NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||26/02/2026.

 

NEWS & VIEWS|||SARASIJ|||26/02/2026.

WEDNESDAY| VOL—V/2026/FEBRUARY

OPINIONATED, FOR FREE CIRCULATION.

न गतं कर्तुं कश्चिद् धनवान्,

परिश्रमेण तु भविष्यं लभ्यते।

No one is rich enough to buy the past;

but with effort, the future can be won.

INDIA: (GOI, SWARAJYA, VISHWAMITRA, HINDU POST, INDIA TODAY).

PM Modi arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for a two-day state visit at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit underscores the deepening strategic partnership between India and Israel.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal holds talks with Israeli delegation in New Delhi on India-Israel free trade agreement.

The 10th meeting of the India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism convened in New Delhi on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in bilateral security cooperation.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) approved three multi-tracking railway projects at a cost of ₹9,072 crore.

Union Minister Amit Shah has launched Bharat Taxi, a new cooperative ride-hailing service. Drivers will receive 80% of profits and can become co-owners. This initiative aims to protect driver earnings and provide them with a share in the business. We hope they will not refuse passengers.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has arrived in Tokyo on an official visit to Japan, spanning 25-26 February, with the aim of enhancing the state's investment prospects and fostering industrial expansion.

Delhi Chief Minister has announced that the Capital will implement the Centre’s Rah-Veer scheme to encourage citizens to assist road accident victims during the critical “golden hour”. The initiative offers a cash reward of ₹25,000 to individuals who help transport a seriously injured person to a hospital or trauma centre within the first hour after an accident, when timely treatment is crucial for survival. THE AWARD SHOULD NOT GET TIED IN RED TAPE.

India has formally requested Dassault Aviation to submit its Comprehensive Bid for the 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) by the end of April 2026.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: (REUTER, AP, AFP, BLOOMBERG, CNN, WP)

Trump focused primarily on domestic policy in his State of the Union speech last night and devoted most of his foreign policy comments to immigration.

On tariffs and the economy, Trump called last week’s Supreme Court ruling that struck down his emergency tariffs “unfortunate,” but vowed to maintain the duties under other legal statutes.

On the Middle East, Trump said he sought a nuclear deal with Iran to thwart the country’s “sinister ambitions” to obtain nuclear weapons.

A third round of diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran is set to convene in Geneva today.

In the official Democratic response to Trump’s speech, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said Trump “continues to cede economic power and technological strength to Russia, bow down to China, bow down to a Russian dictator, and make plans for war with Iran.” Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the speech and attended alternate events where they criticized Trump’s policies. 

I am listening to what Trump says—or doesn’t say about the rest of the world.

UNGA vote on Ukraine. The United States abstained yesterday from a UN General Assembly vote on a resolution in support for “lasting peace in Ukraine.” The resolution passed 107-12, with 51 abstentions. It called for an immediate truce, the release of illegally detained people, and the return of persons who had been forcefully transferred.

South Korea’s rising birth rate. The total number of babies born in the country last year rose 6.8 percent from 2024, bringing the country’s fertility rate to 0.8 for the first time in four years, the statistics ministry said yesterday.

China’s military purge. More than one hundred Chinese military officers have potentially been ousted since 2022, according to a report published yesterday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The estimate far exceeds the government’s official total of thirty-six generals and lieutenant generals.

Afghanistan-Pakistan clashes: Troops from the two countries’ militaries exchanged fire across their shared border yesterday following Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan over the weekend.

CRIME & PUNISHMENT:

The Canadian government has started proceedings to revoke the citizenship of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday provisionally attached Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani’s Mumbai residence ‘Abode’, valued at Rs 3,716.83 crore, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud case linked to Reliance Communications (RCOM).

Hyderabad Cyber Crime police have carried out multiple raids in a 10-day special operation codenamed `Operation Octopus,' and arrested 104 accused involved in thousands of cyber fraud cases across the country. The analysis of 151 bank accounts linked to the accused were used in investment, trading and digital arrest scams, where the victims had lost about 127 crore.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar  said the Election Commission will take strict action to prevent cash or freebies from influencing voters in the upcoming Puducherry Assembly elections.

In Jammu and Kashmir, security forces  recovered a cache of arms and explosives during a cordon and search operation in the Kasbalari area of Mendhar sub-division in Poonch district.

The Supreme Court has directed EROs (Electoral Registration Officers) and AEROs (Assistant Electoral Registration Officers) in West Bengal to hand over all voter documents that have not yet been uploaded to the website under the SIR process, to the Judicial Officers by 5 PM today. WHY THEY SHOULDN’T BE HELD GUILTY & PUNISHED, AS PER SERVICE RULE!

ENTERTAINMENT:

A retired Indian Army officer who played an important part in advising the director of the latest Bollywood blockbuster, Dhurandhar, has been presented with the Veteran Achievers Award by the Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi.

According to an Army statement, Colonel Shahi (retd) has made a unique contribution as a military consultant in the Hindi film industry, ensuring the authentic and dignified portrayal of the Army in films such as Shershaah and Dhurandhar. He also remains actively engaged in veterans’ welfare initiatives.

 DAS KAPITAL:

CURRENCYT EXCHAHANGE RATE:

 *Euro* : ₹107/-*USD*  ₹ 91/- *China ¥* : ₹ 13/-

INDIAN SHARE MARKET:

*BSE SENSEX* 82,276.07 +50.15 (0.061%)

*NIFTY* 25,482.50 +57.85 (0.23%)

BULLION:

*GOLD* : ₹ 16,300/ 01gm (24 krt)

 *SILVER* : ₹ 285,000/KG

GAMES & SPORTS:-

To Day: India Vs Zimbabwe  :00 PM LOCAL. A Do or Die game.

In Hockey, India win 3-1 in shootout against Australia to conclude Hobart leg of FIH Men’s Pro League.

WHAT IS NEXT:

Today, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz begins a visit to China.

Today, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a visit to Israel.

Tomorrow, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a trip to India, Australia, and Japan.

OBITUARY:

Veteran Communist leader R. Nallakannu passed away in Chennai at the age of 101 following multi-organ failure.

Jatinder Mehra, a stalwart of India’s steel industry with over six decades of experience in the metals sector, passed away on Tuesday.

 

THE END.

 

 

Jostein Hauge

· 3rd

 

Assistant Professor at the University of Cambridge

 

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

 

·

 

Contact info