The Times of India

The Union home ministry has formed a second empowered committee in West Bengal to expedite citizenship applications under the CAA. This move comes as the volume of applications has surged, particularly from the Matua community. The new committee, headed by the deputy registrar general, aims to share the workload and reduce processing times for eligible immigrants.

A six-year-old girl's murder case saw her stepfather acquitted by the Supreme Court. The court found the evidence weak, citing a botched investigation. The stepfather was the last person seen with the child. His statement leading to the discovery of her remains was deemed inadmissible. The court highlighted the lack of corpus delicti and specified time of death.

An Iran-linked oil tanker, seized by the Indian Coast Guard, spent days in Pakistan's maritime boundary with its tracking systems off. The vessel, along with two others, was apprehended for alleged illegal oil smuggling and forgery. Investigations revealed ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and bitumen without informing authorities.

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi's Australia visit from Feb 16-19 focused on enhancing army-to-army cooperation. Discussions with senior defence leaders reviewed joint exercises, professional education exchanges, and interoperability, deepening strategic alignment. The visit also emphasized strengthening the bilateral Army Exercise AUSTRAHIND.

Army and Rajouri Police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47, during a search operation in Sunderbani sector. The recovery followed a foiled infiltration bid, with heavily bloodstained tracks suggesting injured terrorists. Operations continue with heightened vigilance.

Speaking in the assembly, Omar urged legislators not to politicise every issue and clarified that the Feb 18 order was issued by the Kishtwar deputy commissioner (DC) after consulting religious leaders as a safety measure to check donation deceptions. We shouldnt mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation, Omar said.

Calling Rahul Gandhi a raitor, a protesting BJP Yuva Morcha leader, who was being bundled into a van, said, This shows their ideology against the country. If you want to protest, protest the policies. They have protested against their own country. In a statement, the Indian Youth Congress said its workers were protesting against a compromised Prime Minister who has traded the identity of the country at the Al Summit.

As Kerala gears up for the 2026 elections, the future of the Left beyond chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is a pressing concern. Despite his strong leadership, the absence of a clear successor and the need to connect with a new generation of voters pose significant challenges for the LDF's continued relevance and its status as India's sole communist-governed state.

Union home minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of leaving Assam's borders open to infiltrators, aiming to alter the state's demographics. He contrasted this with the BJP government's efforts under CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who he stated cleared vast lands occupied by infiltrators. Shah also highlighted the BJP's infrastructure development achievements in Assam.

Youth Congress workers staged a shirtless protest against a trade deal at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, leading to their detention. This occurred hours after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised the summit's organization and global stature, and also supported a defense deal with France.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor hinted at an upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, emphasizing growing AI and semiconductor cooperation. India's signing of the Pax Silica Declaration, alongside US officials, signifies a pivotal moment for bilateral ties, fostering collaboration in advanced technologies among trusted nations.

Rahul Gandhi appeared in a Sultanpur court on Friday for a 2018 criminal defamation case concerning remarks allegedly made about Amit Shah during the Karnataka Assembly elections. The case, filed by a BJP leader, accuses Gandhi of calling Shah an accused in a murder case, a statement Gandhi denies as politically motivated.

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy lauded former PM Rishi Sunak as a great son of India during a New Delhi event, also highlighting his own Indian heritage. Lammy emphasized their ability to collaborate across political divides, particularly on prostate cancer initiatives.

Prime Minister Modi advocated for democratizing AI, emphasizing its role in global good and inclusion, particularly for the Global South. He urged for open sharing of AI codes, likening sunlight to a disinfectant for safety. Modi stressed a human-centric approach, cautioning against reducing individuals to data points and promoting India's MANAV framework for responsible AI development.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged global cooperation to tackle evolving maritime risks at the opening of India's largest naval exercise, MILAN-2026. He highlighted the growing participation from 74 nations, emphasizing that no single navy can address challenges like surging commerce, resource competition, and climate change alone. Singh also invited ASEAN countries to leverage India's growing defence-industrial capabilities.

Manipur's Chief Minister virtually addressed displaced Meitei and Kuki-Zo families, offering cash relief and urging trust rebuilding. This marks the first joint outreach since ethnic violence erupted. While resettlement efforts are underway, mistrust persists, with displaced individuals sharing concerns about jobs, education, and healthcare access. The CM pledged support for students and security for patients.

Two widely used medications, doxycycline and carbimazole, are set to receive stronger safety warnings. Regulators have identified potential mental health side effects for doxycycline and a rare but serious blood disorder linked to carbimazole. This proactive step aims to enhance patient safety by ensuring clearer information for both doctors and patients regarding these important, albeit uncommon, adverse reactions.

Bill Gates has withdrawn from his scheduled keynote at the AI Impact Summit 2026, with the Gates Foundation citing a desire to keep focus on the summit's priorities. The decision follows renewed scrutiny of Gates' past association with Jeffrey Epstein, which had led to questions in India about his attendance. Ankur Vora will deliver the keynote in his stead.

At the AI Impact Summit, a moment of tension arose when AI rivals Sam Altman of OpenAI and Dario Amodei of Anthropic stood with arms crossed during a group photo, eschewing hand-holding. This visual cue highlighted their intensifying competition and recent public disagreements over advertising strategies.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei voiced concerns over autonomous weapons and mass surveillance, emphasizing AI's compatibility with democracy. He also highlighted India's potential for significant economic growth, projecting 20-25% driven by AI productivity gains, and noted Anthropic's efforts to enhance its models for Indic languages.

India championed AI for multilingualism and societal benefit, securing tech giants' adoption of the 'New Delhi Frontier AI Impact Commitments'. This voluntary framework aims to extend AI's advantages to developing nations and the Global South, emphasizing real-world applications and inclusive, culturally sensitive development.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted India's pivotal role in AI, revealing over 100 million weekly ChatGPT users, with a third being students. He emphasized India's potential to lead AI development and deployment.

Strict enforcement, not just awareness, is crucial for curbing road accidents and rule violations, stated Union road transport secretary V Umashankar. He highlighted that certainty of enforcement, coupled with organized district-level action and strong institutions, will foster compliance and accountability.

India's sea-based nuclear deterrent is set to be significantly bolstered with the upcoming commissioning of INS Aridhaman, the third indigenous Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. This larger vessel, capable of carrying long-range K-4 missiles, will enhance India's second-strike capability and move it closer to achieving continuous at-sea deterrence.

French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed that Rafale jets will bolster India's military might and expressed commitment to increasing indigenous content in 'made-in-India Rafale' aircraft. He highlighted the expansion of defense cooperation, including potential joint production of fighter jets and helicopters, and expressed hope for further submarine tie-ups, underscoring the unique strategic partnership between the two nations.

Operations at the Baglihar hydropower project's stage 1 in Jammu and Kashmir were halted due to flooding in the machine room. While stage 1 remains suspended for scheduled maintenance, stage 2, unaffected by the flooding, will continue to generate power. This allows for stage 2 to operate during the lean period when it would typically be closed.

Home Minister Amit Shah will launch Phase 2 of the Vibrant Villages Programme in Assam, a Rs 6,839 crore initiative to develop 1,954 villages along international borders. This project aims to foster inclusive development, curb outmigration, and integrate border populations with national security efforts.