Feb 23 News Live | Shirtless protest at AI Summit: Delhi Police make 5th arrest

Rupee rises 21 paise to 90.73 against the US dollar in early trade

The rupee surged by 21 paise to 90.73 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, aided by a sharp fall in global crude oil prices and a weaker greenback amid renewed uncertainties over US President Donald Trump hiking tariffs to 15 per cent.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was down 1.09 per cent at USD 70.98 per barrel.

Stock markets trade higher in early session tracking rally in Asian peers

Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened on a firm note on Monday, led by strong buying in banks and services stocks, tracking a rally in Asian markets.

Analysts said global sentiment was shaped by the US Supreme Court's verdict that knocked down the Trump tariffs and termed them "illegal", a move that could significantly alter global trade dynamics.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 572.10 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 83,386.81 in early trade. The 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 190.65 points, or 0.75 per cent, to 25,761.90.

Among the Sensex constituents, Adani Ports, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever, Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Reliance Industries, State Bank of India, and PowerGrid were the major gainers.

Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, IndiGo, and NTPC were trading in the red.

Shirtless protest at AI Summit: Delhi Police nabs Youth Congress worker in Gwalior, total arrests 5

Delhi Police has made the fifth arrest in connection with the shirtless protest by the Indian Youth Congress workers at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi last week, an official said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Jitendra Yadav, was apprehended from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five, police said.

On Friday, a group of Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers staged a dramatic shirtless protest at an exhibition hall during the AI Impact Summit at the Bharat Mandapam, walking around holding T-shirts with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal printed on them, before being whisked away by security personnel present at the venue.

Delhi Police arrested four IYC workers on the day of the protest, with officials saying a wider conspiracy angle in the matter was under investigation.

Two schools in Delhi receive bomb threat; search operations underway

Two schools in the national capital received bomb threats via email on Monday, triggering large-scale search operations by security agencies, officials said. According to the police, Army Public School in Dhaula Kuan and Air Force Bal Bharti School on Lodhi Road received bomb threats.

The administrations of both schools informed the authorities in the morning after receiving the threatening emails, a senior police officer said. "A bomb threat was received through email at two schools, Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan, and Air Force Bal Bharti School, Lodhi Road. As a precautionary measure, the premises were evacuated and thorough search operations are being carried out," the officer said.

Teams from Delhi Police, the bomb disposal squad, dog squad and Delhi Fire Services rushed to the spots soon after the information was received. The areas around the schools were cordoned off to ensure the safety of students and staff. "We are verifying the source of the emails and further investigation is underway. So far, nothing suspicious has been found," the officer added.

The cyber cell has been roped in to trace the origin of the emails and identify the sender. Search operations is still continue.

Indian Embassy issues advisory for its nationals in Mexico after drug lord El Mencho killed

The Embassy of India in Mexico on Monday issued an advisory to Indian nationals residing in the country, urging them to exercise caution and remain indoors amid escalating violence after Mexican soldiers killed a top drug cartel leader.

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed on Sunday.

"Dear all Indian nationals in Mexico. There are ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity, Indian nationals in Jalisco State (areas of Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), Tamaulipas State (areas of Reynosa and other municipalities), areas of Michoacan State, Guerrero State, and Nuevo Leon State should shelter in place until further notice," the Indian Embassy in Mexico posted on X.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reelected to top post of ruling Workers' Party

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was reelected to the top post of the ruling Workers' Party, with delegates crediting him for bolstering the country's nuclear arsenal and strengthening its regional standing, state media reported Monday.

The report from the party congress, where Kim is expected to outline his key political and military goals for the next five years, suggests he will double down on accelerating a military nuclear program already equipped with missiles capable of threatening Asian US allies and the American mainland.

The congress, which began last Thursday, comes as Kim grows increasingly assertive in regional politics, following an aggressive expansion of his nuclear arsenal and closer ties with Russia forged through joint war efforts in Ukraine, which have deepened his standoffs with Washington and Seoul.

Mexican army kills powerful drug lord 'El Mencho'; violence erupts

The Mexican army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho, ” on Sunday, decapitating what had become Mexico's most powerful cartel and giving the government its biggest prize yet to show the Trump administration its efforts.

Oseguera Cervantes was wounded in an operation to capture him Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara and he died while being flown to Mexico City, the Defense Department said in a statement. The state is the base of the cartel known for trafficking huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to the United States.

During the operation, troops came under fire and killed four people at the location. Three more people, including Oseguera Cervantes, were wounded and later died, the statement said. Two others were arrested and armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other arms were seized. Three members of the armed forces were wounded and receiving medical treatment.

Read the full story here.

18 people killed in bus accident in Nepal's Dhading

At least 18 people were killed when a passenger bus fell into the Trishuli river near Gajuri in the Dhading district of Nepal early morning on Monday.

Twenty-six passengers were injured in the accident that occurred when the bus coming towards Kathmandu from Pokhara plunged into the Trishuli river along the Prithvi Highway, about 90 km west of Kathmandu at 1.30 am, according to Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, spokesperson at the Armed Police Force.

Seventeen bodies have been recovered from the accident site and 28 injured passengers have been rescued from the bus, according to Bhatta. The injured passengers have been admitted to different hospitals for treatment. Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police personnel have been mobilised to carry out rescue work.

Among those killed in the accident, one male passenger is from New Zealand. One Japanese and a Dutch national, both women, were among those injured in the incident.

Although the exact reason of the accident could not yet been ascertained, the police said that over speeding might be the reason behind the accident. 

Pakistan claims to have killed at least 70 militants in strikes along Afghan border

Pakistan's military killed at least 70 militants in strikes along the border with Afghanistan early Sunday, targeting what it described as hideouts of Pakistani militants it blamed for recent attacks inside the country, the deputy interior minister said. Kabul rejected the claim.

Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan's deputy interior minister, offered no evidence for his claim in an interview with Geo News that at least 70 militants were killed in the strikes. Pakistan's state-run media later reported that militant fatalities jumped to 80.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement that “various civilian areas” in the provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika in eastern Afghanistan were hit, including a religious madrassa and multiple homes. The statement called the strikes a violation of Afghanistan's airspace and sovereignty.

Farhan Akhtar-backed Manipuri film ‘Boong’ wins BAFTA Award in London

Quirky Manipuri coming-of-age comedy-drama ‘Boong’, produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment, won the prestigious BAFTA Award for Best Children's & Family Film in London on Sunday.

The film’s debutant director, Lakshmipriya Devi, made an emotional plea for peace in her acceptance speech after receiving the coveted trophy from Paddington Bear, the lead character starring in the West End show ‘Paddington The Musical’. She was joined on stage by producers Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani and the assistant director of ‘Boong’, Rahul Sharda.

“The walk up till here felt like the last few steps to reach a summit of a mountain we never knew we were climbing in the first place," said Devi.

“Just want to use this opportunity to say that we pray for peace to return to Manipur, we pray that all the internally displaced children, including the child actors in the film, regain their joy, their innocence and their dream once again.

“We pray that no conflict is ever formidable enough to destroy the one superpower that all of us have as human beings, that is forgiveness. So, thank you BAFTA for giving us not only an award but this stage to express our hope," she said.

The Manipuri film, starring Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam, beat international competition from other nominees ‘Lilo and Stitch’, ‘Arco’ and ‘Zootropolis 2’.