As 72 Rajya Sabha seats fall vacant in 2026, Congress finds itself in a precarious situation in Maharashtra. The party is engaged in intense negotiations within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance to secure the state's lone Rajya Sabha seat. This move has been dubbed a “mathematical necessity” to protect the party's national standing in the Upper House, with the party facing a crucial test of numbers. Congress currently holds 27 Rajya Sabha seats, but the imminent retirements o

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic said on Thursday that it will not permit the Pentagon unrestricted access to its technology, pushing back against pressure from US officials who warned of possible action under the Defense Production Act. The dispute highlights growing tensions between private AI developers and the US government over how advanced systems should be deployed in military and intelligence operations. According to the company, the Pentagon had given Anthropic a d

The Bombay High Court has reserved its order on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea to quash a defamation complaint related to his controversial remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The remarks, which referred to PM Modi as “commander-in-thief” during a public rally in Rajasthan in September 2018, led to a criminal defamation case initiated by BJP member Mahesh Shrishrimal. The complaint, filed in August 2019, claims that Gandhi’s statements were defamatory and sugges

Satellite imagery and open-source flight tracking data indicate that the United States has significantly expanded its military presence across Europe and the Middle East as tensions with Iran intensify over Tehran’s nuclear programme. More than 150 American military aircraft have reportedly been repositioned to forward operating bases in what analysts describe as one of the largest regional force deployments in over two decades. The aircraft include heavy cargo planes, aerial refuelling tanker

The deadlock over seat-sharing negotiations between Congress and the DMK in Tamil Nadu has continued, with the Congress formally requesting 45 Assembly seats for the 2026 polls. This demand, conveyed during a meeting between Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, senior leader TS Singh Deo, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, is based on an internal review of the Congress’s performance in the 2021 Assembly elections. According to Congress, the request stems from a strategic analysis

​Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Monday expressed enthusiasm ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit, describing it as a significant step forward in strengthening India-Israel relations. The visit, scheduled for February 25, is expected to accelerate cooperation across defence, technology, and economic sectors, reflecting the growing depth of the strategic partnership between the two nations. In a video message shared on social media, Azar said Israel was l

Heritage Foods has filed a major defamation lawsuit worth Rs 100 crore against Sakshi Media, escalating tensions between the media organization and the business group. The case was filed in the Delhi High Court after Heritage Foods alleged that Sakshi Media published false and defamatory reports linking the company to another dairy entity without sufficient evidence. The company stated that these reports damaged its reputation and credibility, prompting legal action to protect its brand image

Poland has formally prohibited Chinese-made cars and other technologically advanced vehicles from entering the country’s military facilities, citing concerns over potential data security risks. The decision, announced by the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, is intended to reduce the possibility of uncontrolled acquisition and use of sensitive information by modern automotive systems. According to the Polish military, the move follows a detailed risk assessmen

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron elevated bilateral ties to a new level by signing more than 20 agreements across defence, artificial intelligence, trade, skilling, health and critical technologies during high-level talks in Mumbai. The agreements were announced during President Macron’s three-day visit to India from February 17 to 19, where he is also attending the AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Addressing a joint press conference, Prime Minister Na

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to begin a three-day visit to India on Tuesday, with high-level discussions expected to focus on artificial intelligence cooperation and a potential multibillion-dollar agreement involving Dassault Aviation Rafale fighter jets. The visit underscores the growing India-France relations and reflects both countries’ efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership across defence, technology, and economic sectors. Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to undertake a two-day visit to Israel from February 25 to 26, according to sources familiar with the development. The programme for the trip is currently being finalised, but officials indicate that the visit will include high-level engagements aimed at strengthening the already robust India–Israel partnership. During the visit, Modi is likely to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, where discussions are expected to focus on key bilateral an

Flight operations at El Paso International Airport were briefly suspended on Wednesday after several drones believed to be linked to a Mexican drug cartel entered United States airspace near the Texas border, prompting swift action from federal authorities and defense officials. According to a senior administration official familiar with the matter, the unmanned aircraft crossed into restricted airspace during the early hours of the morning. Security forces quickly intervened and to

The ongoing standoff between the government and the Opposition took a new turn as the Congress-led Opposition staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The protest erupted as Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his speech on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. The Opposition, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, be allowed to speak, especially after the Lok Sabha Speaker’s refusal to let Gandhi quote

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for calling Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a "traitor," accusing the Congress of harboring hatred toward Sikhs. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi described Gandhi's comments as reflecting "arrogance at its peak" and an insult not only to Bittu but to the Sikh community as a whole. The heated exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Ravneet Singh Bittu took place outside Parliament on Wednesday. Gandhi, as Bi

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for California to use a newly approved congressional map that is expected to benefit Democrats in upcoming elections, rejecting an emergency appeal filed by state Republicans and backed by the Trump administration. The unsigned order, issued without explanation and with no noted dissents, leaves intact district boundaries that could alter the balance of power in several closely contested House races as the country moves toward high-stakes midterm contests

The US House of Representatives moved closer to preventing a government shutdown on Tuesday after Speaker Mike Johnson rallied Republican lawmakers behind a sweeping government funding bill, setting the stage for final passage of legislation designed to keep federal agencies operating through the end of the fiscal year. The procedural victory marked a critical step in advancing the appropriations package and reflected intense negotiations within the Republican conference to maintain unity ahe

The number of reported sightings of rogue drones operating near military installations in the United Kingdom has more than doubled over the past year, raising fresh concerns over national security and prompting the government to consider significant changes to military powers. Official figures show that incidents increased from 126 in 2024 to 266 in 2025, representing a rise of more than 100 per cent and highlighting what ministers describe as an evolving and increasingly complex threat envir