Google has unveiled Gemini 3.1 Pro, a powerful AI upgrade emphasizing enhanced reasoning for complex tasks. This new model excels at synthesizing data, generating animated SVGs from text, and tackling intricate technical problems. It significantly outperforms previous versions on key benchmarks, promising a leap in AI capabilities for both consumers and developers.

Google has launched Gemini 3.1 Pro, a significant update to its flagship AI model focused on sharper reasoning and better handling of complex, multi-step tasks. The model is rolling out today across the Gemini app, NotebookLM, and developer platforms including Google AI Studio, Vertex AI, and Antigravity.

Google Gemini 3.1 Pro features: What the upgrade actually brings

This is Google’s first-ever .1 increment—previous cycles used .5 as the mid-year refresh. The naming signals a focused intelligence upgrade rather than a broad feature expansion. At its core, 3.1 Pro brings the advanced reasoning engine introduced in Gemini 3 Deep Think last week to a much wider audience.Google describes the model as built for situations where “a simple answer isn’t enough.” In practice, that means handling things like synthesising large datasets into a single view, generating animated SVGs directly from a text prompt, or working through layered technical and scientific problems. The animated SVG capability is a neat example—outputs are built in pure code rather than pixels, meaning they stay crisp at any scale with tiny file sizes compared to traditional video.

Google Gemini 3.1 Pro vs OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude: What the numbers say

The headline figure is a 77.1% score on ARC-AGI-2, a benchmark that tests abstract reasoning on entirely new logic patterns. That’s more than double Gemini 3 Pro’s score—a meaningful jump. Elsewhere, 3.1 Pro scores 94.3% on GPQA Diamond (scientific knowledge), 80.6% on SWE-Bench Verified (agentic coding), and 85.9% on BrowseComp (agentic search). On LiveCodeBench Pro’s competitive coding Elo, it sits at 2887—notably ahead of rivals.

Google Gemini 3.1 Pro: How to access it right now

Gemini 3.1 Pro is launching in preview while Google validates performance, particularly around agentic workflows. Consumers can access it through the Gemini app and NotebookLM, with higher usage limits for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers. Developers get access via the Gemini API in Google AI Studio, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, Vertex AI, Gemini Enterprise, and Android Studio. General availability is expected soon.

US President Donald Trump (AP photo)

NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Thursday once again boasted about his tariff-centred approach to peace negotiations. Speaking at an event of his self-styled UN-like body, the “Board of Peace,” he referred to the India-Pakistan military tensions of May 2025 and claimed he had threatened to impose “200 per cent tariff” on both countries if they had continued fighting.His remarks came in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who attended the Board of Peace event.

Trump praised his own role and cited Sharif’s statement as validation of his peace efforts. He also claimed he had saved 25 million lives when he “stopped war” between the two nuclear-armed nations, saying the “war was raging.”At the Board of Peace event, US President Donald Trump said, “…He (Pakistani PM) said in front of our Chief of Staff that President Trump saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between us and India…That war was raging. Planes were being shot down. And I got on the phone with both of them, and I knew them a little bit. I knew Prime Minister Modi very well…I called them and I said, listen, I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up... And all of a sudden, we worked out a deal. I said, if you fight, I’m going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries. They both wanted to fight. But when it came to money, it’s nothing like money. When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we don’t want to fight…11 jets were shot down. Very expensive jets…”Trump delivered these remarks at the first meeting of the Board of Peace, his initiative aimed at promoting global peace. Invitations for membership were sent to several countries, including India.Pakistan immediately joined the Trump-led “Board of Peace.” Islamabad has also aligned itself with Trump’s narrative. Its army chief Asim Munir and PM Sharif have earlier nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize, acknowledging his claimed efforts for peace.India, however, has distanced itself from Trump’s claims of mediation in easing tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had clarified that no foreign power mediated the India-Pakistan military situation of May 2025.

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) confirmed on Thursday that the upcoming Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir will be played in Hubballi. The move has been made to allow safety upgrade work at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to progress faster.The final will begin on February 24.“KSCA had the option of hosting this prestigious final either at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, or at the KSCA Hubballi grounds. After careful evaluation and detailed consultations, the Association, in coordination with the Board of Control for Cricket in India, has taken a considered and strategic decision to stage the final at Hubballi,” said Vinay Mruthyunjaya, the KSCA official spokesperson.He said infrastructure and safety upgrade work is in progress at the Bengaluru venue as per recommendations of a state-appointed expert committee and other authorities.“Several spectator gates and access points are currently being dismantled and widened, along with other critical improvement works.”“In view of these ongoing developments, it would not have been feasible to ensure the high-quality match-viewing experience and spectator convenience that a marquee fixture such as the Ranji Trophy Final deserves,” said Mruthyunjaya.He added that the shift also allows a major match to be staged outside Bengaluru, in line with the vision of the newly elected KSCA managing committee led by Venkatesh Prasad.“This initiative is aimed at promoting cricket across the State, nurturing regional fan engagement, and strengthening the sporting ecosystem beyond Bengaluru,” he added.

NEW DELHI: French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday dismissed the criticisms on Rafale deal with India, saying that it only made “your country stronger”.“We are always increasing indigenous components. It’s part of the dialogue between the company and your government. I don’t see how people can criticise because it makes your country stronger, it increases the strategic coordination between us, and it creates more jobs here,” he said, speaking to the reporters.“Very clearly, we are extremely committed to having the maximum number of Indian components and manufacturing the maximum number of critical devices in India,” he added.“The Indians, who are currently customers, want to co-produce with us; we have seen the Rafale here, but they want to co-produce combat aircraft in India. They want to handle more of the maintenance, which is legitimate,” Macron said.Defence ministry, earlier this month, cleared the path for what officials describe as the “mother of all defence deals,” with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approving the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France.

Why it matters for India

The deal marks a major step in strengthening the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) combat capability at a critical juncture. Although the United States and Russia had offered their fifth-generation fighters — the F-35 and Su-57 — defence planners ultimately viewed the Dassault Rafale as a proven, combat-ready platform capable of being inducted without the long timelines associated with newer-generation aircraft.The decision comes as India works to bridge a widening capability gap. While New Delhi has placed orders for 180 Tejas Mark 1A jets under its indigenous programme, production delays linked to engine supplies have slowed deliveries. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), India’s proposed fifth-generation stealth fighter, is not expected to enter operational service before the mid-2030s. In that context, the Rafale acquisition serves as a critical stopgap, ensuring the IAF maintains squadron strength and technological superiority during the transition.The Rafale’s operational value has already been demonstrated. During Operation Sindoor, Rafale jets deployed 250-km-range SCALP cruise missiles in precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan’s Muridke and Bahawalpur districts. The missile system — guided by inertial navigation, GPS, terrain-referenced navigation and an infrared imaging seeker — enabled deep-penetration attacks with high accuracy.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” Buckingham Palace said last year. His elder brother King Charles III’s decision to strip him off the royal titles came in the wake of scandal surrounding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. It began with a photograph. In March 2001, he was pictured in London with Virginia Giuffre — then known as Virginia Roberts — and Ghislaine Maxwell, in an image allegedly taken by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. At the time, the photo drew little public attention. That would change years later, as Epstein’s criminal history resurfaced and allegations against powerful associates intensified.

Image credit: Nina (@ShakeLS X account) Scrutiny deepened in December 2010 when Andrew was photographed walking with Epstein in New York’s Central Park, shortly after Epstein’s release from prison following a sexual offence conviction. The image triggered backlash in Britain. In 2011, the Daily Mail published an interview with Giuffre alongside the 2001 photograph. Although the article stopped short of directly accusing Andrew of misconduct, it propelled allegations into mainstream. Days later, Andrew allegedly emailed Epstein saying “we’re in this together” and “we’ll play some more soon,” referencing the negative press — messages that would later resurface in court filings, ABC news reported. The controversy escalated in January 2015, when allegations that Andrew had sex with a minor were made public as part of a US lawsuit involving Epstein. That same month, the Daily Mail identified Giuffre as the alleged victim and detailed the claims. Andrew repeatedly denied wrongdoing. Matters intensified again in July 2019 when Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges. After Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019, attention shifted sharply to his high-profile connections.

Andrew decides to step back from public duties

In November 2019, Andrew sought to quell the storm with a lengthy television interview on the BBC, denying the sexual abuse allegations, questioning the authenticity of the 2001 photograph and asserting that he had cut ties with Epstein in December 2010. The interview was widely criticized. Within days, Andrew announced he would step back from public duties “for the foreseeable future,” acknowledging that his association with Epstein had become “a major disruption” to the royal family.

Ex-prince stripped off military titles, royal patronages

Legal pressure mounted in September 2021 when Giuffre filed a civil sexual assault lawsuit against Andrew in the United States. Although British police said in October 2021 they would take no further action after reviewing available evidence, a US judge in January 2022 rejected Andrew’s attempt to dismiss the civil case. Shortly afterward, he was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages, though he retained his status as a prince and the Duke of York.In 2022 he agreed to pay Giuffre millions of dollars to settle her civil sexual assault lawsuit against him. The fallout continued in subsequent years. In 2024, reports emerged that Andrew would have to personally fund the upkeep of the 30-room Royal Lodge if he wished to remain there. Later disclosures in 2025 of court documents revealing an email stating “we’re in this together” — believed by British media to have been sent by Andrew — reignited scrutiny.

Giuffre dies

The death of Virginia Giuffre in April 2025, described by her family as a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking,” closed a tragic chapter but did little to quiet debate over Andrew’s conduct and the monarchy’s handling of the scandal. Taken together, the sequence of allegations, legal battles and public missteps gradually eroded Andrew’s official role within the royal family.Andrew was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office as part of an investigation linked to his association with Jeffrey Epstein. He is believed to be the first senior member of the modern British royal family to be taken into police custody. Born in 1960, Andrew was the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, while his older brother Charles was heir to the throne. Like many younger royal sons before him, Andrew followed a traditional path into military service, only to be stripped off those titles later. While he remains a prince by birth, the Epstein saga effectively ended his public career — a dramatic fall precipitated not by a single event, but by years of mounting controversy.The ongoing police inquiry comes after newly released files connected to Jeffrey Epstein indicating that Andrew may have shared official government documents with the financier during his time as a trade envoy. He has not been charged with any offence and has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to his ties to Epstein.

Undated photo, released and redacted by the US DoJ as part of Epstein files. Andrew leaning over an unidentified person (Image credit: AP)

What happens when a man decides to quit his high-paying IT job to become a farmer? But this is not another quit-your-job and get-rich-fast story. This is a story that began on a small terrace in Delhi where moringa seeds sprouted beside household greens turned the world of an engineer upside down and how. These moringa seeds were planted by Jitender Mann which did it as a small experiment to take care of his health. But then, he did not know his experiment would turn him into an entrepreneur and earn him name, fame and of course money.Today, Jitender along with his wife Sarla Mann is running a successful moringa farming and related products business from their ancestral village in Mehmudpur, Sonipat, Haryana. With this, the couple is generating nearly ₹30 lakh a year. They are selling organic products across India, the USA, and the UAE. But success has no shortcuts. To reach here, they worked hard every day and believed in themselves on the hardest days to keep going.Journey from techie to farmerBefore switching his career, Jitender used to work at one of India’s largest IT firms which earned him a steady salary (around a lakh per month). He worked there for over a decade and was comfortable. But as he entered his 40s, the city-life took a toll on his body. He started suffering from high blood pressure, continuous joint pains, and a chemical-rich food.“I was healthy in theory,” he later reflected in an interview in The Better India, “but what I consumed and how I lived was slowly breaking me. I am not an expert, but I believe everything is related to the food we eat.”Jitender had lived in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi. He observed one thing which was concerning: thyroid disorders and high blood pressure was a common issue everywhere. He, himself, was suffering from lifestyle diseases. “My blood pressure was 160. It was a wake-up call for me,” he added.This is when he decided to grow his own food and planted vegetables and moringa on his terrace. And moringa turned out to be a game changing idea. This drought-resilient tree is known among nutrition scientists for being rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.Two years without returns and zero chemicals

Canva

In the year 2017, Jitender and Sarla decided to leave Delhi for good and move to their ancestral village. They gave up their life in the city and modern comforts along with a ₹1 lakh-per-month to grow their moringa. On their two acres of land, they planted moringa, not for money, not for fame, only for soil health and personal conviction. But what happened next was the turning point. For two years straight, they had no earnings at all.But the couple was adamant to not use chemicals and pesticides or any kind of synthetic fertilisers on their farm. Instead, they took care of the soil. They started working with nature. Some of the soil preparation practices they adopted are known for regenerative agriculture techniques. These techniques are now getting popular on an international level. “We were clear: this had to be chemical-free,” Sarla said, underlining that soil health was more important than anything else. So the couple embraced slow returns, no rush, no hurry, no pesticides.Two years later, they began harvesting leaves. They would dry them carefully, and make moringa powder under their brand, Husband Wife Farm. Initially, the sales were decent and mostly were from word of mouth. Their friends and neighbors were supportive of their cause. But their business expanded in urban wellness circuits in Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, to name a few.What worked

Canva

What worked for them was unlike other moringa brands who were competing for low cost, Jitender and Sarla talked about quality products which are not bitter, chemical free and fully traceable organic. They started selling leaf powder and capsules to beetroot mixes, all under the premium product section.By fiscal year 2024, the turnover was of around ₹30 lakh (domestic and international). Another remarkable aspect of their business was they never hired big marketing agencies. Most customers found them through honest testimonials and genuine changes in digestion and immunity.Today, Jitender is not only leading a business, he is leading a dialogue and changing narratives.

Britain’s ex-Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, the BBC reported, marking the first time the Duke of York has been detained in connection with allegations linked to his public role, amid constant scrutiny over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, commonly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

He turns 66 today. The BBC said it was unclear which police force carried out the arrest, though vehicles believed to be unmarked police cars were seen earlier at Sandringham in Norfolk, where he has been living since leaving his Windsor residence.In a statement issued on Wednesday, Thames Valley Police said: “As part of the investigation, we have today (Thursday) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.“The man remains in police custody at this time.”“We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance. Please also remember that this case is now active so care should be taken with any publication to avoid being in contempt of court.”Assistant chief Constable Oliver Wright said: “Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.“It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence.“We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”The arrest relates to an active investigation, and authorities have not disclosed specific details of the alleged offence.The Duke of York has previously faced scrutiny over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.According to AFP, some new revelations last week appeared to show Andrew sent Epstein potentially confidential documents during his time as a UK trade envoy. Police said further updates would be provided at an appropriate time as the investigation continues.

Canada’s immigration minister – Lena Metlege Diab, last night announced new Express Entry immigration categories for 2026. The writing on the wall is clear: the focus is on ‘bringing in the right people to help build a stronger future’. In this backdrop, immigration experts expect that Express Entry draws (the point-based pathway to enable skilled applicants to gain permanent residency) will focus on ‘category-based’ draws. With Canada’s continued emphasis on boosting Francophone immigration, several French-language proficiency draws are also likely to be held this year.The first Express Entry category draw for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience, will be held in the coming days. Diab also announced the addition of targeted Express Entry pathways for researchers and senior managers with Canadian experience, transport-sector workers such as pilots and aircraft mechanics, and skilled foreign military recruits for specialised roles (such as doctors, nurses and pilots).“By providing a clear path to permanent residence, we’re supporting the broader federal efforts to drive innovation and growth, including a $1.7 billion initiative announced in Dec by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to attract world-leading researchers to Canada,” said Diab.At the same time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), will continue category-based draws for candidates with strong French-language skills and for workers in existing priority sectors, including healthcare and social services professions (such as nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors) and skilled ‘trades’ such as carpenters, plumbers and machinists and STEM-related occupations.“We’ll support education occupations: science, technology, engineering, and math. The STEM categories include engineers and cybersecurity specialists. Tomorrow’s economy will be driven by innovation and technologies like artificial intelligence. Growing these industries creates jobs and opportunities for the future,” said the Minister.For Indians aspirants from the tech sector, the continued encouragement to candidates in the STEM field is good news, however immigration experts are quick to point out that cooks no longer fall in the ‘trade’ category.However, in 2025, only one ‘trade’ occupation draw was held in September. Further, several cooks from India have been successful under the Canadian Experience Class draws. The route was: study in the hospitality stream in Canada, work as a cook under the post graduate work program, gain a year’s experience and qualify as eligible for CEC draws. This option remains open, but today such draws are subject to high cut-off scores.Under updated rules, the minimum work-experience requirement for occupational categories has been raised to one year within the past three years, compared with the earlier six-month requirement, though the experience no longer needs to be continuous.Also read: A guide to Canadian permanent residenceDiab stressed that, “IRCC’s effort to attract talent is part of our government’s International Talent Attraction Strategy. We’re not waiting for the right people to find us. We’re going out into the world to recruit the people our country needs, connect them with Canadian employers, and highlight why Canada is the best place in the world to build their careers and lives.”“Employers can plan, hire and invest with confidence, with an Express Entry program that functions effectively for them,” she added.The announcement comes as Canada recalibrates immigration levels following high inflows a few years ago, while this helped address labour shortages – especially during the pandemic – it also added pressure on housing, infrastructure and social services. The government has since moved to stabilise the system and reduce immigrant intakes.As of Jan 1, Canada had paused its start-up visa program. When asked about it, Diab mentioned that consultations are ongoing to determine how it should function, going forward.

Albie Morkel (L) with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada during a training session at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: Ahead of their final Group D encounter against the United Arab Emirates, South Africa’s specialist consultant Albie Morkel brought a touch of humour to the press conference. Asked if he exchanges coaching ideas with his younger brother and Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel, the 44-year-old initially put on a serious face before breaking into a grin and saying, “No, we don’t talk to each other (laughs). I think my mother is more worried than us. She doesn’t know who to support, India or South Africa.”With South Africa facing India in their first Super Eight contest at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, the “rivalry” between the Protea brothers will be something worth keeping an eye on.

Since Morne took over as India’s bowling coach as part of head coach Gautam Gambhir’s support staff, some of the team’s individual pace-bowling performances have noticeably improved. His behind-the-scenes work with players like Shivam Dube has refined the player’s role in the side.Albie, three years older than Morne, appears to be settling into his position as a specialist consultant with South Africa, which, according to the former fast-bowling all-rounder, is primarily bowling-oriented.“Yes, it has been an interesting term, specialist consultant. I had to figure it out myself a little bit. But of course, it’s anything that helps the team do well in the World Cup. I do a bit of both batting and fielding, mostly focused around the bowling for now. I do some work with our all-rounders, swingers, and stuff like that,” Albie, who was brought into the role just before the T20 World Cup, explained.His work with the pacers has paid dividends for the 2024 T20 World Cup runners-up, with fast bowlers accounting for most wickets, including two all-rounders.

South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Even as Kagiso Rabada (two wickets in four matches) has struggled for rhythm, Lungi Ngidi (8 wickets), Marco Jansen (7 wickets), and Corbin Bosch (5 wickets) have kept the pace attack formidable.“It’s a privilege to be with a team with such incredible fast bowlers. The standards between the entire bowling lineup is really, really high. And it’s something we feed off well off each other,” Bosch, the Player of the Match for his figures of 3/12 agaist the UAE, told reporters during the post-match press conference.“I think this is the first time we’ve all played as a collective, so it’s still getting to know how we operate as a unit. But we’ve done fantastically so far, and there’s no extra pressure.”

South Africa’s Corbin Bosch bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Listening to Bosch, there is a clear indication that Albie has already made an impact in this short time, and from Albie’s own words, it is evident he knows what he is doing off the field.“Look, I think we first have to start where our guys play their T20 cricket most in South Africa. And the wickets there, how do I put it nicely? It’s not the best suited for T20 cricket. So guys get away with a lot in South Africa,” he said.“When you get over here (in India), especially at this time of the year, where the wickets are still good before the summer, your variations, your slow balls and all those type of things, they don’t play such a big role.“So it’s really focusing on nailing your yorkers. And I feel that’s a skill that’s sort of disappeared, not only with us, but with most teams in the world. If I ask who’s the best death bowler in the world, you can probably name one, Jasprit Bumrah. He has got a very good yorker.”