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."

US President Donald Trump signalled implicit support for Pakistan amid its "open war" with Afghanistan, telling reporters he gets along with Islamabad "very well" and that Pakistan is doing "terrifically well" in its border clashes. Trump praised Pakistan's Prime Minister and military leadership while hinting at possible backing without confirming direct intervention. Pakistan carried out its most extensive airstrikes on Kabul and struck Taliban strongholds, claiming over 270 Taliban fighters killed and 400 injured. Afghanistan's Taliban spokesman countered, claiming 55 Pakistani soldiers killed. The conflict escalated after Afghan forces attacked Pakistani border troops Thursday night. Land border crossings have largely remained closed since deadly October clashes killing over 70 people on both sides.

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)

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged embassy staff to leave Israel immediately, shifting the mission to "authorised departure" status allowing non-essential personnel and families to exit at government expense. Huckabee cited rising tensions over a prospective US strike on Iran, warning staff to secure outbound flights from Ben-Gurion Airport without delay. Any US attack on Iran could trigger retaliatory strikes against Israel. Meanwhile, US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva yielded "significant progress" according to mediator Oman, though a deal remains uncertain. Iran rejected US demands to halt uranium enrichment and transfer its 400kg enriched uranium stockpile abroad, calling Washington's demands on its missile programme "excessive" and urging "seriousness and realism." (PC: X)

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)

Iran is reportedly nearing a deal with China to purchase CM-302 supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, capable of sinking aircraft carriers, amid escalating US military pressure in the Middle East. The CM-302 has a 290-kilometre range, flies low and fast to evade shipborne defences, and can be mounted on ships, aircraft or ground vehicles. Negotiations accelerated following last year's 12-day Israel-Iran war. Iran is also in talks to acquire Chinese surface-to-air missiles, MANPADS, anti-ballistic and anti-satellite weapons. Experts warn the deal would be a "complete gamechanger" for Iranian strike capabilities. The transfer would defy a reinstated UN weapons embargo and significantly deepen China-Iran military ties against US interests. (PC: AFP & NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering the keynote address at News18's Rising Bharat Summit, said developed nations worldwide are actively seeking trade agreements with India, reflecting the country's growing economic confidence and global stature. He credited 11 years of governance with helping India shed its colonial mindset and rediscover its inherent strengths. Modi highlighted macroeconomic achievements including controlled inflation, a strengthened banking system and India becoming the world's growth engine. He pointed to the JAM trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile enabling Rs 24 lakh crore in direct benefit transfers. India's transformation from a technology consumer to a global digital leader was also underscored as a key driver of international interest.

Afghanistan's Taliban-led military claimed its Air Force and drones carried out retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military targets, including sites near Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Nowshera, Jamrud and Abbottabad roughly 200 kilometres from the Durand Line. The strikes were described as retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia that allegedly killed civilians. Pakistan has not officially confirmed aerial bombardment on its territory. The Taliban's Air Force remains severely under-resourced, inheriting limited equipment post-2021 US withdrawal with no advanced fighter jets. Taliban's repeated reference to Pakistan as a "military regime" deliberately delegitimises its civilian leadership. Independent verification of the scale, casualties and actual impact of Afghan aerial operations remains unavailable. (PC: AP/Rahmatulla)

A video circulating on social media claims that General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon of the Pakistan Air Force was shot down by Afghan forces amid escalating border clashes with Afghanistan, showing wreckage with Pakistani markings and serial number “85510.” � However, the authenticity of the footage and claim remains unverified by credible international news outlets. Analyses suggest the shape and size of the wreckage don’t match an F‑16, and independent verification is lacking. Pakistan has confirmed conducting airstrikes on militants but denies that any of its aircraft were lost. Experts say the viral clip may be misleading or manipulated, underscoring the role of misinformation amid rising tensions between the neighbours.