Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed Seychelles as a full-time member of the Colombo Security Conclave, describing defence and maritime cooperation as key pillars of the relationship between the two countries. He also said India and Seychelles would expand cooperation in renewable energy, climate resilience and climate-adaptive solutions. PM Modi made these remarks during a joint press conference with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie in New Delhi. Before the joint press meet, the two leaders held a bilateral meeting. President Herminie is on a six-day visit to India and has arrived in the national capital, New Delhi after touring Chennai and Mumbai. This is his first visit since assuming office in October 2025 and coincides with the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles. During his visit, President Herminie also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The Ministry of External Affairs said Mahatma Gandhi’s enduring principles continue to guide and inspire the India–Seychelles partnership. Maritime, Defence and Climate Cooperation Calling India and Seychelles maritime neighbours, Prime Minister Modi said the blue economy is a natural area of cooperation between the two nations.“In the areas of marine research, capacity building and data sharing, India will share its expertise with Seychelles. Defence cooperation and maritime security are important pillars of our cooperation,” PM Modi said, as per ANI. He underlined that defence cooperation and maritime security remain central to bilateral ties and welcomed Seychelles as a full-time member of the Colombo Security Conclave. He said this step would strengthen peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. The Prime Minister added, “We will expand our cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, resilience and climate-adaptive solutions,” stressing that these sectors are vital for building a sustainable future in the Indian Ocean region. Agreements, Joint Vision and Development Support PM Modi welcomed the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding and agreements aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation. He announced that the India–Seychelles Joint Vision would be launched, serving as a roadmap for future engagement. Referring to digital cooperation, he said, “A digital transformation is taking place. Under this, we will share India’s successful experience with Seychelles.” He added that both countries would work together to ensure the supply of affordable and quality medicines, promote medical tourism and strengthen health infrastructure. Earlier, PM Modi announced a special economic package worth 175 million dollar for Seychelles. “Development partnership has been a strong foundation of India–Seychelles relations. All our efforts have been based on the priorities and needs of Seychelles,” he said. Announcing the package, he added, “This special economic package of 175 million dollars will support concrete projects in areas such as social housing, e-mobility, vocational training, health, defence and maritime security,” as per ANI. People-to-People Ties PM Modi praised the Indian community in Seychelles for its contribution to the country’s social and economic development, saying it has strengthened ties between the two nations across generations. “Through close cooperation in the field of technology, we are giving our partnership a futuristic direction,” he added. India and Seychelles also exchanged several agreements covering pharmacopoeial cooperation, cultural exchange programmes for 2026–2030, digital transformation solutions, and a food procurement agreement between National Cooperative Exports Limited and the Seychelles Trading Corporation. (With ANI Inputs)
09 February,2026 03:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) chief Sharad Pawar was on Monday taken to a hospital in Pune district of Maharashtra he complained of throat-related problems and persistent coughing. A close aide said the 85-year-old veteran leader was shifted from his residence in Baramati to Ruby Hall Clinic, where he is being treated for a throat infection. Ruby Hall Clinic’s chief cardiologist and managing trustee, Dr Parvez Grant, confirmed Sharad Pawar’s admission to the hospital, according to the PTI. “Once he arrives, a team of doctors will examine him and decide the further course of treatment,” Dr Grant said. Further details are awaited.
09 February,2026 03:40 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has buckled under US pressure to finalise a trade deal and has "sold out" the hard work of Indian farmers through the agreement. PM Modi is Compromised.PM is too afraid to let me speak in Parliament about Naravane, Epstein Files and how he has surrendered on Tariffs. pic.twitter.com/V1J6yxZDM2 — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 3, 2026 Addressing reporters in the Parliament House complex after he was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha as he insisted on quoting from an article that cited former Army chief MM Naravane's unpublished "memoir", Gandhi said it is for the first time in history that the Leader of Opposition has not been allowed to speak on the president's address. "We need to understand why a trade deal stuck for about four months was suddenly finalised last evening," Gandhi said adding that "there was huge pressure on Prime Minister Modi". Asked what kind of pressure he was referring to, Gandhi alleged there is a case against industrialist Gautam Adani in the US and a lot more is to come in the Epstein files. He alleged that Prime Minister Modi "has been compromised" and that Indian farmers must understand their hard work "as well as their blood and sweat" has been "sold out" through the India-US trade deal. He also said the entire country had been "sold out". There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the government. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 February,2026 03:36 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIAdani Group and Italian major Leonardo on Tuesday announced a strategic partnership to establish an integrated helicopter manufacturing ecosystem in India. The move will be a significant boost for the 'Make In India' efforts and to make the country more self-reliant. The manufacturing ecosystem will look to address military demands and boost India's self-reliance in helicopter production. Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo on Tuesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding for the partnership at an event in the national capital. The partnership will target the Indian Armed Forces' requirements, particularly for Leonardo's advanced AW169M and AW109 TrekkerM helicopters. "The collaboration will deliver phased indigenization, robust maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, and comprehensive pilot training," a release said. India has a low helicopter penetration density of less than 250 helicopters for the country's population, and the country will need around 100 helicopters annually for the next 10 years. Adani Defence & Aerospace Director Jeet Adani said it was laying the foundation for an aviation ecosystem that serves the nation across civil and defence needs.The partnership with Leonardo is rooted not only in shared expertise but in shared purpose, he said. "Together, we will build an ecosystem on Indian soil that brings manufacturing, assembly, training, and world-class support into one cohesive whole," he added. Adani Defence & Aerospace CEO Ashish Rajvanshi said that with the Indian Armed Forces projecting demand for over 1,000 helicopters in the coming decade, this partnership realises the vision for sovereign manufacturing. Leonardo is a key global player in the areas of aerospace, defence, and security. eonardo Helicopters Managing Director Gian Piero Cutillo said India is a big market and that the country's armed forces have a growing requirement for helicopters.The announcement on Tuesday also comes a week after Adani Defence & Aerospace and Brazilian major Embraer announced a strategic collaboration that aims to set up a regional aircraft manufacturing facility in India. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 February,2026 03:32 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Corporator Manjusha Nagpure was elected unopposed as mayor of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Monday, while Republican Party of India (Athawale) Corporator from Bopodi, Parshuram Wadekar, became the deputy mayor, news agency PTI reported. The unopposed elections came after Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP's) Shital Sawant and Congress leader Ashwini Landge withdrew from the mayoral contest while NCP Corporator Dattatray Bahirat and Congress’s Sahil Kedari pulled out of the deputy mayoral race. Nagpure, a corporator from the Sinhagad area, is closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and holds a postgraduate degree in management. In the 165-member PMC, the BJP won 119 seats, while the late Ajit Pawar’s NCP and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP(SP) together secured 30 seats. Congress won 15 seats, and its ally Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) managed just one. Union Minister and Pune Member of Parliament (MP) Murlidhar Mohol expressed gratitude to voters for giving the BJP a majority in the civic body. "As a result, today, our corporators Nagpure and Wadekar were elected unopposed as mayor and deputy mayor," he said. Latur mayoral polls: 'Being sidelined by Congress after civic poll win,' says VBA The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), led by Prakash Ambedkar, on Sunday accused the Congress of ignoring it after winning elections to the Latur Municipal Corporation and said it would contest the mayoral and deputy mayoral polls if denied a share in power. Congress city president Kiran Jadhav said the party would follow guidance from its state leadership on the matter. In the recent Latur civic polls, Congress won 43 of the 70 wards, followed by the BJP with 22 seats, and the VBA with four. For the mayoral post, Congress corporator Jayshri Sonkamble and VBA’s Nikita Somwanshi submitted nominations on Thursday, while Snehal Utage (Congress) and Sachin Gaikwad (VBA) filed for deputy mayor. The elections are scheduled for February 9. VBA’s Marathwada general secretary Santosh Suryawanshi claimed that Congress benefited from its informal alliance with the VBA and returned to power in Latur, alleging that the party was now sidelining the VBA. He alleged that despite the VBA’s electoral win, the Congress has been delaying giving the party its due representation—such as the deputy mayor’s post or positions in civic committees. Citing local Congress leaders, he added that Latur MLA Amit Deshmukh has been authorised to make the decision. (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 03:27 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi praised the immense talent and boundless potential of India's students during the ongoing ninth edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026, emphasising that they hold the complete ability to transform their dreams into reality. In a message shared on X on Monday, the Prime Minister highlighted the core purpose of the interactive programme, saying that 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' aims to guide young minds on how to channel their abilities and skills meaningfully for personal growth, success, and overcoming life's challenges. He wrote: “Our students, endowed with extraordinary talent, possess the full potential to turn their dreams into reality. The objective of Pariksha Pe Charcha is precisely this: to show how they can make meaningful use of their talent and skills.” PM Modi quotes a Sanskrit verse at Pariksha Pe Charcha, stresses knowledgereasoning and effort for success To reinforce his message, PM Modi quoted a powerful Sanskrit Subhashitam. The verse translates to: A person who possesses knowledge (vidya), logical reasoning (vitarka), scientific understanding (vijnana), sharp memory (smriti), promptness and readiness (tatparata), and active effort (kriya) can surmount any obstacle -- nothing remains impossible or unattainable for such an individual. The Prime Minister's words came amid the live second episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha, which featured multi-location interactions with students from Raipur, Coimbatore, Devmogra and Guwahati. The programme, organised by the Ministry of Education, has already seen over 4.5 crore registrations this year, underscoring its massive reach and popularity as a platform to reduce exam stress, build confidence, and inspire holistic development. PM Modi's message aligns with the series' evolving format, where he engages directly with students to discuss not only exam preparation but also life skills, discipline, leadership, and the responsible use of talent. By invoking the ancient wisdom of the Subhashitam, he encouraged students to cultivate these six essential qualities -- knowledge, logic, science, memory, alertness, and action -- to face any challenge with determination. The post on X attracted positive reactions from students, parents, and educators, who shared it widely, viewing it as timely motivation ahead of board examinations. As Pariksha Pe Charcha continues to inspire millions, the Prime Minister's emphasis on inner potential and purposeful skill-building reinforces the programme's role in nurturing a confident, capable generation ready to contribute to a developed India. (Inputs from IANS)
09 February,2026 02:59 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentAn email threatening to blow up the Patna Civil court premises was received on Monday, sending the administration into a tizzy, in the second such instance of its kind in a month. Police personnel, who rushed to the spot to carry out searches, were so far tight-lipped, even as judicial work was suspended for the day, putting on hold, among other things, the bail plea of Independent MP Pappu Yadav. Yadav's lawyer Shivnandan Bharti told reporters, "We have been told that a bomb threat has been received on the email address of the District Judge. As a result, the bail application of the MP can now be taken up not before tomorrow. My client shall have to spend another day in jail." Yadav, who represents Purnea Lok Sabha seat, was arrested on Friday night in connection with a three-decade-old forgery case lodged at the MP/MLA court. The Congress has come out in his support, with leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleging that the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar was targeting Yadav because he had been criticising the investigation into the death of a NEET aspirant. Notably, similar bomb threats were received by several courts in Bihar, including the one here, on January 8. The emails had turned out to be a hoax. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 February,2026 02:58 PM IST | Patna | PTIThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Mahayuti ally, Shiv Sena, were ahead of rivals in early trends of the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti polls in Maharashtra, as counting of votes began on Monday morning, news agency PTI reported. According to TV channels, the BJP took an early lead and is currently leading in around 150 zilla parishad seats, while the Eknath Shinde-headed Shiv Sena is around 90. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has a lead of 88 seats while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi combine of Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) are leading 30 and 20 seats, respectively. BJP and Shiv Sena are now dominating in the rural pockets of the state, too, after their success in the urban areas in the recently concluded municipal corporation elections. BJP emerging as the strongest single party in many areas, especially western and southern Maharashtra. In Pune, especially Baramati, the NCP has put up a dominant show. The party registered its first victory with Pallavi Khetre and is leading in 12 out of the 13 seats in Baramati, the stronghold of the Pawar family. In Dharashiv, Dhananjay Sawant fought as an Independent and emerged victorious. The nephew of Shiv Sena legislator and former minister Tanaji Sawant, Dhananjay had rebelled against his party and decided to fight solo. In Parbhani, BJP's Dilip Deshmukh has won from the Zari Zilla Parishad, defeating Sonal Deshmukh, the daughter of former BJP minister Suresh Warpudkar. Sonal Deshmukh had contested the poll on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. In Latur, candidates from the NCP have secured victories in the Nideban, Togari, and Her District Council in Udgir taluka, while BJP candidates emerged victorious in the Vadhvana and Somnathpur District Council groups. Congress candidates have triumphed in the Lohara and Nalgi groups. Counting began at 10 am for elections to 12 zilla parishads and 125 panchayat samitis. The polls were held on February 7 in Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Parbhani, Dharashiv, and Latur. A total of 731 zilla parishad members and 1,462 panchayat samiti seats were contested. While 2,624 candidates contested the zilla parishad polls, 4,814 were in the fray for the panchayat samiti elections. The results are seen as significant for the NCP factions led by late Ajit Pawar and party founder Sharad Pawar. The two factions had temporarily set aside a bitter two-year rivalry to contest these local body polls in Pune, Satara, Solapur, and Sangli under an informal alliance, fielding candidates under the original ‘clock’ symbol. The two factions had set aside their bitter two-year rivalry to contest these local body polls in an informal alliance in Pune, Satara, Solapur and Sangli, where candidates from both sides contested under the original 'clock' symbol. Maharashtra Zilla Parishad polls 2026: List of winners Parbhani Dilip Prabhakarrao Deshmukh (BJP) — Zari.Suchita Anandrao Bharose (Shiv Sena) — Takli Bobde.Pooja Anil Sawant (Shiv Sena) — Pingli.Pratiksha Prabhulal Jaiswal (Shiv Sena UBT) — Takli Kumbhakarna.Pandurang Balasaheb Khillare (Shiv Sena UBT) — Shingnapur.Aishwarya Chavan (BJP) — Pokharni Sangram Prataprao Jamkar (NCP) — Jamb. Dharashiv Dhananjay Sawant (Independent) - Jawala in Paranda taluka Sangli Sumitra Appasaheb Bedge (BJP)- Jat taluka (With PTI inputs)
09 February,2026 02:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA tragic incident occurred in the Vikaspuri area of West Delhi, where a bus helper was burnt alive after a massive fire broke out inside a parked bus. The deceased has been identified as Sunil (25), who was reportedly sleeping inside the bus when the fire erupted. According to initial information from the spot, Sunil had lit an incense stick inside the bus to repel mosquitoes. It is suspected that the fire may have started from the incense stick and gradually spread across the vehicle. An official said the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) received a call about the fire at around 12.35 a.m. on Monday. Soon after, fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The incident came to light when people in the vicinity noticed thick smoke and flames coming out of the bus. A video that has surfaced on social media shows the entire bus engulfed in flames, with fire spreading rapidly across the vehicle. Due to the intensity of the blaze, Sunil allegedly did not get any chance to escape and remained trapped inside. Local residents immediately informed the police and the fire department. Firefighters reached the scene and, after considerable effort, managed to bring the flames under control. Once the fire was extinguished, Sunil’s charred body was found inside the bus. The body was recovered and sent to a hospital for post-mortem examination. Police said the bus involved in the incident was a private vehicle bearing a Haryana registration number. It was reportedly a new bus and had been on the road for only about 28 days. The incident has also come as a shock to the bus owner, as the vehicle was brand new. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire. Police are examining whether the blaze was caused solely by the incense stick or if there was any other technical fault, including possible electrical short-circuiting or fuel-related issues. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues. Earlier, on February 6, a fire broke out at an NDMC-administered ground near the Safdarjung airport, the Delhi Fire Service said. In another major fire-related tragedy, on January 7, a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) employee, his wife, and their nine-year-old daughter were charred to death in a fire at a DMRC-allotted flat at Metro Apartments in Mukundpur, north-west Delhi. The deceased in that incident were identified as Ajay Vimal (44), an Assistant Section Engineer posted at Barakhamba metro station, his wife Neelam Vimal (43), and their daughter Jahnavi. Ajay, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had joined the DMRC in 2006 and shifted to the Mukundpur flat in 2016. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 February,2026 02:13 PM IST | New Delhi | IANSThe Opposition on Monday decided to move a resolution to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from office for disallowing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi from speaking in the House on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address.Sources said the resolution is being moved under Article 94-C of the Constitution. The notice is being given for moving a resolution against the Speaker for his removal, for disallowing the LoP from speaking in the House on the motion of thanks and for not initiating action against BJP MP Nishikand Dubey and for making unsubstantiated charges against women MPs of the Congress. They said a statutory resolution in this regard would soon be moved in the Lok Sabha. The resolution requires signatures of 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha and the signatures of various Opposition MPs is under process.Sources said the decision to move the resolution was taken at a meeting of Opposition leaders held in the chamber of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge this morning. The TMC also attended the meeting besides other parties, including the left, DMK, SP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (sp) and RSP. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 February,2026 02:13 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIExternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie, who is on a state visit to India aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, including maritime security and economic development. EAM Jaishankar highlighted the significance of the visit on X, writing, “Delighted to call on President Dr Patrick Herminie of the Republic of Seychelles today in Delhi. As maritime neighbours, value his support towards advancing #VisionMAHASAGAR for economic prosperity and security in the region. Confident that his engagements with PM @narendramodi later today will open new vistas for our cooperation.” Delighted to call on President Dr. Patrick Herminie of the Republic of Seychelles today in Delhi.As maritime neighbours, value his support towards advancing #VisionMAHASAGAR for economic prosperity and security in the region. Confident that his engagements with PM… pic.twitter.com/wgPBKiJOHI — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 9, 2026 President Herminie arrives in India for his first visit, 50 years of diplomatic ties celebrated President Herminie arrived in India on Thursday at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is his first visit to India since assuming office in October 2025, and comes as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. During his stay, the President is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. In addition to Delhi, President Herminie will visit other Indian cities to participate in business events aimed at boosting economic engagement between the two nations. The visit underscores India and Seychelles’ shared interest in maritime security and sustainable economic development, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. Welcoming the President, the Ministry of External Affairs posted on X, “Commemorating 50 years of longstanding and multifaceted India-Seychelles bilateral ties. Warm welcome to President Dr. Patrick Herminie of Seychelles as he arrives in Chennai for his first State visit to India.” President Herminie's India visit to strenghten Seychelles ties, boost maritime cooperation President Herminie was sworn in as the sixth President of Seychelles in October 2025 at Unity Stadium in Victoria. India was represented at the ceremony by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, who later met the President at the State House to convey greetings from the Government and people of India. The state visit is expected to further cement India-Seychelles ties and open new avenues for collaboration in trade, security, and regional development, reinforcing the longstanding partnership between the two nations and highlighting their shared vision for maritime cooperation under the #VisionMAHASAGAR initiative.
09 February,2026 01:25 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770631251191_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Pm Modi with President of Seychelles Patrick Herminie during a joint press statement in New Delhi. Pic/PTI")
-1770112063875_d.png "Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. File Pic")
-1770108749258_d.png "The country will need around 100 helicopters annually for the next 10 years. Representational pic")
-1770626263610_d.png "Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. File Pic")
