Amid war hysteria, Iran & US hold new round of talks

Iran and the United States were holding another round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday to try to reach a deal on Tehran's nuclear program and potentially avert another war as the US gathers a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East

'Extraordinarily productive': India and Israel elevate ties

India and Israel elevated their ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity" and signed 17 pacts after talks Thursday between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Benjamin Netanyahu, wrapping up what the Israeli Prime Minister called an "extraordinarily productive" and "extraordinarily moving" visit by the Indian Prime Minister.

Maharashtra begins work on anti-conversion law, first draft sent for vetting

The Maharashtra government is learnt to have prepared the first draft of a proposed anti-conversion law aimed at addressing cases of alleged forced religious conversions, an issue that leaders of the ruling Mahayuti coalition have often described as "love jihad". Sources said the "preliminary" draft has been referred to the Law and Judiciary Department for feedback as part of the procedural process.

Broken power circuit behind ISRO's failed launch of NVS-02 in Jan 2025, says panel

A broken electrical circuit is most likely why the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) failed to put navigation satellite NVS-02 in its intended orbit in January last year, according to a committee assessing the mission's failure.

The NVS-02 satellite was injected in an elliptical transfer orbit using the GSLV-F15 by the space agency in its 100th launch on January 29 last year. However, subsequent manoeuvres to place the satellite in its intended circular orbit failed, meaning it could not be used for its intended purpose of satellite-based positioning.

Smoother access for start-ups, swifter claim disposal in latest Railway reforms

The reforms have been announced under Indian Railways' flagship "52 Reforms in 52 Weeks" initiative. Rail Tech Policy aims to simplify the system for start-ups and encourage innovations in Railways by providing concessions through financial support. e-RCT re-solves longstanding problems of the litigants by allowing them to file cases from anywhere electronically, irrespective of accident location.

Fight against HPV: PM to roll out vaccine campaign tomorrow

Starting February 28, all 14-year-old girls and those who turn 15 in the next 90 days will be eligible to receive the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine for free, according to instructions provided by the Union Health Ministry to all the states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the special nationwide vaccination campaign against HPV, which causes cervical cancer, on Saturday from Rajasthan's Ajmer.

PM to inaugurate country's first semiconductor fabrication plant in Sanand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate an ATMP (Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging) plant of Micron Technology, Inc in Sanand on February 28, said government officials with the semiconductor fabrication plant being the first of its kind in India.

Two democracies shaped by history, a partnership that helps global stability

When you concluded the Abraham Accords, we applauded your courage and vision. The situation has changed significantly. Yet, it is important to sustain that hope. The Gaza Peace Initiative endorsed by the UNSC offers a pathway.

We need to talk about judicial corruption

As the judiciary is not above scrutiny and is accountable the people, there is no to doubt that the inclusion of references to judicial corruption in the NCERT curriculum is in keeping with constitutional values.

Deflators, discrepancies, data sources: GDP set to get updated

MOSPI will release GDP data for October-December 2025 as per the new series with 2022-23 as the base year, along with the Second Advance Estimate for 2025-26. The First Advance Estimate, released in January as per the old series, pegged full-year growth at 7.4%.

GDP data for the first two quarters of 2025-26 will also be revised.

'Rare earth shortages worsen in US despite trade truce'

Suppliers to US aerospace and semiconductor firms face worsening rare earth shortages, with two turning away some clients, industry insiders said, weeks before US President Trump is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for a summit in Beijing.

The shortages center on rare earths such as yttrium and scandium, niche members of the family of 17 elements, which play tiny but vital roles in defence technology, aerospace and semiconductors and are almost entirely produced in China.

How India and Canada mended their frayed ties

At last year's G20 Leaders' Summit, Canada and India agreed to formally launch negotiations for an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to double two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030. In 2024, India was Canada's seventh-largest goods and services trading partner, with two-way trade at $30.8 billion.

India's major exports to Canada are pharmaceutical products, machinery parts and mechanical appliances, iron and steel products, electronic goods, organic chemicals, jewelry, gems, textile and seafood. India's major imports from Canada include pulses, fertilizers (potash) and minerals.

In PRAHAAR lies India's consolidated strategy for counterterrorism operations

The Ministry of Home Affairs Monday unveiled India's first publicly articulated national counter-terror strategy document, PRAHAAR. The eight-page document outlines a comprehensive framework for India's approach to terrorism, as well as the steps taken over the years and plans for the future.

PRAHAAR situates India's terrorism challenge in a landscape shaped by decades of cross-border violence, global jihadist networks, and the accelerating use of technology, including drones, encrypted communications, and cyber attacks, while avoiding a narrow focus on any single theatre.