FirstUp: Macron to meet PM Modi in Mumbai, Tarique Rahman to take oath as Bangladesh PM

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai today (February 17) to launch the ‘India-France Year of Innovation’ and discuss strategic cooperation, expected to focus on artificial intelligence (AI), technology partnerships, defence collaboration, and the Indo-Pacific.

In other news, India will be represented by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as Bangladesh’s prime minister today in Dhaka.

Read this and more of the big news from across the world today.

Modi-Macron meet

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mumbai yesterday (February 16). He is on a three-day visit to India from February 17-19. The French President will meet Modi today, hold talks with the PM and engage with business leaders, researchers, and innovators from India and France in Mumbai.

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He is expected to attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday (February 19).

This is Macron’s fourth visit to India and follows his 2024 visit, when he attended the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.

Last year, Modi and Macron co-chaired the AI Action Summit in France, in which they were joined by participants from more than 100 countries, including government leaders, to develop an open, multi-stakeholder, and inclusive approach that will enable AI to be human rights-based, human-centric, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy technology.

Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in ceremony

The swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister is scheduled for today.

Rahman, who also leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to assume office after his party secured a sweeping victory in the first national election held following the ouster of former premier Sheikh Hasina in 2024.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will represent India at Tarique Rahman's swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka. File image/Reuters

India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will represent New Delhi at the event.

Modi, who was invited to attend, will be unable to do so due to a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai.

The BNP said invitations have also been sent to leaders from China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, highlighting the event’s regional significance.

Ukraine, Russia & US to meet in Geneva

Today, representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States are set to meet in Geneva, Switzerland. The trilateral negotiations are being held to end the four-year war.

Yesterday, Ukraine’s Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov posted on his Telegram channel saying, "On the way to Geneva. The next round of negotiations is ahead. Along the way, we will discuss the lessons of our history with our colleagues, seek the right conclusions," as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "I hope trilateral talks in Geneva will be serious, substantive, and helpful for all of us."

“But honestly, sometimes it feels like the sides are talking about completely different things," he added, the media outlet reported.

US-Iran talks in Geneva

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, is in Geneva. The second round of negotiations with the United States is set take place today. Oman is mediating the "indirect" Iran-US nuclear talks, according to Tehran.

Washington has earlier sought to broaden discussions to include issues such as Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for regional proxy groups.

Tehran and Washington resumed talks this month after earlier negotiations collapsed following an unprecedented Israeli bombing campaign against Iran last June.

Chinese New Year 2026

Chinese New Year 2026 begins today, marking the start of the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse.

Chinese New Year 2026 begins today, welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse. File image/Reuters

Celebrated by millions across Asia and beyond, the Spring Festival is more than a date on the calendar. It symbolises renewal, family reunions, and fresh beginnings rooted in centuries of tradition and Chinese astrology.

This year, the festival falls on Tuesday, which is today (February 17), beginning with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. Official public holidays will be observed from February 15 to 23, with festivities concluding on March 3 with the Lantern Festival.

Govt set to launch Bharat-VISTAAR today

The Centre is set to launch Bharat-VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated System to Access Agricultural Resources), an AI-powered multilingual platform that will provide farm-related information directly to farmers through mobile phones or voice calls.

The initiative will be formally unveiled in Jaipur by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the initiative in the Union Budget 2026-27, allocating Rs 150 crore for its implementation in the next financial year.

With inputs from agencies