visakhapatnam l thursday l february 19, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Indians among students seeking compensation from 36 U.K. univs Around 500 Indians figure in a larger group of students seeking compensation for not receiving the level of education they paid for during Covid ‘Covid curbs affected quality of education’ Pre-class action suit letters sent While they paid for in-person teaching and access to university facilities like libraries and studios, their teaching was moved online and facilities were closed for lengthy periods during Covid, Student Group Claim, leading the action said. Fees for online degree courses in the UK are up to 50% less than in-person courses. Universities should have paid that difference, it said ■ ■ Pre-class action letters have been sent to 36 universities including Imperial College, LSE and King’s College London. Student Group Claim is inviting more students from 2020-21 year to join its action It comes as a confidential settlement was recently agreed by the University College London with about 6,000 of its students 20,000 international applicants are part of the class action suit CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Global investments, collabs Further Oppn pour in at A.I. Impact Summit slide expected in Microsoft, Google, Qualcomm line up to plug into India’s AI space RA K ESH K U M AR @ New Delhi the India AI Impact Summit 2026 has seen major stakeholders lining up to announce their plans to invest in and build on India’s AI ecosystem. While global majors Qualcomm and Microsoft announced significant investment plans, OpenAI and NVIDIA outlined new partnerships to strengthen the ecosystem and build AI infrastructure. Google also announced the America-India Connect initiative, a subsea cable project aimed at enhancing data connectivity between the US, India and the Southern Hemisphere. Qualcomm said it would invest $150 million to support India’s rapidly expanding techn o l o g y a n d AI s t a r t u p ecosystem. The announcement coincided with Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon’s participation in the AI summit, which has now been extended by a day till February 21. Microsoft plans to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to expand AI access across the Global South. Vice-chair and President Brad Smith and Vicepresident and Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton said urgent action is needed to prevent a widening AI divide from exacerbating global economic disparities. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the America-India Connect initiative, a subsea ca- Galgotias Univ chucked after robot dog byte RA K ESH K U M AR @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Google CEO Sundar Pichai in New Delhi | pti ble project to improve data connectivity between the US, India, and the broader Southern Hemisphere. The announcement followed his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We believe India is going to have an extraordinary trajectory with AI, and we want to be a partner. To help, we have launched new America-India Connect subsea cable routes, building on our $15 billion investment in India’s infrastructure, including a full-stack AI Hub in Vizag,” Pichai said. In addition, Google committed $30 million each for the Government Innovation Impact Challenge, aimed at supporting AI-powered government-to-cit- izen solutions, and the Science Impact Challenge, a global fund for researchers advancing scientific discovery using AI. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, announced a major initiative in India to integrate AI across higher education. The programme seeks to help students, faculty, and staff use AI tools responsibly to enhance learning, research, and creativity across disciplines including management, engineering, healthcare and creative arts. AI chip maker NVIDIA announced partnerships with Larsen & Toubro, Yotta Infrastructure, and E2E Networks to establish advanced ‘AI factories’ in India. THE government has asked Galgotias University, which showcased a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own creation at the India AI Impact Summit, to vacate its booth from the ongoing exhibition. MeitY secretary S Krishnan said the government expects companies to follow a defined code of conduct and will not encourage plagiarism or misinformation. “We don’t want any controversy around the exhibits being presented,” he said. When asked whether the products being showcased were verified or certified, he said these were not meant for sale. “Certification happens when something is meant for public distribution... If we start certifying everything that is exhibited, it could end up stifling innovation and creative work.” The controversy began after a professor from the university claimed in an interview that the AI-powered Chinese robodog was developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. Following backlash over the false claim, the university issued an apology saying its representative manning the pavilion was “ill-informed”. RS biennial polls seats), West Bengal (5), Ass a m ( 3 ) , H a r ya n a ( 2 ) , Riding high on its strong Himachal Pradesh (1) and showings in the Maharash- Bihar (5). In Maharashtra, tra and Bihar elections, the the ruling BJP-led alliance NDA appears set to make is likely to win six seats significant gains by winning while the opposition MVA at least half of the 37 Rajya may get one if they put up a Sabha seats going to bienni- united fight. The Congress, al polls on March 16. The IN- the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the DIA bloc may have NCP-SP are likely to to settle for 10, down lose one seat each. from 19 seats. In Tamil Nadu, Based on its legisthe ruling DMK is lative strength, the likely to retain four NDA is expected to of the six seats, win 15-18, while nine while the AIADMK of its MPs are retiris expected to secure No addition one. The remaining ing next month. The seats will fall The Congress is seat could see a keen vacant on April 2 contest. It is a matlikely to win and 9 following the ter of speculation if four seats — retirement of severDMK will agree to one each in al members, includthe Cong ress deTelangana, ing Rajya Sabha mand for one seat Himachal, deputy chair man amid strained ties. Chhattisgarh Harivansh (JDU), and Haryana — In Bengal, the rulNCP-SP’s Sharad Paing TMC is expected but will not war, for mer Lok to win four seats, have any Sabha deputy Speakand the BJP one. accretion as er M Thambidurai four of its MPs The CPI(M) is ex(AIADMK), DMK’s pected to lose its sole are retiring Tiruchi Siva, ConMP from the state. g re s s ’ A b h i s h e k Five seats will be Manu Singhvi and Union up for grabs in Bihar, with ministers Ram Nath Thakur RJD and JD(U) holding two (JDU) and Ramdas Athawale each and RLM one. The BJP (RPI-A). is expected to claim two The vacancies are spread seats and the RJD is set to across Maharashtra (7), Odi- lose both its seats. Notificasha (4), Telangana (2), Tamil tions for the polls will be isNadu (6), Chhattisgarh (2 sued on February 26. P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Int’l Fleet Review 2026 reflects global naval unity U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam Warships from India and friendly foreign nations formed stately columns off the Visakhapatnam coast on Wednesday as President Droupadi Murmu reviewed the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, a major maritime event showcasing naval strength, coordination and inter national cooperation. Sailing aboard the Presidential Yacht, INS Sumedha, the President, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, reviewed nearly 71 frontline ships, including warships and submarines anchored in ceremonial formation. She was accompanied by Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, senior military o f f i c i a l s, a n d i nv i t e d dignitaries. This was the 13th Fleet Review conducted after Independ- ence, and the third international edition hosted by India. Earlier international fleet reviews were held in Mumbai in 2001, and in Visakhapatnam in 2016. The review began with the President inspecting Columns 1 and 2, which comprised anchored vessels from the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and friendly foreign navies. Indian Navy ships in these columns included INS Tarangini, INS Khanjar, INS Kirch and INS Makar, along with Coast Guard ships such as ranji trophy Despite conceding lead, Madanapalle girl’s murder J&K enters historic final accused found dead in tank F i r o z M i r z a @ Chennai Until the middle of third day , the skies were still gloomy. Home team Bengal had taken the lead, Jammu and Kashmir were tottering on the brink. Only a miracle could have saved them. And it came in the form of Auqib Nabi and Sunil Kumar who took four wickets each to skittle Bengal out for just 99. A target of 126 was achievable. On Wednesday they scripted history. Their jour ney, though fairytale-ish, has had its share of struggles and trepidation. J&K head coach Ajay Sharma still remembers the day when conceding a first innings lead just by a solitary run deprived them a place in the Ranji Trophy semifinal last season. The last pair of Kerala added 81 runs much to the dismay of the J&K team taking their score to 281 — one run more than J&K’s first innings total of 280. That was J&K’s third entry into the last-eight stage in 66 years but it ended in a big heartbreak. And he hoped nothing liked that happened this time. J&K came back stronger this season and not only went past the quarterfinals but also made it to their maiden final beating Bengal by six wickets in Kalyani on Wednesday. “That pain was gone when we defeated Madhya Pradesh in Indore to make it to our first semifinal,” Sharma told this daily . For a side that started participating in the premier domestic competition in 1959-60 and waited 23 years for their first win, it’s a historic moment. Considered underdogs for decades, J&K made cricket connoisseurs sit up and take notice of them when they entered their maiden quarterfinals in 2013-14. Mismanagement and allegations of financial irregularities led to formation of a sub-committee that comprised Mithun Manhas till he was elected as the BCCI president. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as J&K not only got professional coaches but also saw talent hunt programmes P11 conducted regularly  . E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Tirupati in a major development in the rape and murder of 7-year-old S Rishika Priya at Neerugattuvaripalli in Madanapalle, the prime accused Kulavardhan was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Wednesday . Annamayya District Superintendent of Police K Dheeraj said the body of Kulavardhan was retrieved from Kanasanipalle tank near Angallu in Kurabalakota mandal. Preliminary investigation indicates that he died by suicide.  According to the police, the accused was taken into custody from his residence on Tuesday . While being shifted to the police sta- tion, Kulavardhan allegedly escaped from custody Following this, three . special teams were formed to trace him. Locals who noticed a body floating in Kanasanipalle tank, alerted police. The body was retrieved, and shifted to the government hospital in Madanapalle for post-mortem. The SP said despite the death of the accused, the probe into the girl’s murder will continue and all evidence will be collected as per legal procedure. Stringent measures will be taken to ensure the safety of women and children, he said.   Meanwhile, Rishika’s parents alleged that Kulavardhan’s mother Anjamma, and some of his friends, were also involved in their daughter’s rape and murder. girl’s funeral held in Kadapa village The funeral of S Rishika Priya, who was brutally assaulted and murdered in Madanapalle of Annamayya district, was held at her native village Ragimanudinnepalli in Veeraballi mandal of Kadapa district on Wednesday. It was held amidst tears and grief, with relatives arriving in large numbers from both Annamayya and Kadapa districts to pay their respects. Rajampet TDP president Sugavasi Prasad Babu and constituency in-charge Ch Jaganmohan Raju attended the funeral. Grieving family members and villagers demanded strict punishment to the accused Kulavardhan, and demanded action against his mother. They expressed doubts over police claim that Kulavardhan had died, insisting that they would only believe upon seeing his body. ICGS Sujay and ICGS Samudrapratap. Foreign vessels from Sri Lanka, Oman, Indonesia and Iran were also part of the anchored formation. Columns 3 and 4 featured the Parade of Sails and sailing columns, where vessels from India and friendly foreign navies steamed past the Presidential Yacht in ceremonial salute. These included ships from Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Africa, Bangladesh, RusP4 sia and the UAE.  2014 ordinance Formal Maha order nullifies 5% Muslim reservation Su d h i r s u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai The Maharashtra government has formally scrapped the 5% reservation for Muslims in government and semi-government jobs and education. According to a government resolution (GR) issued by the state social justice department on Tuesday night, a 5% reservation was granted to socially and educationally backward Muslim groups under the Special Backward Category in 2014 through an ordinance. However, this ordinance was not converted into a law by passing it through both Houses of the state legislature, and t h e re fo re, i t h a s l ap s e d automatically . The government has cancelled the earlier decisions and circulars from 2014 and stopped issuing caste and non-creamy layer certificates to Muslims in the Special Backward Category , the GR stated. The ordinance was issued by the Congress-led government of Prithviraj Chavan ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly elections, along with a 16% reservation to the Maratha community . The BJP came to power that year and the ordinance on Muslim reservation was not converted into law. The Congress on Wednesday accused the Devendra Fadnavis government of being against the welfare of minorities. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad termed the decision as “harmful to democracy” and said that it would push the Muslim community aw ay f r o m t h e s o c i a l mainstream. Former state Congress working committee member Naseem Khan said while the Congress-NCP government issued the ordinance in 2014, “the subsequent Devendra Fadnavis government did not take the process forward, and even after the Bombay High Court granted interim relief for 5 per cent educational reservation, its implementation was not ensured”.