Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:01am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India Global
The White House unintentionally included a reference to India’s digital services tax—often dubbed the “Google tax”—in its initial fact sheet on the India-US trade framework, suggesting India would remove it as part of the deal. The levy, a 6% equalisation tax on digital advertising by foreign companies, had already been abolished by India from April 1, 2025 under the Finance Bill 2025, long before the trade pact announcement. After realising the error, the White House deleted the mention from the revised document, now saying India will instead negotiate bilateral digital trade rules, aligning the fact sheet with agreed terms. (PC: AFP)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:04am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday International
A mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada has left at least 10 people dead, including the suspected shooter, and 27 others wounded, in one of the deadliest school attacks in Canadian history. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to reports of an active shooter on February 10, evacuating all remaining students and staff safely. Six victims were found inside the school, with more fatalities at a nearby residence and on the way to hospital. Two critically injured victims were airlifted for treatment, while others received local care. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities say no further suspects are believed at large. (PC: Al Jazeera)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:58am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday Entertainment
Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, who surrendered to Tihar Jail in a long-running ₹9 crore cheque bounce case, has received significant financial backing from music producer Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav, owner of GemTunes Music, pledging ₹1.11 crore to support him in his legal and financial crisis. Singh praised Yadav’s contribution to Indian cinema and called the gesture about solidarity, not money. Colleagues such as Sonu Sood and Gurmeet Choudhary have also offered assistance, urging the film fraternity to stand together. Politician Tej Pratap Yadav extended additional aid of ₹11 lakh to Yadav’s family. The case stems from dishonoured cheques related to a failed 2010 film loan. (PC: India Today)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:52am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India Global
The US White House has quietly revised its fact sheet on the recently announced India-United States interim trade deal, removing the mention of “certain pulses” from the list of American agricultural products for which India would reduce or eliminate tariffs. The earlier version also described India’s plan to buy over $500 billion in US goods as a commitment; the revised text now says India “intends” to make such purchases. Additional changes include softer language on digital trade and aligning the fact sheet more closely with the joint statement issued by both countries. The adjustments came after New Delhi flagged discrepancies. (PC: Reuters)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:47am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sharply criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his conduct in the Lok Sabha during a row over his attempt to quote from an unpublished “memoir” of ex-Army Chief General M M Naravane on the India-China border standoff. Rijiju accused Gandhi of defying the Speaker’s ruling, wasting House time and behaving immaturely, telling him “don’t behave like children” amid heated exchanges and disruptions in Parliament. The spat reflects broader tensions between the government and opposition over parliamentary decorum and national security discourse during the Budget Session. (PC: PTI)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:30am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India
The Union Home Ministry has issued new guidelines making all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram mandatory at government functions and in schools, using the official 3-minute-10-second version penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The song must be played or sung at occasions such as the unfurling of the Tricolour, the arrival and departure of the President and governors, and before and after presidential addresses. If Vande Mataram and the national anthem Jana Gana Mana are both performed, the national song comes first. The directive also outlines decorum, including standing to attention, and encourages mass singing at ceremonies. (PC: The Times of India)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:23am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India
In Mathura’s Khapparpur village, Uttar Pradesh, a couple and their three young children were found dead inside their home, in what police suspect was a mass suicide pact. The victims were identified as Manish Kumar (35), his wife Seema (about 32), and their children Honey (8), Priyanshi (5) and Prateek (3). Neighbours broke into the house after there was no response in the morning. Police recovered a video message recorded by Manish and messages scribbled on the wall indicating the deaths were voluntary. Post-mortem findings showed varied causes: the father by electrocution, the wife by hanging, and the children by strangulation. Investigations are ongoing.
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 06:01am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday International
At least nine people died in shootings at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a connected residence in northeast British Columbia, Canadian police reported Tuesday. Six victims were found dead inside the school, with a seventh dying during hospital transport. Two more were discovered at a nearby residence believed linked to the incident. The female suspect died from a self-inflicted injury inside the school. Two victims were airlifted with life-threatening injuries, while approximately 25 others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed investigators identified the shooter but withheld her name, stating the motive remains unclear. The 2,400-resident community was placed under lockdown until 5:45 p.m. Both local schools closed through week's end. (PC: X)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:44am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India Global
The White House revised its India-US trade deal fact sheet, making significant changes to language and commitments. Key modifications include: dropping "certain pulses" from agricultural products eligible for tariff elimination, softening India's purchase commitment from "has committed to buy" to "intends to buy" over $500 billion in US goods, removing "agricultural" from the product category list, and deleting mention of India removing digital services taxes and customs duty prohibitions on electronic transmissions. The changes occurred one day after the initial fact sheet release describing the interim framework as a stepping stone toward a full Bilateral Trade Agreement. The revisions soften the strength of India's procurement pledges and narrow commodity specifications. (PC: News18)
Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:24am on 11 Feb 2026,Wednesday India Global
India and China reviewed bilateral ties Tuesday during the India-China Strategic Dialogue, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meeting Chinese Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on the BRICS Sherpa Meeting sidelines in New Delhi. Both sides emphasized maintaining peace and tranquility along the border as critical for overall relations while addressing "sensitive issues" including bilateral trade concerns. Discussions covered expanding people-to-people exchanges, resuming Kailash Mansarovar Yatra at larger scale, finalizing an updated Air Services Agreement, and facilitating visas. China expressed support for India's successful BRICS-2026 Summit and acknowledged respecting India's UN Security Council membership aspirations. The dialogue highlighted "positive momentum" in stabilizing relations while implementing leaders' guidance on approaching issues from broader political and strategic perspectives. (PC: ANI)