Four New Astronauts Arrive at the International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) has welcomed four new astronauts who will stay for eight to nine months. NASA’s Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway join France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev. The arrival follows NASA’s first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight last month. The new crew will conduct experiments and support station operations, while the health-related incident prompted renewed emphasis on crew safety and readiness. The ISS remains a platform for international cooperation in space research.
Crew: Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, Fedyaev
Mission duration: eight to nine months
Follows NASA’s first medical evacuation in 65 years
Crew conducts experiments and supports operations
Emphasis on crew safety and station readiness
India AI Impact Summit Begins Today; PM Modi Highlights Global Participation
The India AI Impact Summit begins today in New Delhi, attracting global participation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed participants and described the summit as a milestone for the Global South. The India AI Impact Expo 2026 runs from 16 to 20 February at Bharat Mandapam, with the Prime Minister inaugurating the expo at 1700 hours on Monday. The theme Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya reflects a shared commitment to human-centric AI progress. The event brings together world leaders, policymakers, researchers and industry players to discuss governance, standards and ethical AI deployment.
Expo runs 16–20 February; Modi inaugurates at 1700 hours
Theme: Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya
Global participation; leaders and researchers engaged
Focus on governance, standards and ethical AI
Highlights India’s role in global AI governance
India to Host First-Ever Global South AI Impact Summit 2026
New Delhi, 16 February 2026 — The AI Impact Summit 2026 opened in New Delhi at Bharat Mandapam, marking a historic moment as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. The five-day event brings together leaders and experts from more than 100 countries to discuss governance and cooperation on artificial intelligence. Ministerial delegations from over 45 nations are expected. India positions itself as a bridge between developed and developing nations to shape responsible AI policies. The summit will cover standards, safety, ethics, and international collaboration to guide AI deployment worldwide.
Five-day summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
First global AI summit in the Global South
Participants from 100+ countries; 45+ ministerial delegations
Focus on governance, standards, safety, and ethics
India positions itself as a hub for responsible AI policy
Feb 15, 2026
India Opens First National Biobank for Lysosomal Storage Disorders
India has launched its first government-supported national biobank dedicated to Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs). Researchers from 28 institutions across six states and two Union Territories have compiled data on 530 patients from 15 states. Funded by the Department of Biotechnology, the biobank integrates biological samples with clinical, biochemical, and genetic data to support affordable screening tools and therapies for LSDs in children. LSDs are a group of over 70 rare inherited metabolic conditions caused by enzyme deficiencies, which can lead to progressive organ damage. The biobank aims to accelerate diagnosis, research, and development of Indian-specific therapies.
National LSD biobank established
28 institutions across 6 states and 2 UTs involved
530 patients data across 15 states
Funded by the Department of Biotechnology
Aims to advance affordable diagnostics and therapies
Feb 14, 2026
India becomes world’s No. 2 smartphone market by active installed base
India has become the world’s second-largest active smartphone market, behind China, according to Counterpoint Research’s 2025 findings. The country now counts over 740 million active smartphones, representing more than half of its 1.45 billion population. The term active installed base denotes devices currently in use, not merely shipments. This milestone underscores India’s rapid digital growth, broad consumer base and a robust mobile ecosystem. Analysts highlight loyalty and long-term device usage as factors boosting the market. The trend has implications for data usage, app development and policy support aimed at further expanding digital inclusion and electronics manufacturing.
Rank: No. 2 globally in active smartphones
Active base: >740 million in India
Compared to: China (leader)
Definition: devices currently in use
Implications: digital inclusion, app markets, manufacturing
Source: Counterpoint Research, 2025 report
Feb 12, 2026
Kauvery Hospital Launches Robotic Beating Heart Bypass Surgery Programme
Bengaluru, 12 February 2026 — Kauvery Hospital has launched a beating‑heart coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) programme using the fourth‑generation da Vinci robotic system. The minimally invasive procedure allows surgeons to perform grafts through small keyhole incisions without stopping the heart or using a heart‑lung machine. This approach reduces surgical trauma and can shorten recovery times for patients with coronary artery disease. The programme is led by Arunkumar Krishnasamy, a senior robotic cardiac surgeon, and supported by a multidisciplinary team of anaesthesiologists, perfusionists, and critical care specialists. The development signals growth in robotic cardiac care in India.
UAE’s Electric Seagliders Could Cut Travel Time Between Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Abu Dhabi, 12 February 2026 — The UAE is advancing electric seagliders to reduce travel time between coastal cities. The concept combines high‑speed marine and aircraft technology with zero emissions. Prototypes are under development through government partnerships and private sector investment. If scaled, the seagliders could transform water travel and logistics in coastal zones, offering rapid, low‑pollution connections. Officials note the project aligns with national goals for sustainable transport and regional connectivity, though regulatory, safety, and infrastructure hurdles must be addressed before commercial deployment.
Electric seagliders under development
Potential Abu Dhabi–Dubai connection in minutes
Zero-emission, hybrid marine‑air tech
Public‑private partnerships drive R&D
Regulatory and safety hurdles remain
Feb 11, 2026
AI Impact Summit 2026 to Focus on Democratisation of AI
The AI Impact Summit 2026 will focus on democratisation of artificial intelligence, aiming for broad access to computing power, data repositories and AI models. The event aligns with India’s Viksit Bharat vision for 2047 and seeks involvement from startups, researchers and public institutions across regions. Organisers emphasise inclusive policy frameworks, affordable access to tools and responsible use of AI in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and governance. The summit will also discuss data governance, cybersecurity and ethics in AI deployment to ensure benefits are widely shared.
Summit centers on democratisation of AI
Promotes broad access to AI tools and data
Aligns with Viksit Bharat by 2047
Involves startups, researchers and public institutions
Addresses data governance, cybersecurity and ethics
New Dragonfly Species Lyriothemis keralensis Discovered in Kerala
Researchers confirm a new dragonfly species Lyriothemis keralensis from Kerala, known as the Slender Bombardier. The discovery adds to India’s insect biodiversity. Fieldwork spanned over a decade, led by Dattaprasad Sawant, A Vivek Chandran, Renjith Jacob Mathews and Krushnamegh Kunte. The species was first observed in 2013 in Varappetty, near Kothamangalam. The finding has been published in the International Journal of Odonatology. This marks a significant contribution to taxonomy and biodiversity studies in India’s southern biodiversity hotspot.
Lyriothemis keralensis described from Kerala
Commonly called Slender Bombardier
First observed in 2013 in Varappetty, Kerala
Research led by Sawant, Chandran, Mathews, Kunte
Published in International Journal of Odonatology
India Emerges as Global Leader in Enterprise AI Adoption
India strengthens its position in enterprise artificial intelligence adoption, ranking second globally after the United States in a new report by Zscaler ThreatLabz. The study analyzes nearly one trillion AI and machine learning transactions processed on the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform during 2025. The findings highlight rapid digital transformation across Indian industries but also point to cybersecurity risks as more organizations deploy advanced AI systems. The report suggests that robust security practices will be essential to sustain growth in AI usage and protect critical infrastructure.
India ranks second after the USA in enterprise AI adoption
Zscaler ThreatLabz 2026 AI Security Report
Approximately one trillion AI/ML transactions analyzed
Rapid digital transformation accompanied by cybersecurity risks
Emphasises strong security for AI deployment
Sansha Yongle Blue Hole Reveals Complex Ocean History
The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole, also known as the Dragon Hole, in the South China Sea has attracted long-running scientific interest. Earlier records named it the world’s deepest blue hole at about 301.19 metres, but a deeper site in Mexico has since surpassed it. Recent surveys show the Dragon Hole is not a straight shaft; it bends and tilts as it descends. The deepest point lies more than 100 metres horizontally from the surface opening. Studying its structure helps researchers understand past ocean chemistry and connectivity between marine ecosystems, making it a vital site for marine science.
Dragon Hole located in the South China Sea
Originally recorded as deepest at 301.19 m; surpassed by a Mexican site
Deepest point lies horizontally offset from surface
Hole is not a straight shaft; bends and tilts
Important for understanding ocean history and chemistry
Aditya Pandya Becomes India’s Youngest Male Analog Astronaut
Seventeen-year-old Aditya Pandya became India’s youngest male analog astronaut after completing a lunar-habitat-inspired mission by AAKA Space Studio. The mission ran from 1 to 8 February 2026 in the white plains of Dholavira, in Kutch. A four-member crew lived in a container-based lunar analog habitat to study isolation, crew dynamics and autonomous operations in a Moon-like environment. The program aims to advance India’s space research ecosystem and support future exploration by simulating real mission constraints and health monitoring under controlled conditions.
Aditya Pandya, 17, youngest Indian analog astronaut
AAKA Space Studio conducted the mission
February 1–8, 2026 in Dholavira, Kutch
Four-member crew lived in lunar analog habitat
Research focuses on isolation, operations and health
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