Freedom fighter and towering figure of the Communist movement, R. Nallakannu, passed away in Chennai on Wednesday (February 25, 2026). He was 101 years old. He was ailing for some time and was undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where he breathed his last. Fondly known as RNK in party circles, he chose to remain with the CPI when the Communist movement in India split in 1964 following the Indo-China war. He served as Tamil Nadu State secretary of the CPI for three tenures since 1992.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) to a red-carpet welcome with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara receiving the Indian leader at the Ben Gurion airport. Mr. Netanyahu greeted the Indian Prime Minister with a warm hug, following which Mr. Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport, located 20 km southeast of Tel Aviv. Mr. Modi also met with Mr. Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and is scheduled to depart for Jerusalem.
