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Showing posts from February, 2026

PM Narendra Modi Receives Grand Welcome in Tel Aviv

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 Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv today for a high-profile diplomatic visit to Israel, marking a major moment in India’s foreign policy outreach. At the airport, he was received personally by Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu—a gesture underscoring the importance of the bilateral relationship. The visit is expected to strengthen cooperation across defense, technology, agriculture, water innovation, and cultural exchange. With both nations deepening strategic engagement over the past decade, this arrival sets the tone for a series of key meetings and agreements aimed at elevating ties further. The warm airport reception reflects both countries’ commitment to expanding their partnership, making this visit a pivotal moment in India–Israel diplomatic history.

Fast & Furious Titles to Exit Netflix India on March 1, 2026: Fans Begin Final Binge Run

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  If you’ve been planning a Fast & Furious marathon, this might be your last chance—at least on Netflix India. Multiple reports confirm that eight major titles from the franchise will exit the platform on March 1, 2026, making February 28, 2026 the final full day for viewers to stream them. The update has triggered a wave of nostalgia among fans, many of whom still return to the franchise for its street-racing origins, globe-hopping action sequences, and the now-iconic “family” emotion that defines the saga. From high-octane heists to physics-defying stunts, the series has built a loyal fan base that continues to revisit its biggest moments. While Netflix India periodically refreshes its catalogue due to licensing cycles, the departure of such a large portion of the Fast & Furious collection is a significant shift for action lovers. For many viewers, this signals the perfect time to rewatch the franchise, relive its early underground racing days, and enjoy its blockbuster e...

A Vision of Alliances: What Netanyahu’s Statement Reveals About Regional Geopolitics

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 The announcement that India’s Narendra Modi will visit Israel prompted a revealing statement from Benjamin Netanyahu. His vision of “a complete system of alliances” reflects a broader diplomatic blueprint emerging in the Middle East. This model of alliance-building is not confined to traditional strategic partnerships. It encompasses intelligence-sharing frameworks, joint technological development, multilateral security dialogues, and supply-chain partnerships stretching from South Asia to the Mediterranean. India and Israel already cooperate heavily in defense, drone tech, cybersecurity, AI, water security, and agriculture. But this upcoming visit suggests a transition from tactical cooperation to structural integration. The geopolitical logic is clear: creating alliances that enhance stability, balance regional power dynamics, and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. Netanyahu’s framing positions India not just as a partner but as a pivotal anchor in a future regional architecture....

Google Announces $15 Billion Connectivity Push Linking India–US Through New Subsea Cables

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  At the India AI Impact Summit, Google unveiled a major $15 billion investment plan aimed at strengthening digital and AI infrastructure between India and the United States over the next five years. As part of its new collaborative initiative, America-India Connect, the company will establish a high-capacity international subsea gateway in Vizag, creating a strategic landing point for future AI-driven data flows. The initiative goes beyond a single route. It includes three new subsea paths connecting India to Singapore, South Africa, and Australia, along with four additional fibre-optic routes designed to expand regional and global bandwidth. According to Google, these systems will play a pivotal role in enhancing cloud capacity, supporting AI workloads, and building long-term digital resilience for the subcontinent. This multi-route strategy marks one of the most ambitious connectivity rollouts announced at the summit, signalling India’s growing centrality in global AI archite...

UAE–India AI Cooperation Dominates Global Summit Conversations

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  Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the AI Impact Summit on Thursday, launching what has been billed as one of the most influential global forums on artificial intelligence. He outlined India’s commitment to ethical, equitable and human-centric AI, urging nations to work together to ensure technology serves as a force for global public good. While the Leaders’ Plenary brought together ministers, heads of state and technology visionaries to debate AI governance and interoperability, the most consequential diplomatic engagement occurred on the sidelines: India’s meeting with the United Arab Emirates, now one of its most trusted partners in digital transformation. The UAE, which has invested heavily in AI talent, sovereign compute, and smart-government ecosystems, engaged in robust dialogue with India on co-developing future-ready digital infrastructure, fintech corridors, and AI-powered platforms for governance and sustainability. The UAE’s leadership emphasised the strategic ...

Narendra Modi, Emmanuel Macron Elevate India-France Ties to ‘Special Global Strategic Partnership’

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  India and France have taken a decisive step in strengthening their long-standing partnership by elevating their ties to a “Special Global Strategic Partnership.” The announcement came during French President Emmanuel Macron’s fourth state visit to India, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic engagement between the two nations. Hosting President Macron at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the India-France relationship as a “force for global stability” in an increasingly uncertain world. The leaders emphasized shared democratic values, strategic autonomy, and a commitment to multilateralism as pillars of their cooperation. According to an official government statement, the upgraded partnership aims to reinforce sovereignty and decision-making autonomy while deepening collaboration in critical and emerging sectors of the future. Defence Cooperation at the Core Defence has traditionally been the backbone of India-France relations, and the latest a...

Vande Bharat at 7: The Journey of India’s Flagship Semi High-Speed Train

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  Vande Bharat Express train at a modern Indian railway station platform showcasing its sleek white and blue design. India’s railways have long been the lifeline of the nation, but the arrival of the Vande Bharat Express marked a defining shift toward modern, technology-driven travel. Completing seven years of service, the train has evolved from a bold experiment into a nationwide symbol of efficiency, comfort, and indigenous engineering. Launched on February 15, 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express was flagged off by Narendra Modi on the New Delhi–Kanpur–Allahabad–Varanasi route, connecting the capital to one of India’s spiritual hubs. What began as a single route has now expanded into a fast-growing network serving multiple regions across the country. A Proud ‘Make in India’ Milestone One of the defining features of Vande Bharat is its indigenous design and manufacturing. The train was conceptualized and built under the government’s Make in India initiative, reinforcing India...

India Becomes ChatGPT’s Second-Largest Market with 100 Million Weekly Users

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  OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaking about ChatGPT’s rapid growth in India ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. India has officially become one of the largest markets for ChatGPT , with 100 million weekly active users, according to Sam Altman , CEO of OpenAI . The announcement, made ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, signals the country’s rapidly growing influence in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. Altman revealed the milestone in an article published in The Times of India , noting that India is now ChatGPT’s second-largest user base after the United States. The disclosure highlights how central India has become to OpenAI’s long-term global expansion plans. A Strategic Push into India The milestone follows months of groundwork by OpenAI in the country. In August 2025, the company opened its New Delhi office to strengthen partnerships and local engagement. Recognizing India’s price-sensitive market, OpenAI introduced a sub-$5 ChatGPT Go tier, wh...

Indian Railways Deactivates 3.03 Crore Fake IDs in 2025 to Strengthen Cybersecurity and Protect Tatkal Bookings

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  In one of its most significant cybersecurity crackdowns, Indian Railways deactivated approximately 3.03 crore suspicious user IDs in 2025. The move comes as part of a broader strategy to protect its online reservation system from fraud, automated misuse, and cyberattacks —especially during high-demand Tatkal bookings. The scale of action reflects the growing sophistication of cyber threats targeting India’s busiest ticketing platform. With millions attempting to secure tickets within minutes of release, the system has historically been vulnerable to bots, fake accounts, and agent-controlled bulk bookings. Aadhaar-Based OTP Verification Strengthens Tatkal Fairness To curb misuse and improve transparency, the Ministry of Railways introduced Aadhaar-based One-Time Password (OTP) verification for online Tatkal bookings. This measure ensures instant authentication of users, enforcing uniqueness and preventing multiple accounts operated by the same entity. Given the time-sensitive na...

SBI Surpasses TCS in Market Value After 15 Years, Reflecting Shift in Investor Sentiment

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  In a significant development for India’s corporate landscape, State Bank of India (SBI) has surpassed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in market capitalization for the first time in 15 years. The milestone underscores a broader shift in investor sentiment toward companies closely aligned with India’s domestic economic growth story. SBI’s shares rose 3.4% on Wednesday, hitting a record high and pushing its market valuation to approximately $120 billion. In contrast, TCS, long considered India’s most valuable company in the information technology sector, saw its stock decline 2.5% in Mumbai trading, bringing its market value to about $116 billion. The crossover reflects a dynamic change in sectoral leadership within India’s equity markets. Investor Optimism Fuels SBI’s Rally SBI’s impressive rise has been driven by strong investor confidence in the financial services sector. Since the beginning of the year, the bank’s stock has rallied nearly 20%, fueled by improving credit dema...

Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line to Become Longest Corridor at 89 Km with 65 Stations

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  The Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line is set to become the longest corridor in the network, stretching approximately 89 kilometres and covering 65 stations across the national capital. With major expansions approved under Phase IV and Phase V (A), the corridor will significantly strengthen urban mobility and enhance seamless connectivity across Delhi. According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) , the extended Magenta Line will feature the highest number of interchange stations and underground stretches in the entire metro network, positioning it as a critical backbone for the city’s transport infrastructure. Expansion Under Phase IV and Phase V (A) The transformation of the Magenta Line comes after approval of Phase V (A), which includes an extension from Ramakrishna Ashram Marg to Indraprastha via Central Vista — one of the most prominent administrative and heritage zones of Delhi. Additionally, the Indraprastha–Inderlok corridor, currently planned under Phase IV, will be int...

Centre Approves ₹887 Crore Mumbai Marina Project to Transform Harbour into Global Maritime Hub

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  In a major boost to India’s maritime and tourism sectors, the Centre has approved the development of a world-class Marina in Mumbai Harbour at an estimated cost of ₹887 crore. The ambitious project aims to position Mumbai as a leading maritime tourism destination while unlocking the potential of its historic waterfront. The project will be implemented through a hybrid development model, combining public investment in core infrastructure with private participation in onshore facilities. According to an official statement, tenders have already been floated, with bids scheduled to close on December 29, 2025. Hybrid Development Model Explained Under the approved framework, the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) will take responsibility for constructing the core marina infrastructure. The Authority is expected to invest approximately ₹470 crore toward marine-side infrastructure, including breakwaters, pontoons, and berthing facilities. Meanwhile, the selected private operator will invest an...

CM Stalin Inaugurates ₹9,000-Crore Tata Motors–Jaguar Land Rover Plant in Ranipet; First Range Rover Evoque Rolls Out

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  In a significant step for India’s automotive manufacturing sector, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday (February 9) jointly inaugurated the Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) greenfield car manufacturing facility at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Panapakkam, Ranipet. The inauguration was held in the presence of Tata Motors and JLR Chairman N Chandrasekaran. Located around 80 km west of Chennai, the Ranipet facility marks a milestone moment as it becomes the first plant in the country where a premium luxury vehicle is fully manufactured, rather than assembled. The inaugural rollout of the Range Rover Evoque from the plant symbolised India’s growing capability in high-end automobile production. Stalin drives out first Range Rover Evoque At the launch event, Chief Minister Stalin took the driver’s seat and ceremonially drove the first Range Rover Evoque SUV out of the factory, officially marking the start of production at the Ranipet facility. The mo...

Prisoner Exchange Talks in Abu Dhabi Highlight UAE’s Growing Role in Humanitarian Diplomacy

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  Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia meet in Abu Dhabi for humanitarian prisoner exchange talks. Delegations from the United States, Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 314 prisoners following talks held in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such swap in nearly five months. The discussions, described as detailed and outcome-focused, resulted in a humanitarian agreement at a time when diplomatic engagement between the parties has remained limited elsewhere. The negotiations were hosted in the United Arab Emirates , reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a neutral meeting ground where rivals are still willing to engage on sensitive issues. While no immediate breakdown has been provided on how many prisoners each side will release, officials confirmed that the agreement prioritises humanitarian outcomes, with further discussions expected to continue in the coming weeks. Outcome-First Diplomacy Over Political Positioning U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said the talk...

RCB Sale Buzz: Manchester United Owner Avram Glazer Bids ₹16,303 Crore for IPL Champions

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  Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrating IPL 2025 title amid reports of Avram Glazer bidding to buy the franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are once again dominating headlines—but not for their on-field heroics this time. According to reports in The Week , Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer has submitted a massive bid worth ₹16,303 crore (approximately $1.8 billion) to acquire the IPL 2025 champions. If completed, the deal would rank among the largest franchise acquisitions ever seen in Indian sport. The reported bid places RCB in an elite global bracket of sporting assets, underlining how dramatically IPL franchise valuations have surged over the past decade. Glazer Family Among Multiple Interested Buyers The Glazer family is understood to be one of nine parties that have submitted non-binding bids for RCB. Valuations reportedly range from $1 billion to $1.8 billion, reflecting intense competition for one of the IPL’s most commercially powerful teams. While...