THE HEADLINES ::
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India deeply values its enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation, and shared commitment to peace and progress.
- Rajaji Utsav to be celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today.
- Maharashtra government requests Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order CBI probe into plane crash that killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
- India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that killed civilians, including women and children.
- Iran and US set to resume their nuclear talks in Geneva on 26th of this month.
- In ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, South Africa beat India by 76 runs in Super Eight match in Ahmedabad.
<><><>
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India deeply values its enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to peace and progress. In response to a social media post by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Modi said he agrees with him about the strong bond between India and Israel, as well as the diverse nature of bilateral relations between the two countries. Mr. Modi added that he is looking forward to discussions between the two sides during his upcoming visit to Israel.
Earlier, in a social media post, the Israeli Prime Minister said the bond between Israel and India is a powerful alliance between two global leaders. From AI to regional cooperation, the partnership between the two nations continues to reach new heights, he added.
<><><>
Rajaji Utsav will be celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today. In his Mann ki Baat programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a statue of the first Indian Governor-General of independent India C. Rajagopalachari will replace statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Our Correspondent has more details on this:
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the unveiling of C Rajagopalachari’s statue at the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises in the 131st episode of his Mann ki Baat programme yesterday. In his speech, the Prime Minister defined C. Rajagopalachari as one of the leaders who viewed power not as a position, but as a form of service. Mr Modi said Rajagopalachari’s conduct, self-restraint, and independent thinking in public life inspires us even today.
An exhibition on C. Rajagopalachari will also be held during Rajaji Utsav from 24th of February to 1st of March. Rishu Jaiswal, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
<><><>
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has stated that India has achieved a significant milestone in the field of organ donation and transplantation. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has recorded unprecedented progress in organ donation, allocation, and transplantation across the country. The number of transplants in the country has increased from fewer than 5,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2025, marking a remarkable fourfold rise. The Ministry added that around 18 percent of transplants are currently being performed using organs donated by deceased donors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also highlighted the importance of organ donation in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme yesterday.
<><><>
Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary has launched a nationwide campaign titled “Badhna Hai Toh Yahan Judna Hai” to accelerate India’s digital skilling movement through Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). It is a mobile-first, AI-enabled platform that brings learning, employment, and entrepreneurship at one place by ensuring seamless access, personalized guidance, and opportunity in over 20 Indian languages. Addressing the launch event, Mr Chaudhary said that India’s digital strength has been globally recognized through transformative initiatives such as India Stack, and now the Skill India Digital Hub.
<><><>
Maharashtra government has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a CBI investigation into the plane crash that killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar last month. This was stated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai yesterday. Addressing a press conference, Mr Fadnavis said, Mahayuti government will ensure that all doubts regarding the plane crash are cleared.
“Mr.Fadnvis further said that he received a letter from the ally party of the BJP a NCP and demanding a CBI probe into the Ajit Pawar air crash and discussed it with Home Minister Amit Shah. In addition to the ongoing investigations by the DGCA and state CID, now there will be a CBI probe. Bhavana Akashvani NEWS, Mumbai.”
<><><>
Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Margaret Alva has criticised the protest staged by party workers during the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Responding to media queries regarding the protest, in which Indian Youth Congress members allegedly entered the venue and raised slogans, Ms Alva said, such occasions require responsible conduct. She said, during international events, dignity and discipline maintained, and there should be a sense of responsibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also came down heavily on Congress over its youth wing’s shirtless protest at the India-AI Impact Summit and said that the demonstration showed that the oldest party of the country has become ideologically bankrupt.
<><><>
The Budget Session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly will commence today. The session, which will continue till the 20th of March, will have a total of 15 sittings. It will begin with the address of Governor Ramen Deka. Finance Minister, O. P. Choudhary will present the Budget for the financial year 2026-27 tomorrow. Speaker of the Assembly, Dr. Raman Singh has informed that the Governor’s address and the Finance Minister’s Budget speech will be broadcast live by Doordarshan and Akashvani, Raipur.
<><><>
India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramzan. In response to a media query in this regard, the External Affairs Ministry’s Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, it is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures. He reiterated India’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.
<><><>
The action thriller “One Battle After Another” dominated the 79th British Academy Film Awards, popularly known as the BAFTAs, winning six awards including Best Film. Paul Thomas Anderson was named Best Director for “One Battle After Another.” He also won awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography, and dedicated his directing honour to late producer and assistant director Adam Somner.
Jessie Buckley was named Best Actress for “Hamnet,” while Robert Aramayo won Best Actor for the British indie film “I Swear”.
Indian film, Boong, won the prestigious BAFTA Award for Best Children’s & Family Film. Boong is a Manipuri film, starring Gugun Kipgen and Bala Hijam, that beat international competition from other nominees ‘Lilo and Stitch’, ‘Arco’ and ‘Zootropolis 2’.
<><><>
Iran and US are set to resume their nuclear talks in Geneva on 26th of this month, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to face US special envoy Steve Witkoff across the table, and has said there is “a good chance” of reaching a diplomatic resolution.
Tehran, however, has made clear it will discuss only its nuclear programme firmly ruling out any talks on its missile arsenal or regional proxies.
The two sides met twice before, first in Oman and then in Geneva on February 17 , where they agreed on broad guiding principles for a potential deal.
The central dispute remains uranium enrichment: Washington insists Iran must not retain the capacity to build a nuclear weapon, while Tehran says enrichment is its sovereign right.
All of this is playing out as the US maintains its largest military presence in the Middle East in years, with President Trump warning that military options remain on the table if diplomacy falls short.
The nuclear talks are set to happen against a backdrop of renewed unrest inside Iran, where university students took to campuses in Tehran and other cities over the weekend, marking the first major rallies since a deadly crackdown in January.Vinod Kumar, AKASHVANI NEWS, Dubai.”
<><><>
In the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, India went down to South Africa by 76 runs in their Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad last night. Opting to bat first, South Africa scored 187 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs, powered by David Miller’s 63 off 35 balls and Tristan Stubbs’ 44 off 24. In reply, the hosts were all out for 111 in 18.5 overs, with Shivam Dube top-scoring with 42 runs. David Miller has been named player of the match.
<><><>
In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Public Speak” at 9.30 PM tonight, we will bring you a discussion on Staying Safe from Deepfakes in the AI Age with Dr. Pavan Duggal, Cyber Law expert and Dr. Anup Girdhar, Cyber Security expert.
During the programme, listeners can ask questions on how to identify AI generated fake videos and audios and how to protect yourselves from the harmful online content.
<><><>
TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- Following the US Supreme Court’s verdict against import tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration, India and the US have deferred their meeting to finalise the text for the interim trade pact, wirtes The Asian Age.
- “India pauses trade team’s visit, will assess US Supreme Court tariff ruling”, headlines The Hindu Business Line.
- Indian Markets are set for a fresh round of uncertainty after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global tariff order, writes Financial Express. Most experts believe that the market will cheer the new tariff, adds the paper.
- In its editorial piece titled “Space opens up in tariff saga. India can use it.” The Indian Epxress examines the uncertainty triggered by the US Supreme Court’s ruling against the use of emergency powers for tariffs and the subequent policy shifts by President Trump. The editorial argues that this fluid situaiton could give India greater leverage and negotiating space as it works to finalise a trade deal with Washington.
- Averting possible terror strikes, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has dismantled a Lashkar-e-Taiba module with alleged Bangladeshi links, writes The Pioneer.
- The Tribune reports that three Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed by Indian security forces yesterday after an encounter in Kishtwar district.
- “Highest-ranking Maoist leader Devuji surrenders”, reads the top headline in The Indian Express.
- The Supreme Court of India is to hear the pleas today, filed by META and WhatsApp, challenging a penalty of 213 crore rupees imposed on them by the Competition Commission of India, reports The Statesman.
- And finally, The Times of India has quoted a report that points to corporate India slowing women’s climb to the top. The report says only 1% of women currently occupy board-level positions.
<><><>
THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, India deeply values its enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation, and shared commitment to peace and progress.
- Rajaji Utsav to be celebrated at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi today.
- Maharashtra government requests Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order CBI probe into plane crash that killed Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.
- India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that killed civilians, including women and children.
- Iran and US set to resume their nuclear talks in Geneva on 26th of this month.
- In ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, South Africa beat India by 76 runs in Super Eight match in Ahmedabad.
<><><>