FirstUp: Brazil's Lula begins India visit, Zuckerberg to testify in social media trial

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will start his visit to India from today (February 18) at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit comes as both nations seek to deepen their strategic partnership.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO, is set to testify in Los Angeles today in a landmark trial over social media addiction, as a separate case against the company is ongoing in New Mexico.

Read this and more of the big news from across the world today.

Brazilian President begins India visit

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has begun his state visit to India. Lula would be participating in the AI Impact Summit from 19 to 20 February. Both PM Modi and the Brazilian President are scheduled to meet on Saturday for bilateral talks.

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During his time in India, President Droupadi Murmu is expected to meet him and would host a banquet in his honour, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Lula is expected to be accompanied by around 14 ministers and a large delegation of leading Brazilian CEOs. The ministers are scheduled to meet their Indian counterparts, and CEOs are likely to participate in a Business Forum being organised during their state visit.

Zuckerberg to testify in social media addiction trial

Today, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to take the stand in a landmark social media addiction trial in Los Angeles.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faces a landmark case as a separate lawsuit against the company moves forward in New Mexico. File image/Reuters

A separate case against Meta is currently ongoing in New Mexico. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles trial marks the first in a consolidated case involving over 1,600 plaintiffs, with jurors tasked with deciding whether social media platforms such as Facebook are responsible for causing addiction and mental health problems among users.

The case poses a significant legal test for Meta and could establish a precedent for holding social media companies accountable for potential harm on their platforms.

Denmark's king to visit Greenland

Denmark's King Frederik will visit Greenland today as the nation asserts its sovereignty over the Arctic island in response to US President Donald Trump's repeated demands for control.

"I sense that they are worried, and for me it's a pleasure to go and meet them," Frederik told reporters, according to Reuters. Trump said repeatedly that the US needs Greenland for national security.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen asserted that if forced to choose between the US and Denmark, Greenlanders would always choose Denmark.

Amit Shah to visit West Bengal

Ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit West Bengal today to participate in several programs.

After arriving, he will spend two hours at the ISKCON temple, ANI reported. According to sources cited by the Telegraph, Shah may hold a closed-door interaction with ISKCON monks and other religious figures. However, nothing regarding the same has been made public yet.

As the West Bengal assembly election nears, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit the state today. File image/ANI

Top BJP brass, including Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar, are expected to accompany Shah.

Priyanka Gandhi to visit Assam

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to visit Assam on a two-day trip starting today to participate in a series of party meetings ahead of the state assembly elections, a state Congress leader said on Sunday (February 15).

State Congress general secretary (organisation) Bipul Gogoi said in a statement that Vadra will meet various party office-bearers during her visit. She is scheduled to return to Delhi on the evening of February 19, Gogoi added, according to a media report.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to visit Assam as political temperature rises ahead of the state assembly elections. File image/ANI

The Assam assembly elections are likely to be held in March-April, with the Congress aiming to contest in alliance with several opposition parties.

IND vs NED T20 WC 2026

India will face the Netherlands in their final Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 today.

The match will begin at 7:00 pm IST, with the toss scheduled for 6:30 pm IST at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match will be streamed live on JioHotstar. It will also be telecast on the Star Sports Network.

With inputs from agencies