Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said that his four-day visit to Singapore and Japan resulted in signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) worth Rs 90,000 crore in Japan and Rs 60,000 crore in Singapore for the state, reported ANI. He further stated that investment proposals worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore were received in Japan and Yamanashi, while proposals amounting to nearly Rs 1 lakh crore were secured in Singapore for projects in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking on his visit, Adityanath said he met representatives of several companies while pitching investment opportunities in the state. Japan-Uttar Pradesh collaboration gains momentum “We met companies involved in automobiles, logistics, green hydrogen, CBG (Compressed Bio Gas), solar energy and tourism. Discussions were also held on cooperation between Japan and Uttar Pradesh in MSME technology, online sales and other areas. In addition, the construction of a dedicated Japan City for Japanese investors within the Yamuna Authority to develop auto clusters was discussed in detail, and steps have been taken to allocate land for this purpose,” he said, reported ANI. “The Uttar Pradesh delegation secured MoUs worth Rs 90,000 crore in Japan, along with proposals worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore in Japan and Yamanashi. Similarly, we received MoUs worth Rs 60,000 crore in Singapore and proposals worth up to Rs 1 lakh crore for investment in Uttar Pradesh,” he added. Adityanath said he held meetings at the G2G (Government-to-Government) level, as well as several G2B (Government-to-Business) and B2B (Business-to-Business) meetings. Strong investor turnout at Singapore roadshow “Two major roadshows were held, one in Singapore, which attracted a large number of investors, chairpersons and CEOs of financial institutions. We held a roadshow in Tokyo yesterday and another in Yamanashi today, both of which saw significant investor participation,” he said, reported ANI. The Chief Minister also announced that the Governor of Yamanashi, along with 200 CEOs from Japan, will visit Uttar Pradesh. CM Yogi visited Singapore from February 22 to 24 before travelling to Tokyo, Japan, for the second leg of his visit. UP-Yamanashi cooperation will take India-Japan relations to new heights: Yogi In his address, CM Yogi said Uttar Pradesh has transformed its governance approach from reactive to proactive, adding that this shift has laid the foundation for the state's rapid economic growth. The Chief Minister announced that a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed between Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi on green hydrogen technology. Under this agreement, students from Uttar Pradesh’s higher technical institutions will receive training in Japan, and the technology will be implemented in the state's industry, public transport, and energy sectors, reported ANI. The Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh, with a population of approximately 250 million, is India’s largest state and is blessed with abundant natural resources. The country’s most fertile land, vast water resources, extensive human capital, and rich spiritual and cultural heritage give Uttar Pradesh its distinct identity. “Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh has reached new heights of development, successfully tripling its per capita income and economy over the last nine years. Today, Uttar Pradesh is among India’s fastest-growing economies,” he said, reported ANI. (With ANI inputs)
26 February,2026 09:21 PM IST | Tokyo | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Israel will soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and announced the establishment of a "Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership" to deepen cooperation in the tech and innovation sectors. Speaking during the joint statement with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu as part of his two-day state visit to the country, PM Modi said the two leaders discussed imparting a new direction and faster pace to bilateral cooperation. "In today's meeting, we discussed giving a new direction and a faster pace to our cooperation. Our economic cooperation is the engine of growth, innovation, and shared prosperity. To encourage mutual investment, we entered into a bilateral investment agreement last year. We will also soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement," he said. Highlighting the growing focus on technology-driven collaboration, the Prime Minister said technology will form the core of the future partnership between the two nations. "Technology is the core of our future partnership. Today, we have decided to establish a 'Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership.' This will give new momentum to cooperation in areas like AI, quantum, and critical minerals," he said. The first round of negotiations for the India-Israel FTA commenced in New Delhi on Monday and is scheduled to take place until today. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday met a delegation from Israel in India for the first round of FTA negotiations. During Piyush Goyal's visit in November 2025, the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the launch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and Israel were signed. PM Modi also welcomed the agreement on the use of India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Israel, calling it a significant step in advancing digital cooperation, adding that both countries are committed to leveraging digital health innovations to improve the lives of their citizens through shared experiences and best practices. "In the field of digital health as well, we are committed to improving people's lives by sharing our experiences," he added. In the defence sector, the Prime Minister noted that India and Israel share decades-old, reliable cooperation, which is set to expand further. "In the field of defence, we have had decades-old, reliable cooperation. The MOUs signed last year will add new dimensions to this. Together, we will move towards joint development, joint production, and transfer of technology," he said. He further stated that both sides will advance cooperation in civil nuclear energy and space, underlining the expanding scope of the India-Israel strategic partnership. PM Modi is currently on a two-day state visit to Israel at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. 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.
26 February,2026 08:12 PM IST | Jerusalem | ANIIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a dinner engagement wearing traditional Indian clothing, creating a warm and symbolic moment during the visit. Netanyahu was seen dressed in a light grey Nehru jacket as he greeted PM Modi with a smile. In a video shared by the Israeli Prime Minister on X, PM Modi was heard remarking, "It's an Indian dress," acknowledging the gesture. हमारे संयुक्त रात्रिभोज से पहले, मैंने अपने मित्र प्रधानमंत्री मोदी को पारंपरिक भारतीय परिधान पहनकर चौंका दिया। 🇮🇱🇮🇳@narendramodi pic.twitter.com/3ElIQeLY97 — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 25, 2026 The two leaders shared a cordial exchange and posed together for photographs ahead of the dinner. Sharing the moment on social media in Hindi, Netanyahu wrote, "Before our joint dinner, I surprised my friend Prime Minister Modi by wearing traditional Indian attire." Prime Minister Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to visit Yad Vashem together on Thursday before holding an expanded bilateral meeting at the King David Hotel. India focuses on strenthening ties on global developments with Israel The discussions are expected to focus on a comprehensive review of the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, with emphasis on strengthening collaboration in defence, science and technology, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders will also exchange views on pressing regional and global developments. Several MoUs spanning economic, security and diplomatic domains are set to be signed during the visit, aimed at further enhancing cooperation between the two countries. Following the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu will deliver joint statements to the media outlining the outcomes of their talks, as per IANS India is currently moving towards finalising what is being described as a landmark strategic partnership with Israel to acquire Iron Dome technology. The proposed arrangement goes beyond a straightforward procurement and is envisaged as a core element of India’s indigenous “Mission Sudarshan Chakra”, also known as Project Kusha. Israel has formally offered to transfer the Iron Dome technology to India under the “Make in India” initiative, enabling local production and integration into a multi-layered air defence system designed to counter short-range rockets, mortars and drone swarms. Alongside Iron Dome, India is also showing strong interest in Israel’s newer Iron Beam laser-based system, which is seen as a cost-effective, “light-speed” solution against low-cost aerial threats. The proposed collaboration seeks to safeguard Indian cities and key infrastructure through a high-success-rate shield that would complement long-range platforms such as the S-400, with the broader objective of creating an “impregnable” national security canopy by 2030. PM Modi becomes first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament During his visit, PM Modi is also scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog. According to IANS, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Modi received a standing ovation at the Knesset shortly after arriving in Tel Aviv for his two-day state visit. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Israeli Parliament, marking his second visit to Israel in a decade after his 2017 trip. He was also conferred the Medal of the Knesset. In a post on X, he said, "I am deeply honoured to receive the Medal of the Knesset. I accept it with humility and gratitude. This honour is not a tribute to an individual, but to the enduring friendship between India and Israel. It reflects the shared values that guide our two nations," thanking the Israeli Parliament for the recognition.
26 February,2026 12:42 PM IST | Tel Aviv | mid-day online correspondentIsraeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar on Thursday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Israeli Knesset, noting the immense enthusiasm among both members and the audience. He said the people were thrilled and highly enthusiastic to listen to PM Modi's address, as he spoke from his heart about issues that deeply matter to both nations. Speaking to IANS, Reuven Azar said, “There was amazing excitement among the members of the Knesset, and also the audience present there. Moreover, the general public was equally enthusiastic, and the event was covered by all major media outlets.” “I think people understand that this visit is very important. They were thrilled and very excited to hear PM Modi’s speech because he truly spoke from his heart about the things we care about -- particularly the seriousness of fighting terrorism without compromise and without giving any opening or excuse for terrorism,” he added. Azar further highlighted the shared heritage between the two countries. “He spoke about the common heritage we share, a relationship that goes back thousands of years, and the history of Jews in India. He also spoke about the cooperation achieved so far and outlined where he wants to take the relationship in the future. It was clear that people want to see this vision implemented, and now we are going to work hard to implement the shared vision of PM Modi and PM Netanyahu.” “We are determined to carry out follow-up work. Today, we already had meetings between President Isaac Herzog and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where we discussed several bilateral cooperation issues as well as some regional matters. There will be further follow-up in the coming weeks. The Defence Minister is expected to visit India, and negotiations on the FTA will hopefully continue,” he said. Commenting on defence cooperation, Azar stated, “We are focused on expanding the scope of our relationship into more sensitive and advanced technologies. The agreements already signed provide us with the mechanisms to do exactly that. Now that we have finalised these agreements, we are entering the implementation stage.” Speaking about the impact of the visit on regional security in Asia and the Middle East, he said, “When both countries develop the capabilities to defend themselves independently and create solutions in terms of both defence and offence, it will make us more secure and more resilient.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a dinner engagement wearing traditional Indian clothing, creating a warm and symbolic moment during the visit. Netanyahu was seen dressed in a light grey Nehru jacket as he greeted PM Modi with a smile. In a video shared by the Israeli Prime Minister on X, PM Modi was heard remarking, "It's an Indian dress," acknowledging the gesture. The two leaders shared a cordial exchange and posed together for photographs ahead of the dinner. Sharing the moment on social media in Hindi, Netanyahu wrote, "Before our joint dinner, I surprised my friend Prime Minister Modi by wearing traditional Indian attire." Prime Minister Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to visit Yad Vashem together on Thursday before holding an expanded bilateral meeting at the King David Hotel. The discussions are expected to focus on a comprehensive review of the India-Israel Strategic Partnership, with emphasis on strengthening collaboration in defence, science and technology, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. The two leaders will also exchange views on pressing regional and global developments. Several MoUs spanning economic, security and diplomatic domains are set to be signed during the visit, aimed at further enhancing cooperation between the two countries. Following the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Netanyahu will deliver joint statements to the media outlining the outcomes of their talks. 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.
26 February,2026 11:59 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSA former US Air Force officer who once flew some of America’s most advanced fighter jets has been arrested for allegedly training Chinese military pilots without authorisation, the Justice Department has said. Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, also known by the call sign “Runner,” was arrested in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He was charged by criminal complaint for providing and conspiring to provide defence services to Chinese military pilots in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. He is expected to appear before a Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Indiana on Thursday (local time). “The United States Air Force trained Major Brown to be an elite fighter pilot and entrusted him with the defence of our Nation. He now stands charged with training Chinese military pilots,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “When US persons, whether military or civilian, provide training to a foreign military, that activity is illegal unless they have a license from the State Department. The National Security Division will use all tools at its disposal to protect our military advantages and hold to account those who would violate the AECA,” he added. Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division said Brown, a former F-35 Lightning II instructor pilot, “allegedly betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect.” “The Chinese government continues to exploit the expertise of current and former members of the US armed forces to modernise China’s military capabilities,” he said. “This arrest serves as a warning that the FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to hold accountable anyone who collaborates with our adversaries to harm our service members and jeopardise our national security.” According to the complaint, Brown has conspired since August 2023 to provide combat aircraft training to pilots in the Chinese Air Force. The training was classified as a defence service under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Brown did not have the required licence from the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, federal prosecutors alleged. Brown served more than 24 years in the Air Force and left active duty in 1996 with the rank of Major. During his career, he commanded sensitive units with responsibility for nuclear weapons delivery systems and flew aircraft including the F-4 “Phantom II,” F-15 “Eagle,” F-16 “Fighting Falcon,” and A-10 “Thunderbolt II.” He later worked as a commercial cargo pilot and as a contract simulator instructor training US military pilots on the A-10 and F-35. Prosecutors said Brown began arranging a contract in August 2023 to train Chinese military pilots. He allegedly used a co-conspirator to negotiate with Stephen Su Bin, a Chinese national who in 2016 pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiring to hack major US defence contractors and steal sensitive military data for the People’s Republic of China. In December 2023, Brown travelled to China to begin training pilots. He remained there until early February 2026, when he returned to the United States. The charges follow similar allegations against former US Marine Corps pilot Daniel Edmund Duggan, who was charged in 2017 with providing defence services to Chinese military pilots without authorisation. Duggan was arrested in Australia in 2022 and is pending extradition. 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.
26 February,2026 11:08 AM IST | Washington | IANSNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed his nuclear-armed country could "completely destroy" South Korea if its security were threatened, reiterating his refusal to engage with Seoul, state media said Thursday. However, he left the door open to dialogue with Washington as he concluded a ruling party congress outlining his policy goals for the next five years. State media said that Kim also called for developing new weapons systems to bolster his nuclear-armed military, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that could be launched from underwater and an expanded arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons, such as artillery and short-range missiles, targeting South Korea. He said the accelerated development of his nuclear and missile program "permanently cemented" the country's status as a nuclear weapons state, and called for the United States to discard what he perceives as "hostile" policies toward the North as a precondition for resuming long-stalled dialogue. The Workers' Party congress, which began last Thursday in Pyongyang, comes as Kim carves out a more forceful regional presence, leveraging his expanding military nuclear program and a growing alignment with Moscow that have deepened his standoffs with Washington and Seoul. The official Korean Central News Agency said the North staged a military parade at the capital city on Wednesday as it wrapped up the congress, which Kim previously held in 2016 and 2021. Kim's comments at the congress were widely anticipated as he has been issuing increasingly hard-line views toward South Korea since 2024, when he discarded the North's long-standing goal of a peaceful reunification between the war-divided Koreas and declared the South as a permanent enemy. But analysts expected Kim to take a more measured approach toward Washington to preserve the possibility of future dialogue, with the long-term aim of securing US sanctions relief and tacit recognition as a nuclear state. Kim has recently been prioritising Russia in his foreign policy, sending thousands of troops and large amounts of military equipment to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, possibly in exchange for aid and military technology. But it would make sense to keep his options open as the war in Ukraine could wind down, potentially making North Korea less valuable to Moscow, experts say. In a report wrapping up the congress, Kim said his government was maintaining the "toughest stance" against Washington, but added there was "no reason we cannot get along" with the Americans if they withdrew their supposedly "hostile policy" toward the North. North Korea often uses the term to describe US-led pressure and sanctions over Kim's nuclear ambitions. His comments aligned with North Korea's previous position calling for Washington to abandon its demands for the North's denuclearisation as a precondition for resuming talks. North Korea has repeatedly rejected Washington and Seoul's calls to resume diplomacy aimed at winding down its nuclear program, which derailed in 2019 following the collapse of Kim's second summit with US President Donald Trump during his first term. The prospects of US-North Korea relations "depends entirely on the US attitude," Kim said. "Whether it's peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make." 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
26 February,2026 09:21 AM IST | Seoul | APThe Justice Department has said it was looking into whether it had improperly withheld documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files after several news organisations reported that some records involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump were not among those released to the public. The announcement on Wednesday followed news reports saying that a massive tranche of records released by the Justice Department did not include several summaries of interviews that the FBI conducted with an unidentified woman who came forward after Epstein's 2019 arrest and claimed to have been sexually assaulted by both Trump and Epstein when she was a minor in the 1980s. "Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing," the Justice Department said in a post on X. "As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production." Maxwell, Epstein's longtime confidant, is serving a 20-year prison sentence on a sex trafficking conviction. It said that if any document is found to have been improperly withheld and is responsive to the federally enacted law mandating the files' release, "the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law." At issue is a series of interviews said to have been conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. News reports from recent days say the accuser was interviewed by the FBI four times as it sought to assess her account but a summary of only one of those interviews was included in the publicly released files. The missing records were earlier reported by the journalist Roger Sollenberger on Substack and NPR, and have since been documented by other news organisations, including The New York Times, MS Now and CNN. Rep Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement that Democrats on the panel would investigate the withheld records. He said he had reviewed unredacted evidence logs and "can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews" with the accuser. The Justice Department last month said it was releasing more than 3 million pages of records related to Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The department said at the time that, though it was attempting to be transparent, it was also entitled to withhold records that exposed potential abuse victims, were duplicates or protected by legal privileges, or related to an ongoing criminal investigation. "Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already," the department said in a statement last month as it released the records. The redaction process was quickly revealed to have been flawed, with the department withdrawing some materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with a "substantial number" of documents identified independently by the government. Lawyers for Epstein accusers told a New York judge this month that the lives of nearly 100 victims had been "turned upside down" by sloppy redactions in the government's latest release of records. The exposed materials include nude photos showing the faces of potential victims as well as names, email addresses and other identifying information that was either unredacted or not fully obscured. Other uncorroborated claims against Trump and other public figures were included in the publicly available files. The department did not say in its social media post Wednesday why records related to this specific accusation might have been withheld. 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
26 February,2026 09:17 AM IST | Washington | APNew rules in force from Wednesday will see the UK transition to a digital transit system, including mandatory eVisas for Indian travellers and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for non-visa requiring visitors. The new procedure will replace paper-based visa stickers. While the new system will still involve a physical visit to the application centre for biometric registration, it will do away with the need to leave behind the passport during the processing period. 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
26 February,2026 08:57 AM IST | London | AgenciesPresident Donald Trump honoured a girl who suffered life-altering injuries in a multi-vehicle crash caused by an Indian truck driver, during his address to a joint session of the US Congress at the US Capitol on Tuesday, Trump said Dalilah Coleman was only five years old in June 2024 when an 18-wheel tractor-trailer rammed into her stationary car. Though Trump did not mention the identity of the driver, in August last year, Partap Singh was arrested for causing the crash in California. Coleman, accompanied by her father, was seated in the gallery of the House chamber along with other special guests. She received a standing ovation and thunderous applause from lawmakers, guests and attendees. Singh had illegally crossed the southern border in October 2022 and was “released” into the country by the Joe Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had said in a statement. 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
26 February,2026 08:55 AM IST | New York | AgenciesPrime 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 correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1772116821143_d.png "Modi, Netanyahu announce ‘Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership.' Pic/AFP")
-1772011291305_d.png "Israel President Isaac Herzog. Pic/X")