The Times of India

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.

Army and Rajouri Police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47, during a search operation in Sunderbani sector. The recovery followed a foiled infiltration bid, with heavily bloodstained tracks suggesting injured terrorists. Operations continue with heightened vigilance.

Speaking in the assembly, Omar urged legislators not to politicise every issue and clarified that the Feb 18 order was issued by the Kishtwar deputy commissioner (DC) after consulting religious leaders as a safety measure to check donation deceptions. We shouldnt mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation, Omar said.

US businesses have won a significant victory as the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's emergency tariffs. While companies anticipate billions in refunds, the process is expected to be lengthy and complex. The ruling, impacting over $175 billion in collected tariffs, has boosted markets, though uncertainty about future tariff policies remains.

BJP has accused the Congress of disrupting the AI Impact Summit to damage India's global image, alleging the protest was directed by Rahul Gandhi. Youth Congress workers staged a demonstration, raising slogans against the Prime Minister, leading to detentions. BJP leaders condemned the act as an attempt to embarrass India on the world stage.

Calling Rahul Gandhi a raitor, a protesting BJP Yuva Morcha leader, who was being bundled into a van, said, This shows their ideology against the country. If you want to protest, protest the policies. They have protested against their own country. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the Al Summit.

India is diversifying its oil sources, according to US envoy Sergio Gor. Discussions are underway for Venezuelan oil imports. The US maintains its stance against countries buying Russian oil. A trade deal between India and the US is nearing finalization, with a potential meeting between Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump anticipated.

As Kerala gears up for the 2026 elections, the future of the Left beyond chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is a pressing concern. Despite his strong leadership, the absence of a clear successor and the need to connect with a new generation of voters pose significant challenges for the LDF's continued relevance and its status as India's sole communist-governed state.

Crypto giant Tether is now a leading gold buyer, acquiring nearly two tonnes weekly, surpassing many nations. This move, driven by its tokenized gold product and diversification strategy, sees the company amassing significant bullion reserves. Tether's substantial gold purchases are reshaping global demand, with its holdings now rivaling central bank levels.

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva believes AI can propel India's 'Viksit Bharat' goal and boost global growth by 0.8%, potentially exceeding pre-COVID rates. While hailing AI's economic potential, she cautioned that 40% of global jobs, including those in emerging markets, face significant disruption. India's digital infrastructure and youthful population are seen as advantageous.

Union home minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of leaving Assam's borders open to infiltrators, aiming to alter the state's demographics. He contrasted this with the BJP government's efforts under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who he stated cleared vast lands occupied by infiltrators. Shah also highlighted the BJP's infrastructure development achievements in Assam.

Contrary to initial fears, India's IT services sector is poised to benefit from AI advancements, a Jefferies report suggests. Instead of job losses, companies are seeing increased demand for customized AI solutions built on proprietary data. This shift widens the industry's market, potentially easing economic concerns and boosting valuations.

Youth Congress workers staged a shirtless protest against a trade deal at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, leading to their detention. This occurred hours after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the summit's organization and global stature, and also supported a defense deal with France.

India is set to implement new trade agreements with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Oman in the coming months. An interim deal with the US is expected to be formalized in March and come into effect in April. This pact will see reciprocal tariffs reduced.

Foreign portfolio investors injected Rs 33,487 crore into Indian equities in early February, with capital goods, financial services, and oil & gas sectors seeing significant inflows. This marks a strong buying trend, though overseas investors continued to exit the information technology sector, driven by AI disruption concerns.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor hinted at an upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, emphasizing growing AI and semiconductor cooperation. India's signing of the Pax Silica Declaration, alongside US officials, signifies a pivotal moment for bilateral ties, fostering collaboration in advanced technologies among trusted nations.

Wall Streets junior-banker grind has been a simmering flashpoint since pandemic-era deal surges, when complaints about punishing schedules and chronic sleep deprivation spilled into public view and forced some banks to tinker with protected time off

Rahul Gandhi appeared in a Sultanpur court on Friday for a 2018 criminal defamation case concerning remarks allegedly made about Amit Shah during the Karnataka Assembly elections. The case, filed by a BJP leader, accuses Gandhi of calling Shah an accused in a murder case, a statement Gandhi denies as politically motivated.

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are facing resistance at higher levels, and the short-term structure is showing weakness, says Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.

India has joined the US-led Pax Silica strategic alliance, a coalition aimed at defining the 21st-century economic and technological order. The declaration focuses on building secure, resilient ecosystems for critical minerals and AI, bolstering India's electronics and semiconductor industry. This move strengthens global AI and semiconductor supply chains, reducing dependence on non-aligned nations.

The Labour Ministry has unveiled a comprehensive compliance checklist for employers, consolidating nearly two dozen requirements under four new labour codes. This initiative aims to clarify responsibilities, prevent evasion, and minimize legal disputes by providing a clear roadmap for businesses. The checklist covers foundational, monthly, annual, and event-specific obligations, ensuring smoother transitions and enhanced worker welfare.

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy lauded former PM Rishi Sunak as a great son of India during a New Delhi event, also highlighting his own Indian heritage. Lammy emphasized their ability to collaborate across political divides, particularly on prostate cancer initiatives.

Stock market today: Equity benchmarks opened flat on Friday after a crash on Thursday due to escalating geopolitical tensions. While Nifty50 was above 25,450, BSE Sensex was near 82,500.

India is poised to formally join the US-led Pax Silica strategic alliance, a move expected to bolster its semiconductor ambitions and strategic location. This initiative, launched in December 2025, aims to build secure and resilient supply chains for critical minerals and AI, fostering mutual economic security and prosperity among trusted partners.

Stock market recommendations: IndusInd Bank, and UPL are the top stock recommendations by Bajaj Broking Research for February 20, 2026 with a 3-month horizon in mind. The brokerage also shares its view on Nifty and Bank Nifty:

Industry leaders at the India AI Impact Summit emphasized the need for open, trusted, and globally accessible AI. Bharti Enterprises' Sunil Mittal highlighted AI's integration into telecom and its potential to boost sectors like healthcare and education.