Author: News Desk
Emmanuel Macron on Thursday expressed support for the expansion of India’s Rafale fighter fleet, saying the aircraft strengthens India’s military capabilities and deepens strategic ties between France and India. Speaking on the sidelines of the AI-India Summit during the final day of his three-day visit, Macron told The Times of India, “Rafale improves the strategic relations between us, and it creates more jobs here.” Addressing criticism from some Western quarters about the jet’s performance during Operation Sindoor last year, he added, “I don’t see how people can criticise the aircraft because it makes your country stronger.” Macron described a new…
During a brief but awkward onstage moment at the India AI Impact Summit, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Dario Amodei, CEO of rival AI company Anthropic, hesitated to link hands for a group photo. The incident, which quickly circulated online, sparked speculation about tension between the two tech leaders. Altman clarified the situation to PTI on Thursday, explaining, “I was confused and didn’t know what I was supposed to do,” downplaying any suggestion of rivalry behind the moment. The onstage moment:After the summit’s keynote session, several global tech leaders—including Sundar Pichai, Pratyush Kumar, Altman, Amodei, and Alexandr Wang—posed for a…
Jeet Adani, executive director of the Adani Group, stressed that India needs to architect its own artificial intelligence infrastructure rather than depend on imports, warning that AI will reshape national sovereignty. Three Pillars of Sovereignty: Energy, Compute, and ServicesSpeaking at the India AI Impact Summit, he outlined energy, compute and cloud, and services as the core pillars for India’s AI strategy. Energy security, he explained, underpins intelligence security, with renewable energy clusters integrated alongside AI data centres and industrial corridors to ensure resilience and competitive advantage. Compute and Cloud AutonomyAdani highlighted that cloud sovereignty is not about isolation but autonomy.…
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, which runs through February 20, 2026. The Crown Prince conveyed greetings from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, wishing Modi good health and expressing hopes for India’s continued growth and prosperity. Modi welcomed Sheikh Khaled’s visit and asked him to pass on his regards to the UAE President, along with best wishes for the nation’s ongoing development and success. The discussions focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between…
The Adani Group has announced 24 fully funded scholarships under the 2025–27 cohort of its Adani Accelerated Leadership Programme (AALP), reinforcing its commitment to inclusive leadership development and nation-building. The scholarships have been awarded to students from IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow and the Indian School of Business (ISB) through a rigorous merit- and need-based selection process. The scholars were felicitated at the Group’s headquarters in Ahmedabad by Karan Adani. Designed to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder high-potential management students, AALP combines funding with structured industry immersion, mentorship and exposure to large-scale infrastructure platforms. The 2025–27 cohort reflects strong academic excellence and…
A government-backed brandy that sparked controversy over its naming process is set to hit the market on February 21. Produced at Malabar Distillery in Palakkad, the liquor will be sold under the name Malabar Mystery. The state’s directly marketed alcohol products will be known by the abbreviation MM. The issue first drew attention after Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) announced a ₹10,000 reward for suggestions for the brand’s name and logo, triggering public criticism. The controversy intensified when a petition was filed in the Kerala High Court, arguing that promoting alcohol consumption is unlawful. The court subsequently imposed an interim…
Qualcomm, the US-based semiconductor and telecommunications giant, has announced plans to invest up to $150 million in Indian startups through its venture arm, Qualcomm Ventures, via the Strategic AI Venture Fund. The fund will focus on artificial intelligence and deep technology startups across stages, with particular emphasis on sectors like automotive, IoT, robotics, mobile technologies, and edge computing. The initiative aims to support startups developing AI and edge-AI applications for devices, industrial systems, and connected platforms that rely on on-device processing. Beyond providing capital, Qualcomm intends to work closely with startup founders on product development, go-to-market strategies, and global partnerships, strengthening the development of AI-native products for both…
Kuwait is preparing to launch a new freelance residency permit that will allow expatriates to work independently without needing a traditional employer sponsor. The initiative aims to reduce visa trading and strengthen labour market regulations. The scheme is expected to roll out within the next two months, with an annual fee between KD 750 and KD 1,000. Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, confirmed the plan, describing it as part of broader labour reforms. “Instead of paying visa traders, pay the government directly between KD 800–1,000,” he said, highlighting the government’s goal of eliminating…
The Indian Navy has introduced dedicated “floating classrooms” for cadets with the launch of INS Krishna, the first of a new class of indigenous three Cadet Training Ships (CTS). These ships are designed to provide hands-on training in navigation, seamanship, and watch-keeping under real sea conditions, a significant upgrade from earlier limited sea training opportunities. The three CTS vessels will form the core of the Navy’s sea training program for the next 30 years, taking cadets onboard soon after their basic shore-based training. In a traditional launch ceremony, Anupama Chauhan, wife of CDS General Anil Chauhan, commissioned INS Krishna in the presence of…
N. Jehangir, Chairman and Managing Director of the NeST Group, exchanged an Expression of Interest with A.P.M. Mohammed Haneesh, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries), while Industries Minister P. Rajeeve looked on. SFO Technologies, the Kochi-based NeST Group’s flagship technology and engineering company, announced plans to invest ₹2,000 crore in Kerala in phases. The announcement was made at Tradex Kerala 2026, the international buyer–seller meet. The investment will be implemented across multiple sectors. These include Advanced Electronic Manufacturing Services to boost Kerala’s hardware production, Software and Embedded Engineering for high-end research, development, and design services, Energy Sector Solutions targeting oil and natural gas technologies, and Precision Engineering with applications in aerospace…