NEW DELHI: AI-driven tools can accelerate drug discovery, shorten research timelines, and make research processes more cost-effective, thereby strengthening affordable healthcare delivery, said Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda on Tuesday. The launch marks a significant milestone in advancing safe, ethical, and evidence-based deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s healthcare ecosystem, he said. Nadda said that India recognised it early and began laying its digital foundations nearly a decade ago. In 2015, the government launched the Digital India programme to transform India into a digitally empowered society, he said. “Interoperable systems have been enabled across platforms, and large-scale, consent-based health data frameworks are being developed to empower citizens while ensuring data privacy and security,” he said.

It is imperative that we recognise these powerful corporations for what they have become — the new sovereigns of our AI Age. This is why, for India’s strategic autonomy to be truly strategic, it must be underpinned by a value-based core. This is because the AI Age has already shown remarkable parallels with the times that we have lived in previously. In his portrayal, AI companies are the new extractors and ordinary citizens have to pay their dues to be able to go about their lives. The AI Summit marks India’s global embrace of this new AI age.

During the Winter Session, the Lok Sabha had discussed a Private Member's Resolution after a span of 37 weeks (including 8 weeks of that session period). Interestingly, it was the first and the only Private Member's Resolution discussed till the Winter Session of the 18th Lok Sabha since its first sitting on June, 24, 2024. This resolution was moved on July 26 (in the second session of the 18th Lok Sabha), discussed further on March 28, 2025 (in the fourth session of the 18th Lok Sabha), and, finally, concluded on December 12, 2025 (during the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha). There is a fervent need to enhance the parliamentary stature enjoyed by Private Member's Resolutions. First, Rule 26 of Lok Sabha Rules should be amended to mandate four hours for private members business on Fridays.

On Saturday (February 14, 2026), Mr. Nishant Kumar visited the Dashrath Manjhi Memorial in Gaya ji where he paid his respects at the memorial. Many even shouted slogans Bihar ke Neta Kaisa of Nishant Kumar Jaisa Ho (how would be Bihar’s leader, It would be like Nishant Kumar). Mr. Nishant Kumar, who rarely makes public appearances, is known for his austerity in private life. “Every party worker wants Nishant Kumar ji to enter into active politics after joining the party. Earlier, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha had urged Mr. Nitish Kumar to transfer JD(U)’s responsibility to his son Mr. Nishant Kumar.

Fresh diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran has yielded cautious optimism, with Tehran expected to return within two weeks with comprehensive proposals aimed at narrowing remaining differences. In the lead-up to the negotiations, President Trump urged Tehran to adopt a pragmatic approach, warning of serious repercussions if diplomacy fails. The administration signalled that while it remains open to a negotiated settlement, it expects firm commitments from Iran regarding its nuclear activities. However, the accord unraveled in 2018 after the United States withdrew unilaterally under President Trump’s administration, triggering renewed sanctions and escalating regional tensions. With Tehran promising more detailed proposals soon, diplomats on both sides face a critical window to determine whether the negotiations can produce a sustainable path forward.

His lawyer told Pakistan’s Supreme Court last week that Khan had lost a significant amount of vision in his right eye while in custody. I have nothing further to add,” Greg told The Telegraph. Despite India’s fraught relations with Pakistan, including the military conflict last year, Gavaskar and Kapil have joined the appeal. The cricket greats “respectfully” urged the Pakistan government “to ensure that Imran Khan receives immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing to address his reported health issues”. Imran Khan embodied that spirit throughouthis career.”The former captains called on the “authorities to honour it now by upholding theprinciples of decency and justice.

As a result, the cockpit voice recording is yet to be retrieved, according to the probe agency. Tina Ambani skips ED summons for the second timeReliance Group chairperson Anil Ambani’s wife, Tina Ambani, on Tuesday (February 18, 2026) skipped the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons for the second time. Trump unveils first Japan investments under trade pactPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) announced Japan’s planned investments in U.S. energy and critical minerals projects, the first tranche under a bilateral trade pact, ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Washington visit. Om Birla attends swearing-in of new Bangladesh PM; invites Tarique Rahman to India on PM Modi’s behalfPrime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India and conveyed his best wishes to the newly sworn-in Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader. The invitation was extended to Mr. Rahman through a letter handed over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who called on Rahman in Dhaka after the latter took charge as the Prime Minister on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), officials said.

Four teenagers were injured — three of them seriously — when a barrel containing a chemical meant for mixing with bitumen exploded in Bhangar on Tuesday evening. The teenagers were crossing Khargachi in Ghatakpur, Bhangar, around 6pm on Tuesday on their bicycles when the explosion occurred. ADVERTISEMENTPolice said the barrel blew up after the chemical came in contact with fire from a glowing object, possibly a bidi end. The barrel with the chemical that was meant to be mixed with bitumen for road repair work in Khargachi had been kept along the roadside. A search has been launched for the contractor who had undertaken the job of repairing the road,” a senior officer of Kolkata Police said.

On Tuesday, his audience included graduating ISI students, teachers and former directors. Two qualities — resilience and imagination — will stand them in good stead in whatever they wish to do, Balaram told the graduating students. The protesters have alleged that the bill seeks to dispense with the ISI’s autonomous structure, altering a society-based governance model and introducing a corporate-type decision-making system. The ISI bill seeks to repeal the 1959 Act. The new system envisions an ISI run by an overarching board of governors comprising members handpicked by the Union ministry.

India and France elevated their bilateral ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership following talks in Mumbai Tuesday between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. Based on this trust and vision, we are elevating our relation to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Story continues below this adRandhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said the India-France Special Global Strategic Partnership was giving “new wings to bilateral ties”. “In a milestone development, both leaders announced to upgrade the India-France relationship to Special Global Strategic Partnership, to reflect the immense depth and breadth of our ties,” Jaiswal said. Signed a Letter of Intent between T-Hub and Nord France on strategic cooperation in start-up ecosystems, innovation and technology.

On February 15, 2026, gold prices in India range from Rs 15,419 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 14,134 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver price in Delhi todayThe current price of Silver 999 in Delhi is Rs 2599 per 10 grams. Silver price in Mumbai todayThe current price of Silver 999 in Mumbai is Rs 2599 per 10 grams. Silver price in Kolkata todayThe current price of Silver 999 in Kolkata is Rs 2599 per 10 grams. Silver price in Chennai todayThe current price of Silver 999 in Chennai is Rs 2599 per 10 grams

Two men, one of them a Bangladeshi national, were arrested on Mondayfor allegedly duping Bangladesh nationals by falsely claiming that they could providethem with visas to other countries. The duo had detained two Bangladeshi nationals in a New Town apartment after luring them with the promise of providing them with Turkish visas, police said. A team from the Techno City police station went to the address and found two Bangladeshi nationals who had been kept confined in the apartment since Saturday,” said an officer. “In this case, two Bangladeshi nationals were promised that they would be provided with Turkish visas and were asked to come to the apartment on Saturday. The racket targeted Bangladeshis who came to India on medical visas and were on the lookout for visas to other countries.

Also Read | India is free but not equal: Jesse JacksonHis daughter, Santita Jackson, confirmed that Jackson died at home, surrounded by family. “I may be poor, but I am Somebody; I may be young; but I am Somebody; I may be on welfare, but I am Somebody,” Jackson intoned. It was a message he took literally and personally, having risen from obscurity in the segregated South to become America’s best-known civil rights activist since King. Arriving on the historically Black campus in 1960 just months after students there launched sit-ins at a whites-only diner, Jackson immersed himself in the blossoming Civil Rights Movement. Jackson called his time with King “a phenomenal four years of work.”Jackson was with King on April 4, 1968, when the civil rights leader was slain at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Opposition in Maharashtra criticised the ruling alliance on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) for blanketing Mumbai with hoardings to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron, alleging that the display represents an inappropriate politicisation of a state visit. Objections have been raised by leaders from opposition parties regarding posters put up by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. “The reception of a visiting dignitary is a matter of state protocol, not a platform for political parties to showcase themselves. By putting up these posters, they are projecting Mr. Macron as though he were a leader of their own party or the country’s President,” senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated. The Opposition has called upon the authorities to ensure that established diplomatic courtesies are upheld throughout the French President’s visit.

In a recent judgment, a Bench directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to consider introducing mandatory front-of-package warning labels on packaged food products high in sugar, salt and saturated fat. Earlier, in 2025, the Court had directed an expert committee under the FSSAI to submit its recommendations on the amendments required to be made to the Food Safety and Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, to implement front-of-package labelling. The Court’s persistent intervention on the issue of front-of-package labelling should lean on the massive ultra-processed food industry to implement these universally endorsed safeguards, to inform consumers of the content and additives in the packaged food, to guide choices, ultimately. Other concomitant factors including hypertension (35.5% national average), abdominal obesity (39.5%) and high cholesterol (24%) were also estimated to be high. Introducing front-of-package labelling is an essential part of establishing a continuum of care that begins with prevention.