Morning Brief: Navy's Rafale Deal Awaits CCS Approval, Yunus In No Rush To Restore 'Democracy' In Bangladesh, China Turns Up Heat On US Tech Giants As Trade War Escalates; And More

Catch up on the day’s must-read stories with Swarajya's roundup of the morning's headlines.

Navy's Rafale Fighter Deal Awaits CCS Approval

As Prime Minister Modi reached Paris for the AI Summit on Monday (10 February), a report in the Times of India says the Rs 63,000 crore deal for 26 Rafale-M jets for the Navy is now awaiting final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The Rs 33,500 crore deal for three additional Scorpene-class submarines, to be built by Mazagon Docks in partnership with French Naval Group, will also be with the CCS soon. A source stated that the Rafale-M deal will be cleared after Modi’s France-US visit, with both agreements expected to be finalised before the end of the fiscal year on 31 March.

The Rafale-M jets will serve as an interim solution for INS Vikrant until India's Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter (TEDBF) is ready, with the first prototype set to fly by 2026. India has already inducted six Scorpene-class submarines. PM Modi will travel to Washington from Paris for talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

No Hurry For 'Democracy' In Bangladesh As Yunus Enjoys Spotlight

Brushing aside Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s calls for early elections, Muhammad Yunus has made it clear that he, and only he, will decide when Bangladesh votes—conveniently in December, just as he had planned. With political pressure mounting and unrest spiralling, Yunus remains unfazed, seemingly in no hurry to let go of power.

After a 90-minute meeting with BNP leaders, Yunus reassured them that his government is “working” on elections—just not anytime soon. BNP repeated that elections should be held by August, but Yunus, enjoying his extended stay at the top, clearly has other ideas. As violence escalates, his refusal to take responsibility is beginning to look less like leadership and more like a desperate attempt to cling to his throne.

China Turns Up Heat On US Tech Giants As Trade War Escalates

China is increasing pressure on US tech giants like Nvidia, Apple, and Google through regulatory hurdles and antitrust investigations in response to US trade restrictions. Beijing has delayed Synopsys’ $35 billion acquisition of Ansys, signaling its willingness to disrupt major deals in the semiconductor sector.

Nvidia, already restricted by US export controls, now faces additional scrutiny in China, while Apple is also under pressure due to its reliance on the Chinese market. These moves mirror US actions against Chinese firms like Huawei and broader efforts to limit China’s access to advanced technology. As both nations escalate restrictions, the trade war is pulling global tech giants deeper into economic conflict.

Other Developments

Adani Joins Hands With US' Mayo Clinic For Hospital Business

Adani Group has partnered with US-based Mayo Clinic to expand its healthcare business by establishing two major health campuses in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The group plans to invest at least Rs 6,000 crore to develop 1,000-bed multi-speciality hospitals along with medical research institutes. Reports suggest that the conglomerate will launch Adani Health City in Mumbai’s Kandivali, featuring a hospital, research facilities, and educational institutes. In the initial phase, Adani Group is expected to invest over Rs 10,000 crore to strengthen its healthcare venture and expand to other cities.

Tesla’s Grip On China’s EV Market Slips As BYD Surges

BYD, China’s largest automaker, is pulling ahead of Tesla in AI-driven vehicle technology, launching its "Eyes of God" system for mass-market models, including a $9,600 electric hatchback. Unlike Tesla, which faces regulatory hurdles in China, BYD is leveraging its vast fleet to collect data and enhance its self-driving capabilities. Founder Wang Chuanfu compared BYD’s data advantage to an "ocean" versus a "drop of water," highlighting the company's dominance in AI training. BYD’s stock surged 17 per cent ahead of the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in its lead. While Tesla sold around 660,000 cars in China last year, up just 9 per cent, BYD’s sales jumped 37 per cent to 3.7 million, solidifying its edge in the EV market.

Palestinians Can't Return After US Takes Over Gaza: Trump

US President Donald Trump has stated that Palestinians will have no right of return to Gaza under his proposed takeover plan, calling it a "real estate development for the future." In an interview with Fox News, he suggested relocating Palestinians to six different sites outside Gaza, arguing that the enclave is uninhabitable after Israeli military operations. Trump first announced the plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sparking outrage among Palestinians and criticism from the international community. He emphasised that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians and that he would build "beautiful communities" for them. 

From The States

Mamata Rules Out Alliance With Congress For Bengal 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has declared that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will contest the 2026 assembly elections alone, ruling out any alliance with Congress or other parties. Speaking to party MLAs, she criticised Congress for not supporting AAP in Delhi, blaming them for BJP’s victory. Banerjee expressed confidence in winning a fourth consecutive term with a two-thirds majority. She also urged like-minded parties to prevent opposition vote division, warning it could weaken the INDI alliance against the BJP nationally. Her statement follows her push for a leadership role in the alliance, which Congress has rejected despite support from leaders like Lalu Yadav.

Kejriwal Summons Mann As Rumours Swirl 

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has summoned Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, ministers, and MLAs to Delhi for a meeting on Tuesday, sparking speculation about internal turmoil. While AAP insists the meeting is for organizational discussions and feedback, rivals claim it is a step toward removing Mann from the CM post.

BJP leader Tarun Chugh declared that the "countdown" for Mann’s government has begun, while Congress's Partap Singh Bajwa claimed over 30 AAP MLAs are in touch with his party. Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa predicted mid-term elections in Punjab, depending on how many AAP MLAs defect. Despite the rumors, AAP dismissed the claims as baseless, calling them political fearmongering.

Blacklisted Firm Supplied Adulterated Ghee To Tirupati

A blacklisted firm, Bhole Baba Organic Dairy, allegedly supplied adulterated ghee to the Lord Venkateswara Temple through proxies, according to a Special Investigation Team remand report, The Indian Express has reported. Despite being disqualified by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) in 2022, the firm continued supplying ghee via Vaishnavi Dairy and AR Dairy. TTD, which uses 15,000 kg of ghee for its famous laddu prasadam, unknowingly received the adulterated product.

The report, filed in court, names four accused. Bhole Baba Dairy supplied ghee to TTD until 2022 when it was disqualified for unsatisfactory manufacturing practices. Despite this, TTD continued purchasing ghee from its proxy firms.

Follow along for more updates throughout the day.