India needs 40 jets annually to address deficit, private sector can help boost aircraft production, says Air Chief

Hamas called on the international community to pressure Israel to promptly enter the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire as the first phase was set to expire. The group emphasized the need for Israel to fully commit to the agreement without delay or hesitation. Hamas stated that Israel must adhere to its role in the ceasefire agreement to ensure peace and stability in the region. Full Article

The Border Security Force (BSF) in Guwahati arrested 15 Bangladesh nationals in Tripura for illegally entering India, along with three Indian touts facilitating their entry without legal documents. The arrests were made in Kailashahar, Unakoti district, with the intruders hailing from various regions in Bangladesh. The BSF has intensified its efforts to combat narcotics smuggling, showcasing a strong commitment to border security. Full Article

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a tense Oval Office meeting, accusing him of being disrespectful and pushing for US security commitments amid the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump rebuked Zelenskyy for not being thankful and warned of risking World War III. Despite the contentious discussion, Trump acknowledged the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers and highlighted an economic agreement while pushing for peace and improved US-Russia relations. Full Article

On Friday evening, messaging app WhatsApp experienced a major outage, leaving thousands of users unable to send or receive messages. Down Detector reported over 14,000 complaints around 9:17 pm, with users worldwide affected by the disruption. While the cause remains unclear, the outage impacted personal and professional communication, with London, Manchester, and Glasgow among the most affected areas. Full Article

India and the European Union (EU) are working on a security and defence partnership to address common threats like cross-border terrorism and attacks on critical infrastructure, amidst China's military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans for a Security and Defence Partnership with India, emphasizing the importance of security in the strategic partnership. The partnership aims to enhance collaboration on countering terrorism, maritime security threats, cyber-attacks, and protecting...

India and the European Union have agreed to fast track the free trade agreement and aim to conclude it by the year end, along with collaborating on initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen affirmed their commitment to strengthen the EU-India Strategic Partnership, with negotiations set to begin in March in Brussels to enhance market access and remove trade barriers, focusing...