THE HEADLINES ::
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat train in Uttar Pradesh today.
Prime Minister to also share his thoughts in Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani at 11 this morning.
New integrated terminal at Guwahati airport in Assam to start commercial operations today.
India’s forex reserves surge to all-time high of 725.727 billion dollars.
US President Donald Trump announces hike in tariffs to 15 percent on all countries after Supreme Court ruling.
And in ICC T-20 Cricket World Cup, India to begin their Super 8 campaign against South Africa in Ahmedabad this evening.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat Train at Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat Station in Meerut today afternoon. He will also undertake Metro Ride till Meerut South Station. After that, Mr Modi will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation various development projects worth around 12,930 crore rupees in Meerut. He will also address the gathering on the occasion. Our correspondent has the details.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate to the Nation entire 82 Kilometres long Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor. He will inaugurate the remaining sections of India’s first Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System. These include the 5 Kilometres section between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and the 21 Kilometres section between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh. With a design speed of 180 km per hour, Namo Bharat is India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System. It will connect major urban centres such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar and Meerut with Delhi at a faster pace. Sarai Kale Khan, the originating station of the corridor, is one of the four Namo Bharat stations will be commissioned with this inauguration. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate Meerut Metro services between Meerut South and Modipuram, operating on the same infrastructure as Namo Bharat, in a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. Meerut Metro will be India’s fastest metro system with maximum operational speed of around 120 kilometers per hour. It will cover the entire stretch in just 30 minutes, with all the scheduled stoppages enroute. ANUPAM MISHRA, AKASHVANI NEWS, MEERUT.”
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stone of a semiconductor manufacturing unit at the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar of Uttar Pradesh yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said that the establishment of the HCL-Foxconn Joint Venture project-India Chip Private Limited is a step towards technological self-reliance and will boost India’s presence in the global chip ecosystem.
The Prime Minister said, this decade is India’s Tech Decade and the work done by India in the field of technology in this decade will be the base of the country’s strength in the 21st century.
<><><>
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 has adopted the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact, marking a significant milestone in global cooperation on artificial intelligence. The declaration has been endorsed by a total of 88 countries and international organisations, reflecting a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good. The event witnessed widespread participation from across the globe. Guided by the principle of “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” the Declaration called for strengthening global cooperation and stressed that the benefits of AI must be equitably shared across humanity.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani at 11 this morning. It will be the 131st episode of the monthly radio programme. The programme will be broadcast across the entire Akashvani and Doordarshan network, the AIR News website, and the Newsonair mobile app. It will also be live-streamed on the YouTube channels of AIR News, DD News, the PMO, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Akashvani will broadcast the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast.
<><><>
In Assam, the new integrated terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati begins its operations from today, marking a major addition to the state’s aviation infrastructure. This integrated terminal is expected to significantly enhance passenger handling capacity and improve overall operational efficiency, in view of the increasing air traffic in the region. The terminal has been designed to accommodate both domestic and international passengers, with upgraded security systems, improved passenger movement flow, and modern infrastructure. The terminal was inaugurated on December 20 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More from our Correspondent:
“This New Terminal Building is built at a cost of Rupees 4000 crore and designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually. It draws inspiration from Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage under the theme “Bamboo Orchids”. The New terminal aimed at strengthening Guwahati’s position as a key aviation hub. The state government described the development as a step towards strengthening connectivity and supporting economic growth, tourism, and trade in the region.With Regards Aminul Haque Jwadder.”
<><><>
India’s foreign exchange (forex) reserves surged by 8.663 billion dollars to an all-time high of 725.727 billion dollars during the week ended February 13. According to RBI, the value of gold reserves, a key component of foreign exchange reserves, increased by 4.990 billion dollars to 128.466 billion dollars. Foreign Currency Assets, the largest component of forex reserves, increased by 3.550 billion dollars to 573.603 billion dollars. The value of Special Drawing Rights increased by 103 million dollars to 18.924 billion dollars.
<><><>
India and Brazil have set an ambitious target to boost their bilateral trade to 30 billion dollars by 2030, up from the previous goal of 20 billion dollars. Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P Kumaran at the Special Briefing, informed that the decision was made during Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s visit to India, where he emphasised that the earlier target was not ambitious enough. The two countries are looking to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including Oil, gas, and renewable energy, launching Brazilian satellites and building satellites together, biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel, agriculture, livestock, and healthcare, as well as Yoga.
<><><>
US President Donald Trump has raised the global tariffs from 10 per cent to 15 per cent after a big setback in the Supreme Court. In a 6-3 decision, the court said the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give a president the power to introduce broad, across-the-board tariffs on imports. The judgment could open the door to refund claims potentially worth tens of billions of dollars. Within hours of the ruling, Trump appeared before reporters and announced a new round of tariffs, signalling that his trade agenda would move forward despite the setback. He insisted that key national security and trade-related tariffs would continue without interruption.
<><><>
Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, released the coffee table book titled Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman in New Delhi yesterday. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice President said that the book is a fitting tribute to Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He added that the publication is not merely a collection of photographs, but a celebration of one of India’s tallest leaders, whose life and legacy continue to inspire the nation.
<><><>
In a significant boost to specialised medical education in Jammu and Kashmir, National Medical Commission has approved 24 new super-specialty postgraduate seats in Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar, and SKIMS Soura.The seats have been approved in streams like Cardiology, Urology, Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology. Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo described the development as a major milestone. She added that this transformational step underscores the Government’s firm commitment to expanding specialised healthcare infrastructure and medical education opportunities within Jammu and Kashmir.
<><><>
In Uttar Pradesh, a special POCSO court at Prayagraj has ordered the Jhunsi Police Station SHO to register an FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to investigate allegations of sexual abuse of boys. Last week, the court of Special Judge (POCSO Act) Vinod Kumar Chaurasia had reserved its decision.
<><><>
In the ICC T-20 Cricket World Cup 2026, India will begin their Super 8 campaign against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad today. The match will begin at 7 this evening. The men in blue finished at the top of their group after winning all four matches. Meanwhile, the first Super 8 match between New Zealand and Pakistan was abandoned due to heavy rain in Colombo yesterday, with both teams sharing one point each. Pakistan will next play England on February 24 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. New Zealand will face Sri Lanka on February 25 in Colombo.
<><><>
NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE:
A front page picture in Hindustan Times under the headline “India, Brazil seal critical minerals deal”, shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, adding that the two sides agreed to double bilateral trade to 30 billion dollars by 2030.
“Indian-made chips must for self-reliance, says PM”, is a front-page story in The Pioneer.
The Statesman reports that the national capital has been placed on high alert after intelligence inputs warned of a possible terror plot by Pakistan-based outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba
“After blow, Trump hikes global tariff to 15%; will explore alternatives for legally permissible tariffs”, writes The Asian Age quoting US President Donald Trump.
“Bangladesh restores visa services as tensions ease under Tarique”, is a front-page headline in The Tribune.
The editorial in The Indian Express, dwelling on the recent Bangladesh elections, writes that though the Bangladesh Nationalist Party has won a clear-cut victory, securing 212 of the 299 parliamentary seats, several questions come to mind. How will the BNP govern the country, riven by political turmoil since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina? How are relations with India, its principal neighbour, going to evolve? It goes on to say that in effect, the BNP’s win will, in all likelihood, accelerate several currents that have come to characterise Bangladesh’s domestic and foreign policies in recent years, especially under Yunus’s interim government.
And finally, “1.2 lakh to get 5.2 crore rupees refund after 32-hour e-way jam”! The Times of India writes that at least 1.2 lakh commuters, caught in the 32-hour traffic gridlock on the Mumbai-Pune expressway on Feb 3, will get a refund for the toll they were charged.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat train in Uttar Pradesh today.
Prime Minister to also share his thoughts in Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani at 11 this morning.
New integrated terminal at Guwahati airport in Assam to start commercial operations today.
India’s forex reserves surge to all-time high of 725.727 billion dollars.
US President Donald Trump announces hike in tariffs to 15 percent on all countries after Supreme Court ruling.
And in ICC T-20 Cricket World Cup, India to begin their Super 8 campaign against South Africa in Ahmedabad this evening.
<><><>