Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced retaliatory tariffs on India and other countries that impose what he calls unfair trade duties. The new tariffs will take effect from April 2. Citing India as an example, Trump criticized the country for imposing over 100% tariffs on U.S. automobiles. He stressed that the U.S. must counter unjust trade policies, assuring that, despite potential price increases, the move would not significantly harm the American economy. The retaliatory tariffs could impact China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is set to visit Russia on March 7 for discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other key officials. According to Hindustan Times, the visit aims to boost trade, balance bilateral commerce, and ensure continued Russian energy supplies to India amid increased Western sanctions. The discussions may also cover the Ukraine conflict. India had previously faced diplomatic challenges during the Biden administration due to its stance on Russia.

To promote electricity conservation, Indian Minister Pradyumn Singh Tomar has declared that he will refrain from ironing his clothes for a year. His announcement has sparked widespread discussion and criticism across the state. Tomar, who has previously made controversial statements on energy saving and pollution control, claimed this act would save half a unit of electricity daily. Further emphasizing his commitment, he stated that even on his daughter’s wedding day, he would wear un-ironed clothes. The minister urged everyone to adopt energy-saving practices and take small initiatives to reduce consumption.

On February 15, a woman from Uttar Pradesh, India, was executed in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The woman, Shahzadi, had been sentenced to death under UAE law. On the eve of her execution, she called her family in Uttar Pradesh, crying as she informed them of her fate. Shahzadi had been convicted for the death of a child she had been caring for. The Indian government has been urged to intervene by her family in a bid to prevent the execution.

The Indian Army has conducted a large-scale military exercise using state-of-the-art T-90 battle tanks near the border. According to an official statement, the Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army carried out a month-long live-fire drill featuring T-90 tanks, mortars, and firearms. The exercise was focused on securing the Sikkim region and the Siliguri Corridor, a strategically vital area. The T-90, one of the most advanced tanks in the Indian military’s arsenal, played a crucial role in the drills.

A video of Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif taking a holy dip at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj has gone viral. Katrina, accompanied by her mother-in-law, performed the ritual at Triveni Sangam wearing a yellow salwar-kameez and a Rudraksha mala. However, the video, recorded by two young men, sparked criticism as it showed inappropriate excitement and media frenzy around her. Actress Raveena Tandon condemned the incident, calling it disturbing. Despite VIP security arrangements, celebrity bathing moments continue to be leaked and widely shared.

Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen praised Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s Interim Government, calling him highly competent and expressing full confidence in his abilities. In an interview with PTI at his Santiniketan residence, Sen described Yunus as an extraordinary person and an old friend. He warned against banning the Awami League, stating that it would repeat past mistakes. While concerned about Bangladesh’s political situation, Sen remains hopeful for a freer and fairer election and believes Yunus faces significant challenges ahead.

An avalanche near the Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, India, claimed the lives of four workers on Friday. The disaster occurred in Mana village near the India-China border, trapping 55 personnel from the Border Roads Organization. According to ANI, 50 workers have been rescued, while efforts continue to save the remaining five. A rescue operation involving 60 to 65 personnel was launched immediately after the incident, but adverse weather conditions have hampered progress.

In Maharashtra, India, a Muslim businessman’s shop was bulldozed after he was accused of chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” during an India-Pakistan cricket match on Sunday. The incident led to heightened tensions, resulting in the arrest of two individuals. Following the incident, Sindhudurg MLA Nilesh Rane directed the Malvan Municipality to take strict action. Subsequently, the businessman’s shop was demolished in the presence of police officials. Images of the bulldozed shop have gone viral on social media, with Rane labeling the shop owner as an “outsider.”

Tensions have flared once again in India’s Manipur state. On Friday, a group of devotees visited Kongba Maru, a sacred site for the Meitei community. Security officials reported that as the devotees arrived under security escort, armed Kuki militants fired seven rounds at them from a nearby hill.

Following the incident, additional security forces were deployed to the area. Local residents took to the streets in protest, demanding the dismantling of bunkers in the hills to ensure the safety of the Meitei community.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, an armed Meitei group in Manipur voluntarily surrendered 246 weapons to security forces, signaling an effort toward de-escalation.

Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the deportation of alleged illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants residing in and around New Delhi. In a meeting with Delhi Police on Friday, he instructed authorities to take immediate action against those living in the capital without valid documents.

A senior police official stated that an inspection is underway in colonies where Bangladeshis and Rohingyas are known to reside. Efforts have begun to identify individuals using forged documents or staying without any paperwork. Shah has urged law enforcement to adopt a stricter approach in handling the issue.

Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar accused India of illegally occupying Jammu and Kashmir during a session at the UN Human Rights Council. In response, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, K. Tyagi, dismissed the claims as baseless and driven by Pakistani military directives. He criticized Pakistan for wasting the UN’s time, labeling it a failed state that survives on international aid. Tyagi further accused Pakistan of severe human rights violations, persecution of minorities, and sheltering UN-designated terrorists, asserting that Pakistan has no moral standing to lecture others.

Following Nahid Islam’s resignation from the advisory council to join a political party, Indian journalist Arka Dev recalled meeting him and the scars from his July 22 ordeal. In a social media post, he expressed suspicion toward those who conveniently forget the brutality Nahid endured. Dev remarked that Nahid and his comrades had fought through hardships, embracing known and unknown martyrs in their struggle to form a government—right or wrong, at least they tried. He noted that Nahid and Mahfuz had internal conflicts but ultimately chose the difficult path, abandoning government privileges to seek new possibilities.

The US has imposed sanctions on four Indian companies for their involvement in selling and transporting petroleum products to Iran. According to the US State Department, the sanctioned entities include Flux Maritime LLP, BSM Marine LLP, Austinship Management Pvt Ltd, and Cosmos Lines Inc. US Treasury official Scott Bassant warned that any entity engaged in Iran’s energy sector would face similar restrictions. Additionally, firms from Hong Kong, China, and the UAE have also been sanctioned.

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition filed by an ISKCON leader requesting the Indian government to take immediate and effective action against alleged violence and persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar ruled that the court cannot interfere in the internal affairs of another country. The judges remarked that judicial intervention in such matters would be highly unusual. The petitioner had also sought an extension of the citizenship application deadline for Hindus fleeing Bangladesh due to alleged violence, a request the court ultimately rejected.