Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed Israel's Parliament and expressed India’s support for efforts aimed at securing peace in Gaza, saying the initiative holds promise for a “just and durable peace” in the region. Addressing the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, PM Modi said India supports peace and stability in West Asia and reiterated that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances. In his speech to Israeli lawmakers, PM Modi said, “No cause can justify the murder of civilians, and nothing can justify terrorism.” He added that India stands firmly with Israel. “India stands with Israel with full conviction in this moment,” he said. The Prime Minister also conveyed greetings from the people of India. “I bring with me the greetings of 1.4 billion Indians and a message of friendship, respect and partnership,” he told the House. Netanyahu calls PM Modi a ‘great friend’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warmly welcomed PM Modi ahead of his address, describing him as “a great friend of Israel, a great champion of the Indian-Israeli alliance and a great leader on the world stage”, according to the ANI. Speaking at the reception ceremony in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he was deeply moved by PM Modi’s visit. “I have never been more moved than by your visit here with us,” Netanyahu said, calling him “more than a friend, a brother”, the news agency reported. He also highlighted growing ties between the two nations. “We have doubled our trade, tripled our cooperation and quadrupled our understanding,” he said. Historic address to the Knesset Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana said it was a privilege to welcome PM Modi, noting that he is the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, as per the ANI. “Today, it is my great privilege as Speaker of the Knesset to welcome him and to make history once again,” Ohana said. On his arrival, PM Modi received a standing ovation, with members chanting his name. Official visit to Israel PM Modi arrived earlier in Tel Aviv on a two-day visit to Israel. He later attended an official reception ceremony at the Knesset. The visit marks another step in strengthening ties between India and Israel, with both sides underlining cooperation in trade, technology and security. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
25 February,2026 09:47 PM IST | Jerusalem | mid-day online correspondentAs Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi embarked on his two-day State visit to Israel on Wednesday, President Isaac Herzog stated that the people of Israel look forward to welcoming him. In a post on X, Herzog stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State of Israel and the people of Israel look forward to welcoming you to Israel." His statement came in response to PM Modi's departure statement on X, where he mentioned that he is looking forward to his engagements with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, aimed at further strengthening cooperation in various sectors and discussing regional and global issues. This will be PM Modi's second trip to Israel after his 2017 visit, which opened new avenues in defence, agriculture, and water management. PM Modi to hold wide-ranging talks with Netanyahu In his departure statement, PM Modi stated, "India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years. I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties." He said that he will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest with the Israeli PM. During the visit, PM Modi will meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and discuss the bilateral issues. "I will also have the honour of becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, an occasion that would be a tribute to the strong parliamentary and democratic ties that bind our two nations," he said. The Prime Minister said that he eagerly looks forward to interacting with the members of the Indian diaspora, "who have for long been nurturing the India-Israel special friendship". "I am confident that my State Visit will further consolidate the enduring bonds between the two countries, set new goals for the Strategic Partnership, and advance our shared vision for a resilient, innovative and prosperous future," PM Modi added. On Sunday, PM Modi warmly acknowledged Netanyahu's personal tribute during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, where the Israeli PM described PM Modi as a "dear friend" and hailed his upcoming visit as a milestone in bilateral ties. In his response to a video posted by Netanyahu on X, PM Modi stated, "Thank you, my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu. I fully agree with you on the bond between India and Israel as well as the diverse nature of our bilateral relations. India deeply values the enduring friendship with Israel, built on trust, innovation and a shared commitment to peace and progress. Looking forward to our discussions during my upcoming Israel visit." Netanyahu had shared a video from the cabinet meeting on X. In his remarks to his cabinet, Netanyahu termed PM Modi's arrival in the country as a historic moment, underscoring the strength of the India-Israel alliance. He spoke of a vision to forge a broader "axis of nations" in the Middle East, an alliance of like-minded countries united "against radical forces" and committed to stability, security, and technological advancement. Highlighting his personal rapport with PM Modi, Netanyahu noted their frequent exchanges and mutual visits, calling the Indian leader not just a partner but a "personal friend". Elaborating on PM Modi's engagements in Israel, Netanyahu said, "On Wednesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive. He will address the Knesset, and I am sure you will all be there. We will also hold an innovation event in Jerusalem and visit Yad Vashem together. I will also note something else, a special collaboration. We will advance cooperation in high-tech, AI, and quantum. I say AI and quantum not because it's not the future, it's the present, and we want to be among the world's leading nations in this field". (Inputs from IANS)
25 February,2026 04:10 PM IST | Jerusalem | mid-day online correspondentAn Iranian military helicopter crashed into a fruit and vegetable market in central Iran on Tuesday, reportedly killing at least four people. The crash happened in the town of Dorcheh, some 330 kilometres (205 miles) south of Iran's capital, Tehran, in the country's Isfahan province, Iranian state television reported. Isfahan is home to a major Iranian air base, as well as a nuclear site struck by the US during the Iran-Israel war in June. The army helicopter had been on a training flight, state TV said. The pilot and co-pilot died in the crash, it added, showing footage of debris and smoke rising from the market. Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency said two people on the ground at the market died in the crash. This is the second crash in less than a week in Iran. An F-4 fighter jet crashed near Iran's western city of Hamedan, killing one of its pilots. Iran has a history of fatal crashes. Western sanctions have dried up the supply of parts for aircraft in Iran, which relies on a fleet of aging helicopters and airplanes for both its government and commercial airlines. 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.
25 February,2026 02:53 PM IST | Tehran | APUnited States President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that his administration played a decisive role in preventing a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, asserting that millions of lives were at stake. Trump claims credit for preventing nuclear conflict Speaking during his second State of the Union address of his second term, which lasted over 100 minutes, Trump said that his intervention helped de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. "In my first 10 months, I ended eight wars… including Pakistan and India, which would have been a nuclear war," Trump said. "35 million people, said the Prime Minister of Pakistan, would have died if it were not for my involvement." #WATCH | Addressing the 2026 State of the Union, United States President Donald Trump says, "... In my first 10 months, I ended eight wars... Pakistan and India would have had a nuclear war. 35 million people said the Prime Minister of Pakistan would have died if it were not for… pic.twitter.com/GnrgJKtjID — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2026 The US President described the situation as extremely critical, suggesting that the conflict had the potential to escalate into a catastrophic nuclear confrontation. Pakistan PM credited US intervention, says Trump Trump further claimed that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally acknowledged his role in preventing large-scale casualties. According to Trump, Sharif told him that up to 35 million people could have died if diplomatic efforts led by Washington had not intervened in time. This is not the first time Trump has made such assertions. In previous statements, he cited varying figures — including 25 million and 10 million — while crediting himself for averting a major conflict in South Asia. India rejects third-party mediation claims India, however, has consistently denied any involvement of third-party mediation in its bilateral issues with Pakistan. New Delhi has maintained its long-standing position that all matters with Islamabad are strictly bilateral and do not involve external facilitation. Trump has reiterated his claim multiple times since May last year, when he announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate” ceasefire following what he described as a “long night” of talks mediated by the United States. Broader foreign policy claims in address In his address, Trump also highlighted a series of international conflicts that he claimed to have helped resolve. These included tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as conflicts involving the Congo and Rwanda. He also noted that the war in Gaza was continuing but at a "very low level." Emphasising his administration’s broader agenda, Trump said the United States was restoring both domestic stability and international security. "We’re proudly restoring safety for Americans at home and we are also restoring security for Americans abroad. Our country has never been stronger," he said. The address saw brief interruptions from some Democratic lawmakers, to which Trump responded sharply, calling them "sick people," reflecting the continued political divisions in Washington. (With inputs from Agencies)
25 February,2026 01:20 PM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday for an official visit to Japan aimed at strengthening the state's investment opportunities and industrial growth. During the visit from February 25-26 in Japan, he is expected to participate in key meetings and interactions during his visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and exploring investment opportunities for the state. A day earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that the state has received investment proposals worth up to Rs 1 lakh crore during engagements in Singapore, with Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 60,000 crore already finalised, terming it a significant step towards transforming the state into a 1 trillion dollar economy. Sharing a post on X, the Chief Minister's official handle wrote, "To boost investment in Uttar Pradesh, we have received investment proposals worth up to Rs1 lakh crore in Singapore, along with MoUs worth Rs60,000 crore that have been finalised. All of these will prove to be milestones in the direction of making Uttar Pradesh a $1 trillion economy." Landed in Tokyo, Japanउगते सूरज की नवोन्मेषी भूमि को प्रभु श्री राम की पावन धरा के 'आदित्य' का नमस्कार... pic.twitter.com/at6T8nyuTn — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 25, 2026 The Chief Minister addressed an investor roadshow in Singapore earlier today, pitching his state as a secure and fast-growing destination for global investment. Assuring business leaders of a good environment in the state, the Chief Minister said, "I can assure you that every investment coming into Uttar Pradesh is secured. We not only gave a safe environment, but also showed how to connect scale with skill and speed." He added that the state has established a new identity focused on transformation and growth. Highlighting India's broader economic progress, the Chief Minister said the country has advanced significantly over the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and is on track to become the world's third-largest economy. CM Yogi noted that Uttar Pradesh's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has increased from Rs 13 lakh crore to Rs 36 lakh crore in the past nine years, contributing 9.5 per cent to India's GDP. He described the state as a "dream destination" for investment and a top achiever in Ease of Doing Business and deregulation rankings.
25 February,2026 08:23 AM IST | Tokyo | ANIResearchers in Belgium have developed a solar-powered method to convert plastic waste into acetic acid, the main component of vinegar. The process uses sunlight and a specially engineered catalyst to break down plastics at the molecular level. The team designed a bio-inspired cascade photocatalysis system built around iron single atoms embedded in carbon nitride. 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
25 February,2026 08:17 AM IST | Brussels | AgenciesPolice in Britain said Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, has been released on bail after he was arrested in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. It came days after a friendship with Epstein landed the former Prince Andrew in police custody. Both Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, are suspected of improperly passing UK government information to the disgraced US financier. 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
25 February,2026 08:14 AM IST | London | AgenciesProfessor Omar Yaghi, a chemist at the University of California, Berkeley and a 2025 Nobel Prize winner, has invented a machine that can harvest up to 1000 litres of clean water daily from thin air. Developed by his technology company Atoco, this device operates effectively even in areas with less than 20 per cent humidity, offering a potential lifeline to regions struggling with severe water shortages. 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
25 February,2026 08:12 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesA fresh shooting incident has been reported in Calgary, Canada, with alleged members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility through a social media post. The claim was reportedly made by Tyson Bishnoi and Arzu Bishnoi. In the post, the individuals stated, “The Lawrence gang takes responsibility for the firing at a shop named ‘Malwa Tires’ (8616, 44 Street SE, Calgary).” The message also referred to a viral video allegedly showing a shooting involving one Harpreet Brar. The footage has been widely circulated on social media, drawing significant public attention. Security agencies have begun examining both the social media post and the video to verify their authenticity and determine credibility of the claims. Canada moves against 26/11 attack planner Ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India, the Canadian government is pushing to revoke the citizenship of a Pakistan-born businessman, Tahawwur Rana Hussain, 64, accused of playing a key role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. 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
25 February,2026 08:08 AM IST | Toronto | AgenciesPakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan on Tuesday was taken from jail to a hospital for treatment of an eye ailment and later shifted back to jail, officials said. Khan was diagnosed last month with right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) affecting his vision. On Tuesday, he was brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences for a second round of treatment. He had received treatment earlier on January 24. Prior to the procedure, he was examined by a board of specialist doctors. 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
25 February,2026 08:05 AM IST | Islamabad | AgenciesFrance’s spat with the US ambassador to Paris took another turn on Tuesday with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying the top US diplomat in France must respond to a summons and won’t have access to French government officials until he complies. French authorities had summoned Ambassador Charles Kushner — the father of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner — for a meeting on Monday evening over comments from the Trump administration that France objected to. However, French diplomats said Kushner did not show up. 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
25 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Paris | AgenciesADVERTISEMENT
-1772011291305_d.png "Israel President Isaac Herzog. Pic/X")
-1771933216371_d.png "Emergency personnel at the scene of an Iranian army helicopter crash in the Dorcheh area on the outskirts of Isfahan. Pic/AFP")
