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France has once again pushed to be a main destination for higher education Indian students. On February 19, French President Emmanuel Macron repeated the country's plan to have 30, 000 Indian students studying in France by 2030.

The target was initially revealed in 2023 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Paris for the National Day celebrations when he was the chief guest. After that, the French government has introduced several student- friendly measures to facilitate the movement of students for education between the two nations. Since then, French authorities have rolled out multiple student-friendly measures to accelerate academic mobility between the two countries.

The French Embassy in India has introduced a five-year short-stay Schengen visa facility and proposed “international classes” — preparatory programmes combining intensive French language training with academic coursework. The plan is aimed particularly at easing the transition for Indian students entering French universities.

Macron also revealed that the visa and administrative processes will be made simpler, especially for those working towards long term programmes such as doctoral research, thereby indicating France's desire to be a research centre for Indian students.

The major step in academic cooperation is the establishment of the AIIMS New DelhiSorbonne UniversityParis Brain Institute collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi also participating. The Indo, French Centre for AI in Health that has been opened by Macron and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda will concentrate on artificial intelligence, based medical research, brain health and clinical innovation.

Besides education, collaboration in strategic areas, Macron pointed out the need for technological self-reliance on which he revealed that India and France must create AI systems that they can trust together and thus, be less dependent on foreign technologies.

The move is part of a bigger diversification strategy and re-balancing of the partnership towards the research collaboration, student exchange, healthcare innovation and technology collaboration, thus making education a central pillar of the India, France relationship.

Ten Indian students represented the country at the prestigious Obninsk Tech Winter School 2026, an international nuclear technology programme that brought together 120 participants from 47 countries. The programme received over 350 global applications, from which only 120 students were selected — including the Indian contingent.

Organised from February 1 to 7 with the support of Rosatom at National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the initiative offered hands-on exposure to advanced nuclear science, engineering workshops and collaborative technical training alongside peers from around the world.

During the seven-day programme, students attended masterclasses, specialised lectures and sessions on emerging nuclear technologies under the AtomPRO educational project. The practical training covered key areas such as dosimetry, radiation monitoring, electronics and automation in nuclear power plants, electrical engineering systems, 3D modelling, non-destructive testing and materials science.

Participants also visited major scientific and industrial facilities in the Kaluga region, including the Rosatom Technical Academy, the State Research Center of the Russian Federation — IPPE, and the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Center, along with technology firms working in nuclear diagnostics and applied research.

The programme concluded with the “HackAtom” international championship, where student teams were challenged to develop solutions for the future of nuclear education within 24 hours. Proposed ideas included designing a master’s programme in nuclear waste management, creating an advanced nuclear education campus, and building a global career portal for engineering graduates.

An international team named “Prometheus,” comprising students from multiple global universities including NRNU MEPhI and Tsinghua University, emerged as the winner of the competition.

The participation of Indian students highlighted growing international academic collaboration in nuclear science and reflected rising interest among young engineers in advanced energy technologies and research careers.

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 has infused fresh enthusiasm among the country's youth, stressing that it is India's duty to equip the new generation with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled education.

Speaking at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national Capital, Pradhan said the event has drawn participation with great excitement and is focussed on two broad themes, 'AI in Education' and 'Education in AI,' covering the spectrum from traditional knowledge systems to modern technological advancements.

"By organising the AI Impact Summit, a new enthusiasm has been instilled in India's new generation. In fact, fees for 370 institutions were decided in a single meeting of May 20, 2025. Then, on June 17, 293 institutions were cleared, 244 on June 15, 224 on June 9, and finally, 178 more on December 10.

These figures were handed over to the legislator Pratap Grewal by Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar in a written reply which is the reason for political as well as public debates on transparency and fairness.

Medical education, particularly MBBS, is the crux of the problem as the figures are very high. The least fee for MBBS for the year 2025, 26 has been fixed at Rs 9 lakh and the highest at Rs 12.60 lakh. Hence, the tuition alone for the five, year course can be more than Rs 60 lakh, without counting hostel fees, books, equipment, and other expenses.

"One key vertical is how AI can impact education. "Any kid should have the freedom to ask whatever question that pops into their head, and without any hesitation, receive answers straight from an AI tool. This will help to clarify concepts, " he added.

Kamakoti pointed out that AI, powered educational tools have the potential to greatly help students, parents, teachers, and policymakers by enhancing accessibility, personalization, and quality of learning.

The summit convened policymakers, scholars, and technology experts to discuss the use of AI in transforming India's education system.

KGMU Signs International MoU with Canadian University to Boost Medical Research and Student Exchange King George's Medical University and the University of Manitoba have decided to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in medical education, research, and academic exchange. The MoU signing ceremony took place on Thursday at a function held in Brown Hall on the KGMU campus.

KGMU students will benefit from the collaboration as they will be able to avail the international exchange programme, specialised training, and joint research activities in Canada. Also, faculty members of the two universities will collaborate on research work and present their findings at international academic forums.

Vice chancellor Soniya Nityanand stated that the partnership is intended to broaden the academic exposure and enhance the research output. The agreement, she said, would allow the students to obtain clinical experience abroad and improve their learning in practice through advanced healthcare systems.

The MoU is anticipated to facilitate the exchange of latest medical technologies, evidence- based reproductive practices and global patient care standards. Working jointly with faculty members could additionally result in publish together, present at conferences and conduct training courses in new medicine fields.

University administrators are of the opinion that joint ventures with foreign universities will contribute to enhancing their reputation, create opportunities for research grants, and lead to an overall improvement in the quality of postgraduate education.

Besides that, the initiative also conforms to India's endeavor to make higher education globally recognized and to support academic mobility.

Recently, KGMU has been tremendously increasing its international exposure, and this MoU could be yet another example of Indian medical education being an important part of international research networks. The joint venture is likely to bring about advantages for students, scholars as well as patients by fostering innovation, sharing of knowledge and getting acquainted with varied medical practices.

As the focus on international academic partnership keeps growing, the alliance between KGMU and the University of Manitoba might be instrumental in equipping medical graduates to work in healthcare systems that are globally linked and in highly sophisticated clinical research settings.

According to data from the Ministry of Education, the number of Indian students going abroad for higher studies has been declining for the last three years. The Minister of State for Education, Sukanta Majumdar, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, revealed the information.

Majumdar provided data that at one time, over 908, 000 Indian students went abroad for higher studies till 2023, but this figure has fallen to 770, 000 in 2024, and to 626, 000 in 2025 respectively. The numbers are for the years 2023 and 2025 and were sourced from the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

The Minister of State quoted, "Going abroad for studies is usually a privilege of the person and depends on various factors such as the person's affordability, getting a bank loan, familiarizing oneself with foreign cultures, the person's aptitude for a particular subject, etc. The government also realizes that there is a global workplace, especially in the knowledge economy era, "

"Besides, the government is also looking at the diaspora as the major developers of the country by their sharing of knowledge and expertise." The Minister was quoted as saying that the government has implemented several measures consistent with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for the purpose of elevating higher education standards in India. The measures include efforts to upgrade facilities, strengthen accreditation, and promote research and innovation besides spreading digital education.

"As part of this, Foreign Universities have been allowed to set up their campuses in India to offer world class education in India. 14 foreign universities have been given the go ahead so far, whereas, five international universities have been allowed to conduct their operations in GIFT City in Gujarat, " Majumdar said.

The renowned Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics 2025 has been granted to CMS global collaboration over the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). As reported by Pars Today, this worldwide prize recognizes the team's outstanding work in identifying extremely rare phenomena that served as the basis for the in, depth comprehension of nature's most minute scales.

Among the recipients are researchers from the Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences (IPM) in Iran, who, as active members of the CMS collaboration, are recognized as part of this esteemed international award. This award is the result of the Iranian CMS team at one of the world's most advanced scientific laboratories having persevered for years in their scientific, technical, and operational work.

On another matter, at least a thousand citizens each in Sydney and Melbourne took to the streets to protest against the official visit of Isaac Herzog, head of the Israeli regime, to Australia. In Sydney, the police resorted to pepper spray to scatter the demonstrators, and some were also arrested. Even though the protests in Australia were limited due to judicial and security measures, the general public annoyed with Herzog's visit is nevertheless indicated by these protests.

Naim Qassem: With perseverance, there is no defeat

From Lebanon, Sheikh Naim Qassem, Secretary-General of Hezbollah, said in a speech at the inauguration of the Lebanon Medical Center: “With perseverance, there is no defeat.” He further elaborated that in terms of popularity, geography, and practicality, Lebanon has great potential which can give it a breakthrough to become a developed country.

Summarizing the major challenge Lebanon is facing, Sheikh Qassem stated that it is mainly a result of the combined attacks from Israel and the United States.

He stated it is a crucial country that besides still existing as an independent nation, has also reclaimed the lands and nowadays is a model of sacrifice and devotion.

Sheikh Qassem remarked: "We resist the enemy by our unity, power, and patience." Resistance, its people, and those with it have protected Lebanon for 42 years.”

Russia: Human Rights Council has become a political body

Continuing the criticisms from independent countries over the inaction of international organizations, Gennady Gatilov, Russia’s permanent representative at the United Nations office in Geneva, said that the Human Rights Council has become one of the most controversial and politicized UN bodies. He added that, due to the efforts of the West and its allies—who form the majority in the council—this human rights body has turned into a platform for political score-settling under the pretext of human rights, aimed at smearing countries deemed “undesirable”.

Joint statement by 8 Islamic countries condemning Israel’s illegal actions

The foreign ministers from eight countries Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar strongly condemned the decisions and actions of Israel that are illegal and that are aimed at imposing illegal sovereignty, consolidating settlement activities and implementing a new law in the West Bank that is designed to speed up the efforts for illegal annexation and the displacement of the Palestinian people. They pointed out that the Israeli regime has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories. These foreign ministers of the Arab and Islamic countries have issued a warning against Israel's continuous expansionist policies and illegal measures in the occupied West Bank that contribute to the eruption of violence and conflict in the region.