuing “maximum pressure” aimed at extracting political concessions while avoiding the broader costs of war. He added that although Israel may achieve tactical military superiority in certain confrontations, it would not be able to impose lasting control or stability.

Qassem described Israel as an “expansionist entity” seeking broader territorial control across Palestine and the region. He warned against the gradual and formal annexation of the occupied West Bank. He pointed to developments in Gaza, claiming that significant portions of the territory are under direct Israeli control.

He also described the United States as a “full partner” in Israeli actions, alleging that Washington manages operations and provides political and diplomatic cover for military campaigns and territorial expansion.

Hezbollah and Israel engaged in cross-border fighting following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.(Agency)

Amy Jackson shares a picture-perfect kiss with Ed Westwick

Mumbai, Feb 21, 2026

Bollywood actress Amy Jackson shared a glimpse of her romantic evening with husband, English star Ed Westwick, as she shared a picture-perfect kiss from their dinner date.

Amy took to her Instagram stories, where she shared a picture with Westwick, where the two looked deeply in love while enjoying an intimate night.

The image featured the couple sharing a romantic kiss. Amy, dressed in a sleek black outfit with her hair neatly pulled back, leans in as Westwick, wearing a black T-shirt, holds her close across the table. A plated gourmet meal and wine glasses can be seen kept on the table.

Amy chose to keep it simple by letting the picture speak for itself and hence omitted adding a caption.

The couple were also joined by their toddler son, Oscar, as the actress had earlier shared a glimpse of him. In the image, Oscar’s mouth was smeared with ice cream, and his two tiny teeth were visible.

She captioned it: “Oscar’s having a lovely time.”

Amy began dating English actor Ed Westwick in 2022. In 2024, they announced that they had gotten engaged in Gstaad, and got married in August of that year in Campania. In October the same year, she announced she was pregnant with her second child and first with Westwick. In March 2025, they revealed that their son, Oscar Alexander, had been born.

Amy predominantly works in Tamil films in addition to few Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and English films. Her most notable roles include Amy Wilkinson in Madrasapattinam, Sarah in Singh Is Bliing, Annie in Theri and Nila in 2.0.

She made her Hindi debut in Ekk Deewana Tha in 2012, and Telugu debut in Yevadu in 2014. She made her American debut as Imra Ardeen / Saturn Girl in the television series Supergirl, and her British debut as Nimisha in Boogie Man.

Amy was last seen in Crakk, an extreme sports action film directed by Aditya Datt. It stars Vidyut Jammwal, Arjun Rampal, Nora Fatehi, Amy Jackson, Jamie Lever, Pooja Sawant, Ankit Mohan, and Rukmini Maitra.(Agency)

US business groups, lawmakers welcome Supreme Court ruling against Trump tariffs

New York, Feb 21, 2026

US business groups, advocacy organisations and lawmakers welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, calling the decision a reaffirmation of congressional authority and a relief for businesses.

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court determined that the executive branch exceeded its authority by invoking emergency powers to levy import taxes on most trading partners, declaring many of the previous year’s tariffs illegal.

Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, said on Friday that the decision was “welcome news for businesses and consumers,” noting that companies had faced significant cost increases and supply-chain disruptions as a result of the tariffs.

He urged the administration to move swiftly to refund unlawfully collected duties and to reset overall tariff policy to promote economic growth and lower costs for families.

We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition advocating for small businesses, also called for “full, fast and automatic” refunds, saying many of its members had paid billions of dollars in duties that “never should have been imposed.”

US Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, also welcomed the ruling, Xinhua news agency reported.

“The empty merits of sweeping trade wars with America’s friends were evident long before today’s decision,” McConnell said in a statement.

“The American people already know that when Washington throws up artificial barriers, building and buying here at home become more expensive.”

Edward Fishman, a former State Department and Treasury official now with the Council on Foreign Relations, said the decision could limit the use of tariffs as a rapid-response geoeconomic tool, though they could still be employed in trade negotiations through other legal channels.

Some business groups cautioned that uncertainty remains, expressing concern that tariffs could be reimposed through alternative statutory mechanisms.(Agency)

MCD contractor detained after his speeding car kills delivery rider in Subhash Nagar

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) contractor and his friend were taken into custody on Saturday after their speeding Hyundai Verna allegedly rammed into an e-scooter in West Delhi’s Subhash Nagar area, killing a 25-year-old delivery rider on the spot, police officials said.

The deceased has been identified as Hem Shankar, who worked night shifts as a delivery executive. Police said the accused driver, Rakesh Kumar, 27, is employed as a contractor with the MCD.

The impact was so severe that the delivery boy died on the spot.

On receiving information about the incident, police teams rushed to the scene and began an investigation. The offending vehicle has been seized, and the accused driver has been taken into custody.

According to a police statement, “On 21/02/26, a PCR Call at 3.26 am regarding an accident and an injured person was received at PS Tilak Nagar. Both the vehicles were found on the spot, i.e., near Subhash Nagar Metro red light, Najafgarh road, towards Rajouri Garden.”

Officials said that by the time police reached the accident site, the injured rider had already been rushed to Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital. However, doctors declared him ‘brought dead’ upon arrival.

The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination. Officials said that further investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash is underway.

The police confirmed that the accused individuals have been taken into custody and that an FIR has been registered in connection with the incident. Further investigation is underway.

Speaking to IANS, the victim’s brother expressed grief and demanded justice. “I lost my younger brother. It was just me, my mother and my brother. The car was speeding, due to which I lost my brother. He was just 25. We demand justice,” he said.

Eyewitnesses at the scene alleged that the car was moving at an extremely high speed at the time of the collision.

According to one eyewitness, the Verna was travelling at around 100 km per hour and first crashed into a wall, then struck a pole, before hitting the e-scooter.

The eyewitness further claimed that had the vehicle not been obstructed by a sewer structure, more people could have been seriously injured.

Another eyewitness, who works at a nearby petrol pump, recounted the sequence of events.

“I work at the petrol pump. Early this morning, a speeding car at around 100 km/h rammed into the electric motorcycle of the delivery boy. The rider was left unconscious, and the car tried to get away. However, people stopped it soon and brought him back to the scene. The car driver was drunk,” he alleged.

A colleague of the deceased also spoke to IANS, saying the victim had been on duty at the time of the crash.

“The rider used to work with me, and now he is dead. The car was speeding at around 100 km/h. There were two people in the car, and both were drunk. Now the officials have them at the police station and are questioning them,” he said.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident, including allegations that the occupants of the car were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

Further details are awaited.(Agency)

Expected Cong would apologise for shame of youth activists, but they defended: Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday criticised the Congress over the shirtless protest by its workers at the AI summit, saying he had expected the party to apologise for the incident.

Kiren Rijiju took to his social media ‘X’ and said, “I was expecting that Congress party would apologize for the shameful behaviour of Youth Congress activists. I couldn’t believe my ears when Congress leaders defended the disgraceful conduct! Public taught them a lesson! Some Journalists justified too.”

Members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a dramatic protest inside Bharat Mandapam on Friday during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government over alleged “unemployment, inflation and the reported India-US trade deal”.

According to officials, several Youth Congress workers removed their shirts and shouted slogans, including “PM is compromised”, before security personnel intervened. The protesters were swiftly detained and taken away from the venue to prevent disruption of the high-profile international event attended by government officials, industry leaders and foreign delegates.

Shouting slogans, some of the party workers went topless and stood in front of an India AI Summit board, clicking pictures and attempting to create a ruckus.

The security personnel deployed there quickly acted and forced them out.

It was not known how the workers gained entry into the venue where thousands of people, including foreigners, were present.

The Youth Congress shared videos of their protest on their handle.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Friday accused the Congress of bringing shame to all Indians, saying the party’s “anarchic policies” would lead to its downfall.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also condemned the shirtless protest by a group of Indian Youth Congress people against the central government and the Indo-US trade deal, terming it highly disgraceful and deplorable.

The Congress on Friday defended a shirtless protest by members from its frontal organization for youth at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, calling it their expression of anger against the Union government over a reported trade deal with the United States.(Agency)

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