India

At the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Artificial Intelligence marks a civilisational turning point. He emphasised youth participation, human-centric innovation, skilling, and ensuring AI’s direction remains guided by human oversight and inclusive growth

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani for questioning on February 26 after he skipped his scheduled appearance earlier this week. His wife, Tina Ambani, has sought adjournments twice and failed to appear on her designated dates.

A 15-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly intoxicated and gang-raped by two men and a minor at a Banda hotel. The suspects abandoned her under a bridge before being apprehended. Police have arrested all three individuals, including a former acquaintance

In Thiruvananthapuram, Congress leader KC Venugopal alleged that ‘Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond’ seeks to insult and divide Kerala through false claims. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also criticised the sequel, calling it an attempt to spread hatred

The Sri Lankan Navy arrested 22 Tamil Nadu fishermen and seized four boats near Katchatheevu for allegedly crossing the IMBL. The incident has heightened tensions in the Palk Strait, prompting appeals for diplomatic intervention

Hyderabad Traffic Police has announced two-day traffic diversions from February 19 at Tilaknagar towards 6 No Junction due to a sewage pipeline leak and pothole formation. RTC buses and heavy vehicles will be rerouted through designated alternative routes.

Stock markets opened marginally higher Thursday, extending a three-day recovery as the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026’ in New Delhi fuels investor sentiment. Sensex and Nifty gained modestly, led by IT stocks, while analysts flagged key support-resistance levels and steady DII inflows

Nikhil Gupta has been formally convicted in a US federal court after pleading guilty to a murder-for-hire and money laundering conspiracy targeting a Sikh separatist leader in New York. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29.

Four passengers were seriously injured and 15 sustained minor injuries after an APSRTC bus travelling from Hyderabad to Anantapur veered off National Highway 44 and plunged into a roadside ditch in Jogulamba Gadwal district

Wanted Maoist Suresh Koda, carrying a reward of Rs 3 lakh, surrendered before the Bihar STF with arms and ammunition. Police said sustained anti-Maoist operations forced the surrender and reflected a steady decline in extremist activities

Shivam Dube’s attacking half-century and Varun Chakravarthy’s incisive bowling helped India defeat the Netherlands by 17 runs in their final league match of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad, keeping them unbeaten ahead of the Super 8 stage

NCP working president Praful Patel defended the party’s demand for a CBI probe into Ajit Pawar’s death in a Baramati plane crash. He said doubts remain over the investigation and supported calls for an independent and thorough inquiry

French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India underscores the deepening alignment between the two democracies in advancing a multipolar, rules-based global order

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the Karnataka government would clear contractors’ dues only as per budget provisions, responding to a strike threat over pending bills. He blamed the previous BJP government for financial mismanagement and assured payments based on available funds

The Delhi High Court ruling in the Unnao rape case exposes troubling legal gaps and raises questions about survivor justice

Three years after its launch, Project Cheetah has recorded 38 cheetahs across Madhya Pradesh, with successful breeding and second-generation cub survival at Kuno National Park marking a key consolidation phase in India’s ambitious wildlife reintroduction programme.

Indore police arrested MBA student Piyush Dhamnotiya for the brutal murder of his classmate. After allegedly strangling and stabbing her out of suspicion, the accused stayed with the body before fleeing to Mumbai. Evidence was recovered during a crime scene recreation

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales dismissed AI-driven platforms like ‘Grokepedia’ as unrealistic, emphasizing Wikipedia’s reliance on human collaboration, transparency, and attribution, while noting AI’s rise and India’s potential in the evolving technology landscape

A Noida-based university was removed from the AI Impact Summit after social media backlash over showcasing a Chinese robotic dog as its own. The government acted following national embarrassment, despite the university claiming it was for educational purposes

Tantri Kantarar Rajeevar was granted bail by the Kollam Vigilance Court in the Sabarimala gold theft case, with the court noting no prima facie evidence linking him to the theft, marking a setback for the SIT

India-Bangladesh relations are poised for a reset following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s victory. PM Narendra Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman, while India engages security, trade, and minority protection issues amid concerns over ISI-backed destabilisation efforts

Indian intelligence agencies report a surge in hoax threats targeting schools, airlines, and the judiciary, allegedly orchestrated by international syndicates and dark web groups, including Al-Qaeda and ISI-linked psy-ops, aiming to spread fear, economic loss, and disrupt judicial functioning

Four children were injured in South 24 Parganas when a drum containing chemicals exploded during road repair work in Canning. Three were hospitalized at MR Bangur Hospital, prompting a police investigation