BJP calls LoP ‘Lashkar-e-Rahul’ over shirtless protest by Youth Congress

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

Following the shirtless protest by Youth Congress workers at India AI Impact Summit, BJP National Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday targeted the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, referring to him as ‘Lashkar-e-Rahul’ and stating that the country would never forget the incident.

Speaking to reporters, Trivedi said, “At the AI Summit, on one hand, we witnessed a magnificent display of India’s talent and intellect. On the other hand, we saw a shameful display of the Congress party’s pettiness and obscenity. What the Congress has done is not politics. It cannot simply be dismissed as negative politics.”

He further remarked, “It is like treason against the nation. At a time when the entire country is agitated and angry, such behaviour is unacceptable. Never before has it happened that during any international summit — including those held during Congress governments — such low-level protests were staged. I believe the people of this country will never forgive such a disgraceful act.”

Trivedi added that when the country is organising a major AI Summit and showcasing its technological progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such actions only tarnish India’s global image.

“Earlier, Rahul Gandhi used to go abroad and make objectionable remarks. Now, the so-called soldiers of ‘Lashkar-e-Rahul’ are attempting to malign the country’s image in front of world leaders,” he said.

He concluded by stating that the Congress party has repeatedly crossed the boundaries of political decorum, blurring the line between democratic opposition and irresponsible conduct.

Meanwhile, workers of the BJP staged a protest outside the Congress headquarters in Delhi on Saturday, condemning the demonstration by Youth Congress members during the India AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam.

The protest followed an announcement made on Friday by Virendra Sachdeva, who said he would lead a march from Man Singh Road roundabout to the Congress office at 24 Akbar Road to denounce what he termed as hooliganism by Youth Congress workers at the summit venue.(Agency)

T20 WC: India vs South Africa head-to-head record and last five matches’ performance

Ahmedabad, Feb 21, 2026

India will start their campaign of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s round against South Africa. The clash between the two finalists of the 2024 World Cup will happen at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

India and South Africa are placed in a tough Group A of the Super 8s with two-time champions West Indies and Zimbabwe. All four teams are coming to the contest after being table toppers of their respective groups in the first round.

This will be the 36th time India would face South Africa in the shortest format. Suryakumar Yadav’s team have the upper hand when it comes to the overall record. In the 35 matches played between them, India have emerged victorious in 21 occasions while South Africa have won only 13 games. One match has no result.

India’s dominance continues in the T20 World Cup also. Both teams have historically played seven matches in the multi-national tournament, in which the defending champions have won five matches, while the Proteas have been able to get only two wins.

South Africa are yet to beat India in a knockout match. Both teams have previously played in the 2014 semi-final and the historic 2024 World Cup final, but the two-time champions won in both matches.

India and South Africa recently met each other in a five-match T20I series played in December last year, where the men in blue beat the 2024 runners-up by 3-1, with one match getting washed out.

Head-to-head record between India and South Africa in T20Is

Total Matches Played: 35

India won: 21

South Africa won: 13

No Result: 1

Performance of both teams in their last 5 matches

India: W, W, W, W, W

South Africa: L, W, W, W, W

Squads:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.(Agency)

T20 WC: ICC releases list of umpires for Super 8s

Dubai, Feb 20, 2026

Rodney Tucker and Paul Reiffel will be in the middle for the opening Super Eights match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin with New Zealand taking on Pakistan on Saturday at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, with Allahudien Paleker in place as TV Umpire and Sam Nogajski taking on the role of Fourth Umpire.

Tucker and Nogajski will be the on-field team on February 28 when Sri Lanka face Pakistan in Kandy, while Nogajski will also oversee England’s match with Pakistan at the same venue on February 24 alongside Nitin Menon.

Adrian Holdstock is also part of the Sri Lankan-based officials’ team for the Super Eights stage and will be on-field alongside Ahsan Raza for England’s clashes with the co-hosts in Kandy on February 22 and New Zealand five days later.

Paleker and Asif Yaqoob will be in the middle for Sri Lanka’s meeting with New Zealand in Colombo on February 25.

Group 1 begins with co-hosts India taking on South Africa on February 22, and the experienced duo of Richard Kettleborough and Chris Gaffaney will be taking charge, assisted by TV Umpire Alex Wharf and Fourth Umpire Chris Brown.

Gaffaney and Wharf join forces for the final match of the Super Eight stage, India’s match with the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1, while Wharf and Kettleborough are the on-field duo for the co-hosts’ clash with Zimbabwe on February 26.

Zimbabwe are unbeaten after the group stage and will hope to take that momentum into their clash with the similarly in-form West Indies on February 23, with Richard Illingworth and Jayaraman Madanagopal overseeing the action in Mumbai.

Shahid Saikat and Kumar Dharmasena are the on-field team for the West Indies’ match against South Africa on February 26, with Dharmasena back in place alongside Illingworth when the Proteas face Zimbabwe on March 1.

Ranjan Madugalle, Andrew Pycroft, Richie Richardson, and Javagal Srinath share the match referee duties.(Agency)

Once troubled Northeast now peaceful due to BJP Govt, says HM Shah in Assam

Guwahati, Feb 21, 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Northeast, which was once considered a disturbed region, is today witnessing peace and stability due to sustained efforts by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Addressing the 87th Raising Day celebrations of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Guwahati, HM Shah said that the role played by the CRPF and other security forces in restoring peace in the region has been historic and unparalleled.

He noted that nearly 700 CRPF personnel have sacrificed their lives over the decades to ensure peace and security in the Northeast.

“The Northeast was once associated with unrest, violence and instability. Today, peace has returned to the region, and the credit goes to the bravery and sacrifices of our security forces, especially the CRPF,” the Home Minister said.

HM Shah pointed out that the 87th Raising Day celebrations marked a historic moment, as this was the first time in the 86-year history of the CRPF that the event was being held in Assam.

He said the decision to hold the celebrations in the Northeast reflects the region’s transformation and its growing importance in India’s internal security framework.

The Home Minister said the BJP government has also been successful in restoring peace in other conflict-affected regions of the country.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, HM Shah said that decisive policy measures and firm action against terrorism have significantly improved the security situation there.

He also said that Maoist activities in several parts of the country have been effectively curbed under the BJP government.

Highlighting the government’s focus on border security, HM Shah said sustained efforts are being made to keep India’s borders intact, peaceful and secure.

He added that development and security are being pursued together, especially in border and sensitive regions.

HM Shah said that peace in the Northeast has opened new avenues for development, investment and growth, allowing the region to move forward on the path of prosperity.

He reiterated the Centre’s commitment to ensuring lasting peace while strengthening infrastructure and connectivity across the region.

The Home Minister also paid tribute to fallen CRPF personnel and their families, saying the nation will forever remain indebted to their supreme sacrifice in safeguarding India’s unity and integrity.(Agency)

11-year-old Pennsylvania boy to stand trial as adult for fatal shooting of father

Washington, Feb 21, 2026

An 11-year-old boy in Pennsylvania has been ordered to stand trial as an adult after allegedly fatally shooting his adoptive father during a birthday celebration earlier this year.

The ruling reflects the severity of the crime and overrides efforts by his defence team to keep the case in the juvenile justice system.

The boy made his first court appearance on Thursday, handcuffed and maintaining an expressionless demeanour. He did not respond to questions from the Press outside the courtroom.

Authorities say the incident occurred shortly after midnight on January 13, the night of the boy’s birthday. Dietz, as identified in court records, allegedly shot his 42-year-old adoptive father, Douglas Dietz, in the head while he was asleep at their Pennsylvania home. Police reported that the boy had accessed a revolver stored in a bedroom safe.

Earlier in the evening, the family had celebrated the boy’s birthday, singing “Happy Birthday” before going to bed. Investigators said a dispute over video games had reportedly taken place, as the boy was upset that his Nintendo Switch had been taken away, Fox News reported.

The victim’s wife, Jillian Dietz, told authorities she awoke to a loud noise and tried to rouse her husband, only to discover him unresponsive with blood coming from his head. Police said the boy later told his mother, “I killed my dad. I hate myself,” and a responding officer reported hearing him say, “I killed Daddy.”

Court records also indicate that the boy admitted he “had someone in mind who he was going to shoot,” and that he loaded the revolver, pulled back the hammer, and fired while his father slept.

Defence attorneys argued that the boy’s young age, psychological development, and family circumstances warranted handling the case in juvenile court. They indicated plans to appeal the ruling, according to the Daily Mail.

The child, who was adopted by Douglas and Jillian Dietz in 2018, remains in custody pending further hearings. Authorities have not released his full identity due to his age.

This case has drawn significant attention due to the boy’s age and the alleged circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, highlighting ongoing debates about how the justice system handles serious crimes committed by minors.(Agency)

JMM leader Rakesh Mahato murdered in Jharkhand’s Giridih, half-burnt body found

Giridih (Jharkhand), Feb 21, 2026

In a shocking incident in Jharkhand’s Giridih district, the partially burned body of Rakesh Mahato, former chairman of the Giridih Zila Parishad, was recovered from the Khankhi forest under the Nimiaghat police station limits on Saturday, officials said.

Police officials said the condition of the body and evidence found at the scene strongly indicate that Mahato was murdered.

Preliminary findings suggest that the perpetrators attempted to destroy his identity and conceal the crime by setting the body on fire using dry leaves and other forest debris.

Upon receiving information about the incident, police teams from Nimiaghat and Dumri stations rushed to the spot. The operation was led by Dumri Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sumit Kumar. Senior officers supervised the initial investigation, and the area was cordoned off to collect forensic evidence.

The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause and time of death. Police officials have confirmed that it is a case of murder, though the motive behind the killing remains unclear. Investigators are examining all possible angles.

Rakesh Mahato was regarded as an influential and popular political leader in the Dumri region. He was elected chairman of the Giridih Zila Parishad after winning the 2016 district council elections. Known for his active involvement in local politics, he maintained a strong presence in the area.

The news of his brutal killing has triggered widespread grief and anger. Family members and local residents staged a road blockade in the Ghutwali area along the Dumri-Fusro road, demanding swift action, identification of the perpetrators, and immediate arrests.

District president Sanjay Singh of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha expressed deep anguish over the incident, stating that Mahato was an active party leader and a well-known figure in the region. He urged the administration to ensure a prompt and thorough investigation.

Taking serious note of the case, Giridih Superintendent of Police Dr Bimal Kumar has directed the Dumri SDPO to expedite the investigation and take strict action against those responsible.

SDPO Sumit Kumar confirmed that the body was recovered from Khankhi forest and assured that the police are pursuing the case with urgency and examining every possible lead. (Agency)

Tools may change, policy remains: USTR Greer

Washington, Feb 21, 2026

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the Trump administration will continue to execute the President’s trade agenda despite the Supreme Court’s ruling limiting the use of emergency tariff powers, stressing that alternative legal tools are already being deployed.

Speaking to Fox News, Greer said the administration’s approach remains intact even if the statutory pathway shifts.

“Simultaneously, the office of the US Trade Representative will initiate a number of investigations under Section 301 of Unfair Trading Practices by a number of different countries to assess if we can impose tariffs on that basis, if we need to, if they don’t resolve those issues,” Greer said.

He added that the administration retains existing national security measures. “And of course, we have existing national security tariffs on auto steel, aluminum, et cetera,” Greer noted.

Summarising the administration’s posture after the Court’s decision, Greer said: “Although the, the tools may change, the policy remains the same”.

Greer emphasised that trade agreements negotiated under President Donald Trump remain in force and are not affected by the legal shift.

“It helped us obtain tons of deals covering half of the world’s population, opening up market access we haven’t enjoyed for 30 years, and we have these agreements, and so we’ll just use a different tool,” he said.

Reiterating the continuity message, Greer added: “Again, the tools may change, but the policy stays the same, and IEEPA was part of that”.

He also sought to reassure markets and trading partners that the transition away from IEEPA-based tariffs would not create instability.

“So we don’t expect to see disruption. We expect to see continuity. We expect the com, the countries to keep their agreements. So I think it’s just going to be a continuous progress on the president’s trade policy, which has been very successful,” Greer said.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the administration announced a temporary 10 per cent global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and signalled an expansion of Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices. Existing Section 232 tariffs tied to national security concerns remain in effect.

The message from the US Trade Representative’s office was clear: while the legal mechanism may change, the administration’s broader objective — reshaping global trade relationships in favour of US workers and businesses — will continue without interruption.(Agency)

India pushes currency diversification, FTAs to counter Trump’s pullback from IPEF

Mumbai, Feb 21, 2026

India is pursuing currency diversification alongside efforts to strengthen supply chains and expand exports through free trade agreements to counter US administration’s pullback from Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), a new report has said.

The report from Think China said, “currency diversification is a key determinant for national economic security at a time when reducing external dependence and increasing self-reliance are non-negotiable goals.”

India’s sovereign digital currency, the e‑rupee, “is being used in retail transactions and is picking up traction among customers,” the report said.

It noted that greater acceptability of e-rupee and interoperability between digital currencies of the BRICS could lead to its greater use in trade. This could happen between countries piloting their own sovereign digital currencies, including China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia and the UAE, most of which are members of BRICS, it suggested.

“Apart from safeguarding supply chains and entering multiple FTAs, India’s efforts to reduce economic dependence has motivated it to settle more trade in its local currency,” it said.

Apart from the economic benefits India is pursuing FTAs for geopolitical gains due to “political confidence-building mechanisms between countries.”

FTAs help enlarging strategic influence by cultivating a bigger group of global allies, “at a time when the global order is fragmenting fast,” the report said.

The US President Trump’s second term in office was marked by a noticeable lack of interest in the IPEF and as a result the China plus one diversification strategy has lost some momentum, it noted.

The report said that unilateral trade restrictive measures from the US in 2025 made India and other major economies realise the importance of diversifying away from the US.

India has accelerated FTA negotiations to diversify markets and concluded deals with the UK, New Zealand, Oman and the EU. In recent years the country signed trade agreements with Australia, the UAE and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) group, while FTAs with Israel, Chile and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries are under negotiation.(Agency)

Youth Cong shares ‘Shirtless Congressi’ post featuring Mahatma Gandhi, seeks to justify AI Summit protest

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

A day after members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a shirtless protest during the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, the organisation shared a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi on social media to defend its dramatic demonstration.

On Friday, Youth Congress members carried out a protest inside Bharat Mandapam during the high-profile India AI Impact Summit, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central government over alleged “unemployment, inflation and the reported India-US trade deal”.

The protest triggered strong reactions from leaders of the BJP-led NDA, who accused the Congress party of attempting to “tarnish” the country’s image at an international event attended by global delegates.

Amid the backlash, the Youth Congress posted on X, seeking to justify its actions.

In the post, it wrote, “Hum Gandhiji ke Vanshaj hai, Shirtless hi sahi (We are descendants of Gandhiji, even if we are shirtless).”

The message was accompanied by a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi bearing the tag ‘Shirtless Congressi’.

Earlier on Friday, several Youth Congress workers removed their shirts inside the venue of the AI summit and raised slogans such as “PM is compromised” before security personnel stepped in.

The protesters were detained promptly and escorted out of the premises to prevent any disruption to the international summit, which was attended by senior government officials, industry representatives and foreign delegates.

Witnesses said some of the demonstrators, while shouting slogans, stood shirtless in front of an India AI Summit display board, clicking photographs and attempting to create disturbance at the venue.

The episode drew sharp political reactions. Leaders from the ruling alliance criticised the protest as an effort to seek publicity during a globally significant event, while Opposition leaders defended it as a legitimate form of dissent in a democracy.(Agency)

Explained: 10 pc US tariffs for 150 days globally under Section 122

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2026

After the US Supreme Court struck down reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, the White House has released a Fact Sheet, explaining that Trump has now invoked his authority under “Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974”, which empowers the President to address certain “fundamental international payment problems” through surcharges and other special import restrictions.

The Proclamation imposes, for a period of 150 days, a 10 per cent “ad valorem import duty on articles imported into the United States. The temporary import duty will take effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time.”

Notably, some goods will not be subject to the temporary import duty because of the needs of the US economy or to ensure the duty more effectively addresses the fundamental international payments problems facing the United States.

These include certain critical minerals, metals used in currency and bullion, energy, and energy products, natural resources and fertilisers, certain agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients; certain electronics; passenger vehicles and more.

In addition, the President has directed the Office of the United States Trade Representative to use its section 301 authority to investigate certain unreasonable and discriminatory acts, policies, and practices that burden or restrict US commerce.

“The United States faces fundamental international payment problems, in particular a large and serious balance-of-payments deficit. As a result of its loss of domestic production, the United States must import much of what it consumes, sending US dollars out of our own economy and overseas,” the statement argued.

Tariffs imposed under Section 122 automatically expire after 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them. While the time limit is explicit, trade experts note that the President could allow the measures to lapse and potentially reintroduce them by declaring a fresh balance-of-payments emergency.

Unlike several other trade laws, Section 122 does not require a formal investigation before tariffs are imposed, allowing rapid action, according to multiple reports.

President Trump has also suggested that other trade statutes remain under consideration, underscoring that the Supreme Court ruling targeted a specific legal pathway rather than tariffs themselves.(Agency)