NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Saturday described the ‘shirtless’ protest by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers at the AI Impact Summit-2026 as a “blatant assault on public order” that endangered India’s diplomatic image.Judicial magistrate Ravi allowed five days of police custody for the four accused, Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar, Kundan Yadav, state secretary of Bihar, Ajay Kumar, state president of Uttar Pradesh, and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana, for questioning, citing the risk of absconding and potential links to external conspiracies, reported PTI.“Such conduct palpably transcends the ambit of legitimate dissent, metamorphosing into a blatant assault on public order. It imperils not merely the event’s sanctity but also the Republic’s diplomatic image before foreign stakeholders, rendering it wholly unprotected by constitutional safeguards,” the magistrate said.The magistrate noted that the protestors allegedly “donned provocative T-shirts bearing offensive slogans such as ‘India US Trade Deal Compromised’, vociferously raised incendiary chants, obstructed public servants in the execution of their duties, and perpetrated physical assaults causing grievous injuries to police personnel, as substantiated by the medico-legal cases (MLCs) on record.”“…the accused persons are alleged to have orchestrated a premeditated intrusion into the high-security precincts of Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit 2026, a premier international conclave hosting global delegates and dignitaries,” the court order accessed by PTI said.The court further cited early investigation findings that suggested multiple associates of the accused could be absconding, potentially tampering with digital footprints, financial trails, and co-accused disclosures. It also referenced a 1980 Supreme Court verdict, noting that “bail discretion must safeguard investigation integrity, particularly pre-chargesheet.”The magistrate allowed police custody under provisions including BNS Sections 121 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty) and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), offences carrying punishment exceeding three years.The protest occurred during the AI Impact Summit-2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, attracting global tech leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. The accused displayed T-shirts featuring images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, alongside slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal, and engaged in a scuffle with security personnel.Police had arrested the four protestors on Friday for staging the ‘shirtless protest’ inside the exhibition hall.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with British prime minister Rishi Sunak (PTI file photo)

More than three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has evolved into a grinding contest of attrition shaped as much by technology as by manpower. Former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has claimed that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy told him Russia is losing around 1,000 soldiers a day, with drones now responsible for the vast majority of battlefield casualties. The assertion highlights how cheap, mass-produced unmanned systems are increasingly reshaping modern warfare, turning the conflict into a high-tech stalemate where it is often easier to detect and destroy enemy forces than to advance or hold ground.

What Sunak revealed

Writing in The Times after the Munich Security Conference, former UK prime minister Sunak said Zelenskyy carries real-time battlefield data on an iPad during diplomatic trips to counter the perception that Ukraine is being overwhelmed. According to former UK prime minister Sunak, the figures show that while the fighting remains intense, Russia’s advances since the 2022 invasion have been slow and extremely costly.Former UK prime minister Sunak said Zelenskyy emphasised that drone warfare has fundamentally transformed the conflict. Ukraine’s extensive use of unmanned aerial and maritime systems has allowed it to inflict heavy losses on Russian forces while offsetting Moscow’s advantages in manpower and conventional weapons.He also pointed to NATO exercises that revealed how unprepared Western militaries remain for this shift in warfare. Former UK prime minister Sunak warned that future conflicts are likely to depend less on expensive legacy platforms and more on scalable, rapidly adaptable technologies such as drones.Why drones are changing the warDrones have become the defining weapon of the conflict, fundamentally reshaping how battles are fought. Defence analysts note that relatively cheap unmanned systems can now destroy extremely expensive targets such as tanks, ships and strategic bombers at a fraction of the cost. A recent Sunday Times defence analysis highlighted how Ukrainian drone strikes have destroyed high-value Russian military assets deep inside its territory, exposing vulnerabilities once thought impossible to exploit.Experts say drones are creating what military planners call a “denial battlefield,” where it has become easier to detect and destroy enemy forces than to advance or hold ground. This shift has slowed the war to a grinding stalemate, with constant surveillance and precision strikes making large manoeuvres increasingly difficult.

Latest battlefield situation

As of early 2026, the war has settled into a prolonged conflict of attrition marked by heavy losses, long-range strikes and intensifying drone warfare on both sides. Ukraine has increasingly demonstrated its ability to strike deep inside Russian territory, including attacks on key military-industrial facilities far from the front lines, while Russia continues large-scale missile and drone barrages targeting Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.Attrition remains extremely high, with analysts estimating that combined military casualties on both sides could soon approach two million, with Russia believed to have suffered the larger share. The conflict is now widely seen as a war of endurance, defined by slow territorial changes, persistent long-range attacks and a growing reliance on drones rather than rapid battlefield manoeuvres, even as peace negotiations remain stalled with little prospect of a near-term ceasefire.

The big picture

The Ukraine war is increasingly viewed as a preview of future conflict. It has demonstrated how relatively inexpensive technologies can challenge traditional military superiority, forcing armies to rethink doctrine, procurement and strategy. For Western defence planners, the lesson is clear: the wars of the future may be decided less by large conventional platforms and more by speed, innovation and the ability to scale new technologies quickly.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday joined the chorus of criticism against the Congress party over its “shirtless” protest at the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi, accusing the grand old party of turning a global event into an arena for its “gandi aur nangi” politics.In his address after flagging off the Namo Bharat train, the Prime Minister said, “Congress turned a global event into an arena for its ‘gandi aur nangi’ (dirty and shameless) politics.”Further intensifying his attack on the largest opposition party, he added, “I ask Congress leaders — the nation already knows your true form. What was the need to strip further?”PM Modi’s remarks came days after workers of the party’s youth wing, the Indian Youth Congress (IYC), staged a “shirtless” protest at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the AI Summit in New Delhi.Following the incident, the Congress faced widespread backlash, including criticism from some of its allies and other opposition leaders, who termed the act “inappropriate,” in addition to sharp reactions from the ruling BJP.One of Congress’s key allies, Akhilesh Yadav, also denounced the protest, saying, “They should have refrained from doing something that brings shame to our country in front of foreign delegates and world representatives.”Meanwhile, the Patiala house court sent four IYC workers — Krishna Hari, Kundan Yadav, Ajay Kumar and Narsingh — to five days of police custody.During the protest, they were wearing T-shirts with the slogan “India-US Trade Deal Compromised.”The court rejected the bail pleas of all four accused. It said the investigation is at an important early stage and releasing them now could lead to them fleeing or tampering with evidence. The court described the bail request as premature.Delhi Police told the court that the accused raised anti-national slogans and carried out the protest in a way similar to the Gen Z protests in Nepal, allegedly to defame India at an international event. The protest took place when foreign dignitaries were present at Bharat Mandapam.Police have registered a case against them under charges including obstructing a public servant from performing official duty, assaulting a public servant, hate speech, and criminal conspiracy.Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Ravi granted five days of police custody after hearing arguments from Delhi Police and the Additional Public Prosecutor.

MUMBAI: IDFC First Bank Ltd reported a Rs 590 crore discrepancy in deposits held on behalf of the Haryana Government at its Chandigarh branch, identified four employees as suspects and suspended them pending investigation. The bank’s filing comes after the state directed its departments to close accounts with private lenders on February 18. The matter was escalated to the bank’s board at a hastily convened meeting on February 21, after the lender filed a police complaint and informed regulators.It has also informed its statutory auditors and initiated the process of appointing an independent external agency to conduct a forensic audit. In addition, recall requests have been sent to certain beneficiary banks to lien-mark balances in suspicious accounts.The disclosure was made to the stock exchanges under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Regulations and has also been uploaded on the bank’s website.Based on a preliminary internal assessment, the bank said the issue is confined to a specific group of Haryana Govt-linked accounts operated through the Chandigarh branch and does not extend to other customers at the branch. The aggregate amount under reconciliation across the identified accounts is about Rs 590 crore. The eventual impact will depend on validation of claims, recoveries, including lien-marking of balances in beneficiary accounts maintained with other banks, liabilities of other entities involved in the transactions, and the outcome of legal recovery proceedings.According to regional news reports, the Haryana Government has directed the closure of all its accounts with specific private banks, primarily IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank, effective February 18, 2026. Departments, boards, corporations and universities must withdraw funds and shift to nationalised banks only, with private bank accounts requiring prior finance department approval.The move de-empanels these banks from government business amid suspected financial irregularities, including a Rs 590 crore fraud linked to IDFC’s Chandigarh branch handling Haryana accounts. It enforces compliance with fund-parking guidelines and monthly reconciliations to safeguard public money.

A 19-year-old BSc Biotechnology student from Tripura is battling severe injuries at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital after her live-in partner allegedly poured sanitiser on her private parts and set them on fire at their rented accommodation in Sector 69.

GURGAON: A 19-year-old university student has alleged that her live-in partner poured sanitiser on her private parts and set them on fire at their rented accommodation in Sector 69. Police have registered an FIR against the accused, identified as Shivam, a resident of Narela in Delhi, under Sections 115, 118(1), 118(2), 127(2), 69 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was registered at Badshahpur police station on February 19 at 8.35pm based on the survivor’s statement. According to the complaint, the woman met Shivam through an online app in September 2025. The two began interacting and later started meeting. She alleged that he established physical relations with her on the pretext of marriage. Subsequently, they began living together in Gurgaon. Over time, Shivam allegedly began doubting her and subjected her to repeated physical assault. According to the complaint, he brutally thrashed her, hitting her on the head with a steel bottle, smashing her head against a wall and furniture, and striking her with an earthen pot. It was further alleged that he poured sanitiser on her private parts and attempted to set them on fire. The accused also attacked her legs with a knife and threatened to beat her so badly that she would never be able to walk or become a mother. He also allegedly recorded nude videos of her during the assault. On the night of February 18, the woman managed to access the accused’s phone and informed her mother about the ordeal in Bengali, a language he did not understand. Her mother immediately dialled the emergency helpline 112, following which a police team reached the spot and rescued her. She was first taken to the Sector 10 government hospital, where doctors declared her unfit to give a statement. She was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. After doctors declared her fit, police recorded her detailed statement and initiated further investigation. Police said efforts are underway to collect medical evidence and digital proof, including the alleged videos.

Footage circulating online shows the aftermath of Pakistani air strikes on a religious madrassa in eastern Afghanistan, with rescuers digging through rubble and families searching for loved ones. Afghan sources told TOLOnews that the seminary in Barmal district of Paktika province was among the sites hit overnight. Local officials say more than 20 people were killed in the strikes that targeted seven sites across Afghanistan.The strikes, which began late on Saturday, reportedly targeted areas in Barmal and Urgun districts of Paktika, as well as Khogyani, Behsud and Ghani Khel districts in Nangarhar province. An AFP journalist in Behsud described residents using a bulldozer to clear debris as bodies were pulled from collapsed buildings. An Afghan security source said at least 17 people died when a house was struck, including 12 children and teenagers.

Islamabad confirmed it had carried out what it called “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven militant camps along the border. In a statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the action targeted hideouts belonging to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al Khwarij, and affiliates of Islamic State Khorasan Province.The Pakistani government said the strikes were a response to recent suicide bombings inside Pakistan, including an attack on a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed dozens and assaults in Bajaur and Bannu. Hours before the cross-border operation, a suicide bomber killed two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan had “conclusive evidence” that the attacks were carried out by militants operating from Afghan soil. He added that Pakistan had repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to prevent armed groups from using their territory to launch attacks.Kabul condemned the air strikes, with Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accusing Pakistani generals of attempting to deflect from their own security failures. The Afghan government has denied harbouring militant groups.Relations between the two neighbours have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with border clashes in October leaving scores dead. A ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey reduced fighting, but tensions remain high as both sides trade blame over escalating violence.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) claimed that the administration is sending a “hospital boat” to Greenland. He further added that it is on its way to assist people who are “sick” and allegedly not receiving adequate care. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote, “Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!”. This post was accompanied by an image depicting the USNS Mercy, a well-known naval hospital vessel. The humanitarian initiative follows the President’s December decision to appoint Louisiana governor Jeff Landry as a special envoy to the Arctic territory. The effort is being coordinated in partnership with Landry to tackle medical challenges in the region.

Louisiana governor Jeff Landry also reacted on X, thanking the President and saying he is “proud to work” alongside him on “this important issue.” However, the exact nature of the health emergency and the mission’s specific goals remain unclear. Last month, Trump announced that he had “formed the framework of a future deal” related to Greenland during talks with the head of Nato. Trump has repeatedly highlighted Greenland’s strategic importance to Washington, even describing the Arctic island as an asset the United States could buy. This prompted Denmark to reaffirm its legal sovereignty over Greenland.

Back in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump again pressed for American control of the territory. Addressing business and political leaders, he said “no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland, other than the United States”, while accusing Nato allies of failing to meet their obligations. Meanwhile, officials in Greenland and Denmark have maintained that the territory is not for sale. However, a senior White House official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been tasked with preparing a proposal in the coming weeks to purchase Greenland, describing the effort as a “high priority” for Trump.The US President’s statement came after a series of sharp developments involving Trump’s trade and foreign policy positions. A day earlier, he raised the global tariff he announced from 10% to 15%. This follows a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court, which found his tariff actions illegal and questioned his authority to impose sweeping import duties without congressional approval.