SENSEX
NIFTY
GOLD
USD/INR

Weather

image 17    C

The Times of India

Politics / The Times of India

Trade, defence & security on agenda as PM Modi heads to Israel; visit amid US threat of attack on Iran

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Israel, commencing Wednesday, aims to strengthen the strategic partnership and address shared challenges. The agenda includes meetings with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, an address to the Knesset, and discussions on technology, defense, and trade. An upgraded security pact and a potential free trade agreement are key outcomes anticipated from this significant diplomatic engagement.

25 Feb 2026 3:49 am
Graft in judiciary, cases backlog in NCERT book

Class 8 students will now learn about judicial challenges like corruption, massive case backlogs, and judge shortages. The new NCERT textbook highlights how these issues hinder justice, especially for the poor. It details pending cases across courts and mentions efforts to boost transparency and accountability, including a code of conduct for judges and a grievance system.

25 Feb 2026 3:36 am
Defence, trade and Hexagon alliance: What to expect during PM Modi's high-stakes Israel visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Israel on February 25-26. He will meet prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss defence, security, and economic ties. The leaders will also review progress in science, technology, and innovation. The visit aims to reaffirm the strategic partnership between India and Israel. Discussions will also cover regional developments and people-to-people exchanges.

24 Feb 2026 10:13 pm
Post audit, DGCA ground four jets of VSR Ventures

India's aviation regulator has grounded four Learjet aircraft belonging to VSR Ventures. This action follows a safety audit that revealed non-compliance in airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations. The decision comes after a fatal crash involving a VSR Ventures plane in January 2026.

24 Feb 2026 9:34 pm
2 crashes in a month: Government mulls safety ranking of charter operators, stricter norms put in place

Following two fatal charter aircraft crashes, India's aviation regulator is introducing a safety ranking for non-scheduled operators. Operators must now disclose critical safety information online, and stricter penalties will be imposed for violations. The DGCA is enforcing a zero-tolerance policy, holding senior leadership accountable for safety lapses.

24 Feb 2026 9:29 pm
Sarma vs Gogoi: How a decade-old Congress rift turned into Assam's fiercest political showdown

Assam's political landscape is heating up as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi trade sharp accusations. The ongoing war of words between both the leaders has turned into a major political showdown. What began over a decade ago as a rift within the Congress has now become one of the most bitter political rivalries.

24 Feb 2026 9:06 pm
Root out enemies and traitors: Sasikala floats new political party ahead of Tamil Nadu elections

Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala has announced the formation of a new political party in Tamil Nadu, vowing to champion the cause of the poor and downtrodden. Unveiling a flag featuring prominent Dravidian leaders, she stated the party would follow their ideology. Sasikala also recalled being urged to become Chief Minister after Jayalalithaa's demise.

24 Feb 2026 8:10 pm
Bangla-birodhis: Mamata Banerjee reminds Centre of Bengal proposal after Kerala's Keralam nod

The Union Cabinet approved Kerala's name change to Keralam. This sparked a political row. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned why her state's proposal to be renamed Bangla is pending. She accused the Centre of discrimination. The Centre's decision comes ahead of assembly elections in both states.

24 Feb 2026 7:50 pm
DNPA Conclave 2026: Navigating technology, inclusion, and future of news in an evolving digital ecosystem

India's digital public infrastructure is reshaping citizen interaction and the media landscape. The DNPA Conclave 2026 will address how news organizations can navigate this evolving digital citizenship, ensuring trust and inclusion in a world of large-scale public technology and information overload.

24 Feb 2026 7:38 pm
After Amma: AIADMK's struggle to fill the void left by Jayalalithaa

Nearly a decade after J Jayalalithaa's death, the AIADMK struggles to regain its dominance, battling leadership disputes and electoral defeats. As Tamil Nadu heads to the 2026 assembly polls, the party, now led by Edappadi Palaniswami, seeks to overcome the void left by 'Amma' and forge alliances to challenge the ruling DMK.

24 Feb 2026 6:39 pm
'We're 2002': Nitish Kumar's big slip as he loses cool on oppn in assembly - watch

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar lost his composure in the assembly amidst opposition protests alleging rule by guns and bullets. He mistakenly stated the NDA's strength as wo thousand and two instead of 202. The protest began over a police baton charge on village chowkidars demanding higher stipends.

24 Feb 2026 6:36 pm
'Betrayal of national dignity': 277 eminent personalities on 'shirtless' protest; slam Youth Congress

A group of 277 prominent personalities, including former armed forces officers, IPS officers, bureaucrats, and judges, condemned the Indian Youth Congress's 'shirtless' protest at the AI Impact Summit. They described the act as a grotesque betrayal of national dignity and an anti-national disruption that defamed India on the global stage.

24 Feb 2026 6:17 pm
PM Modi meets Manipur CM, his two deputies in New Delhi

BJP's Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as CM of Manipur on February 4, reinstating the NDA government along with Kuki legislator Nemcha Kipgen and Naga MLA Losii Dikho as his deputies, marking a fresh spin on shared governance in a multi-ethnic state riven by the Meitei-Kuki conflict. Governor AK Bhalla also administered the oath of office to BJP's Konthoujam Govindas and Khuraijam Loken Singh of NPP as cabinet ministers at the Lok Bhavan ceremony.

24 Feb 2026 6:11 pm
West Bengal: Judicial proceedings disrupted after multiple courts receive hoax bomb threats; probe under way

West Bengal courts faced bomb threats on Tuesday. Six court complexes received threat emails, leading to evacuations and extensive security checks. Judicial work was disrupted across the state. Bomb squad teams and sniffer dogs searched the premises. No explosives were found. Authorities are investigating the origin of the emails and any potential links to election-related exercises.

24 Feb 2026 6:10 pm
'Scrap the deal': Rahul Gandhi dares PM Modi to abandon trade pact, repeats 'sold India' claim

Rahul Gandhi claimed Union minister Hardeep Puri's name in the infamous Epstein files was released to hreaten the PM, and that there are videos and messages which have not been released from the millions of Epstein files held up in the US. In another allegation, Rahul claimed that the case against Adani in the United States is not against the industrialist but against PM Modi.

24 Feb 2026 5:11 pm
'Rioting charges added to FIR': Delhi Police on Youth Congress 'shirtless' protest

Delhi Police has added rioting charges to the FIR against Indian Youth Congress members. The group staged a shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit last week. Police stated the protesters attempted to breach security and injured personnel. Eight individuals, including IYC chief Uday Bhanu Chib, have been arrested.

24 Feb 2026 4:30 pm
Shirtless protest row: Congress, BJP trade barbs over Youth India Congress chief Uday Bhanus arrest; cops call him 'mastermind' who said what

Delhi Police have taken Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib into four-day custody following his arrest for orchestrating a shirtless protest at the Bharat Mandapam during the AI Impact Summit. The demonstration targeted Prime Minister Modi and the India-US trade deal. Congress leaders defended the protest as a democratic right, while the BJP criticized Rahul Gandhi's stance.

24 Feb 2026 1:52 pm
Pawan Hans helicopter, with 7 onboard, crashes into sea in Andaman; all rescued

A Pawan Hans helicopter experienced a short landing near Mayabunder in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands shortly after departing Port Blair. The aircraft was carrying two crew members and five passengers. Fortunately, all individuals were safely rescued with no reported injuries. Authorities are investigating the incident, and those on board are receiving medical observation.

24 Feb 2026 12:37 pm
'Peaceful protest our right': Rahul Gandhi backs Youth Congress after chief's arrest, says 'proud of Babbar Sher comrades'

Rahul Gandhi lauded Indian Youth Congress members for protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated, Peaceful protest is our historic heritage. It is in our blood and is the democratic right of every Indian. Gandhi criticized a trade deal with America, claiming it compromises national interests and harms farmers and the textile industry.

24 Feb 2026 12:00 pm
Bengal SIR: Supreme Court allows Calcutta HC to deploy judicial officers from Jharkhand, Odisha; asks EC to bear expenses

The Supreme Court has authorized the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice to bring in judicial officers from Jharkhand and Odisha to speed up the verification of voter claims in West Bengal's electoral roll revision. This move aims to address a significant backlog, with the Election Commission bearing the costs.

24 Feb 2026 11:34 am
'Provided logistics' for 'shirtless' protest: Why Delhi Police arrested youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu

Delhi Police arrested Indian Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib and seven others for a shirtless protest at Bharat Mandapam during the AI Summit. The Youth Congress condemned the arrests as an undeclared emergency, while Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera criticized the government's reaction to peaceful dissent. Protesters displayed anti-PM slogans.

24 Feb 2026 11:15 am
Delhi govt to implement 'Rah-Veer' financial incentive scheme: CM Gupta

Delhi government will implement the Centre's 'Rah-Veer' scheme, rewarding citizens Rs 25,000 for assisting seriously injured road accident victims within the golden hour. This initiative aims to remove apprehension and foster a culture of compassion, with outstanding individuals receiving a national award of Rs 1 lakh annually.

24 Feb 2026 11:11 am
'Shirtless' protest at AI summit: Youth Congress chief Uday Bhanu Chib arrested

Delhi Police have apprehended Indian Youth Congress National President Uday Bhanu Chib following a protest at Bharat Mandapam. The incident involved a shirtless demonstration inside an AI expo hall, with slogans targeting the Prime Minister. Chib's arrest brings the total detentions in the case to eight, including other IYC office-bearers.

24 Feb 2026 9:47 am
Delhi govt working to resolve all pending problems: CM Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta pledged to resolve past governmental issues, assuring BJP workers that extensive development work would ensure public support in future elections. Highlighting the government's dedicated efforts since its formation on February 20, 2025, Gupta presented a one-year report card during a public outreach program across the capital.

24 Feb 2026 9:45 am
Was in touch with Hafiz Saeed: How LeT's Shabir Ahmed Lone is linked to 8 held for plotting terror attack in India

Delhi Police has busted a Bangladesh terror module run by Shabir Ahmed Lone, who was in direct contact with LeT commander Hafeez Saeed. Lone, a Kashmiri resident, was released on bail in 2019 and fled to Bangladesh. He was tasked with recruiting and radicalizing illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India, arranging fake IDs and weapons for potential attacks.

24 Feb 2026 9:17 am
Eye on boosting ties, Canada PM to embark on India visit from Feb 26

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney embarks on a three-day visit to India this week, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties. Discussions will focus on energy, trade, defence, and technology, with leaders reviewing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

24 Feb 2026 4:53 am
Bharat Taxi won't let drivers earn below base rate: Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah announced a minimum base fare for drivers on the Bharat Taxi platform, ensuring 80% of earnings based on kilometers driven. He also introduced a 'Saarathi Didi' feature for women prioritizing female drivers. The cooperative model aims to benefit drivers, mirroring the Amul structure with profits returning to producers.

24 Feb 2026 4:51 am
No crash of LCA, just a minor incident, analysing issue: HAL

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has clarified that no Tejas fighter jet crashed this month, stating the incident was a minor technical issue on the ground. The company emphasized the aircraft's strong safety record and is working with the IAF for resolution. Reports indicated a minor incident during landing, not a crash, prompting fleet checks.

24 Feb 2026 4:43 am
Complying with NCLAT directions on privacy: Meta and WhatsApp

Social media giants Meta and WhatsApp assured the Supreme Court they will comply with tribunal orders on user data sharing for non-core services and transparent opt-out options by March 16. While the court disposed of their stay applications, the CCI highlighted the ongoing dispute over a five-year ban on data sharing for advertising, with further hearings scheduled.

24 Feb 2026 4:37 am
Tyson: Four-legged Army hero who led anti-terror op in J&K despite taking a bullet; With Op Trashi-1, all 7 terrorists eliminated

A brave Army dog, Tyson, led the charge against terrorists in J&K's Kishtwar, sustaining a leg injury but enabling security forces to eliminate three Jaish-e-Mohammed militants. This success, 'Operation Trashi-1', highlights months of integrated planning and execution, neutralizing key leadership and showcasing remarkable inter-agency coordination.

24 Feb 2026 4:32 am