The Times of India

A special POCSO court in Prayagraj has ordered the police to register an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple over sexual exploitation allegations. This directive follows a complaint filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari Maharaj. The move occurs amidst ongoing controversy surrounding Swami Avimukteshwaranand, including a recent protest over being prevented from a ritual dip at Sangam.

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek the resignation of Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu pending an inquiry into the January 28 plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar. Pawar alleged potential links between the aircraft's owner, VSR, and the minister's party, demanding an independent probe into the incident and possible conspiracy.

BJP staged nationwide protests after Indian Youth Congress workers disrupted the India AI Impact Summit, displaying slogans against PM Modi. Four IYC leaders were arrested. BJP workers also showed black flags to Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai, accusing the Congress of an 'anti-national' act and demanding an apology for the 'shameful' summit disruption.

India will now face a 10% tariff on imports to the US, as President Trump signed an executive order imposing this global rate. This move follows a US Supreme Court ruling that declared his previous tariffs illegal. Trump stated that this new tariff structure is a reversal, with India now paying tariffs to the US.

Updates in marriage rules proposed by state govt give role to parents, but caste and village bodies have drawn up their own codes laying down fines, boycott, etc for those marrying outside the community.

Over Half Dead Or Disabled In Three Months

A viral video from Indore showed a woman attacked on child-lifting suspicion. This incident led to a surprising reunion. Her daughter, seeing the clip, traveled to Indore. She found her mother, Rekha Devi, who had been missing for over a year and a half. Rekha Devi had gone missing from Meerut after family tragedies.

Defeated candidates in Telangana are reportedly demanding cash and gifts back from voters after municipal election results. Viral videos show confrontations as residents refuse to return items distributed during campaigns. Incidents have been reported across multiple districts, highlighting post-poll tensions and alleged vote-buying practices.

A Kerala court has handed life sentences to five men for the brutal 2016 murder of a 42-year-old man in a moral policing incident. The judge described the lynching as akin to terrorism. The convicts, found guilty of murder and rioting, were also given additional rigorous imprisonment and fines. Crucial evidence included visuals of the assault recorded by some accused.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared in a Sultanpur court Friday to record his statement in a 2018 defamation case concerning remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi asserted the allegations were politically motivated and aimed at damaging his and his party's image. He denied using derogatory language, calling the complaint a distortion.

President Trump fiercely criticized the Supreme Court after it struck down his global tariffs, deeming the decision idiculous. He vowed to pursue alternative measures to impose new duties, despite the ruling limiting his executive authority. The decision injects uncertainty into global trade as Trump signals continued use of tariffs.

The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump lacked the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. The 6-3 decision found the law does not explicitly grant power for tariffs, a move Trump had used extensively. This ruling could lead to significant refunds and ongoing disputes over presidential tariff powers.

The Union home ministry has formed a second empowered committee in West Bengal to expedite citizenship applications under the CAA. This move comes as the volume of applications has surged, particularly from the Matua community. The new committee, headed by the deputy registrar general, aims to share the workload and reduce processing times for eligible immigrants.

A six-year-old girl's murder case saw her stepfather acquitted by the Supreme Court. The court found the evidence weak, citing a botched investigation. The stepfather was the last person seen with the child. His statement leading to the discovery of her remains was deemed inadmissible. The court highlighted the lack of corpus delicti and specified time of death.

Saudi Arabia has temporarily become India's top crude oil supplier, with imports reaching their highest since November 2019. February saw nearly 1-1.1 million barrels per day arriving from the West Asian nation, surpassing Russia. This shift occurs amid US pressure on India to reduce Russian crude purchases, though analysts anticipate a short-term stabilization.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor stated India committed to not buying Russian oil as President Trump seeks to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Gor also revealed active negotiations for India to procure Venezuelan oil, with an interim trade deal imminent. India's foreign ministry emphasized its energy policy is driven by national interest.

An Iran-linked oil tanker, seized by the Indian Coast Guard, spent days in Pakistan's maritime boundary with its tracking systems off. The vessel, along with two others, was apprehended for alleged illegal oil smuggling and forgery. Investigations revealed ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and bitumen without informing authorities.

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi's Australia visit from Feb 16-19 focused on enhancing army-to-army cooperation. Discussions with senior defence leaders reviewed joint exercises, professional education exchanges, and interoperability, deepening strategic alignment. The visit also emphasized strengthening the bilateral Army Exercise AUSTRAHIND.