National

Ashwini Vaishnaw Apologises After AI Summit Issues

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw apologised for logistical issues faced by participants at the AI Impact Summit and announced the creation of a coordination “war room” to address complaints and streamline event management. Ashwini Vaishnaw Apology At AI Impact Summit The minister acknowledged inconvenience caused to attendees due to crowd management and access delays during

National

PM Modi Says India Must Become AI Superpower

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India should aim to become one of the world’s top three artificial intelligence powers, emphasising investment, innovation and skill development as key pillars of the country’s technology strategy. Modi On India AI Superpower Goal Addressing a gathering focused on technology and innovation, the Prime Minister stated that artificial

Op-Eds Opinion

$100 Billion AI Bet of Adani: India Is Trying to Run the World’s AI Operations

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

The announcement that the Adani Group intends to invest roughly $100 billion into AI-ready data centre infrastructure by 2035 should not be read as another infrastructure expansion story. It is a signal about how India is choosing to participate in the global artificial intelligence race. The United States is trying to build the most powerful […]

Op-Eds Opinion

UPI Everywhere But Cash Rising: What India’s Election Cycles Reveal About Political Cash Networks

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Stand at almost any shop counter in India today and you will see the same sign: scan and pay. From metropolitan supermarkets to roadside tea stalls, retailers increasingly prefer digital settlement. They avoid the hassle of change, accounting becomes easier, and payments leave a clean record. Yet at the same time, official currency data shows […]

Op-Eds Opinion

Mohsin Naqvi Showed Up For Drama And Ran From Defeat

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Mohsin Naqvi did not walk into the Pakistan team environment before the India match as a cricket administrator. He walked in as a spectacle. And like most spectacles, it worked perfectly until reality began. The build-up to the match had already been inflated far beyond sport. There was talk of boycott threats, political signalling and […]

International

Israel Restarts West Bank Land Registration

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Israel has announced plans to restart land registration procedures in parts of the occupied West Bank, a move authorities say is intended to formalise property records while Palestinian groups warn it could reshape land ownership patterns. West Bank Land Registration Plan Israeli officials said the renewed process will map and officially document land parcels that […]

International

China Extends Visa Free Entry To UK Canada

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

China has expanded its visa-free entry programme to include Canada and the United Kingdom (UK), increasing the total number of eligible countries to 79 as part of efforts to boost travel, business activity and international exchanges. China Visa Free Entry Expansion to UK and Canada Authorities announced that citizens from the newly added countries will […]

Uncategorized

Mitchell Marsh Admits Execution Issues As Exit Looms

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said his team’s poor execution at key moments left their campaign under pressure after another defeat put them close to an early exit from the tournament. Mitchell Marsh On Australia Performance Marsh acknowledged the side failed to convert strong positions into match-winning outcomes, pointing to lapses in batting partnerships and missed

South India State News

Bill Gates Backs Andhra Pradesh Tech Vision

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has praised Andhra Pradesh development roadmap centred on emerging technologies during his interaction with state leadership, highlighting collaboration opportunities in health, agriculture and digital governance. Bill Gates Praises Andhra Pradesh Tech Roadmap During discussions with the state government, Gates noted the emphasis on

National

National Green Tribunal Upholds Clearance For Nicobar Mega Project

By BPN News Desk February 17, 2026

The National Green Tribunal has upheld environmental clearance for the proposed mega infrastructure project in Great Nicobar Island, stating that adequate safeguards have been incorporated into the approval process. National Green Tribunal Clears Great Nicobar Project The tribunal rejected petitions challenging the environmental approval and ruled that the project complied