National News

Chinese manjha, a sharp synthetic kite string, poses a deadly threat during Indian festivals, causing severe injuries and fatalities to motorcyclists and birds. Despite government bans and enforcement drives, its illegal sale persists, turning a cherished tradition into a recurring public safety crisis.

The meeting was held a few days after the results of Telangana Municipal Polls-2026 were announced

An Indian-origin man, exonerated after 43 years in prison for a murder conviction overturned due to withheld evidence, now faces deportation. Despite his release from state prison, he was immediately taken into federal immigration custody, with bail denied due to a decades-old minor drug felony.

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes pressure is affecting India's young opening batter Abhishek Sharma's T20 World Cup form, advising him to build his innings patiently rather than forcing big shots early. He also praised Shivam Dube's explosive batting and highlighted Varun Chakravarthy's crucial role as a key bowler for India.

The US government is reportedly planning to launch a website, freedom.gov, to display content banned by foreign governments, including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda. This initiative, led by Undersecretary Sarah Rogers, could strain relations with European allies and be perceived as an attempt to undermine national laws, despite past US efforts to promote free information access globally.

Inaugurating the AI Impact Summit’s plenary session, the prime minister said that AI heralds a “profound transformation” in history

K.V. Thomas, Kerala’s Special Representative with Cabinet rank in New Delhi, discusses the State’s political landscape, financial challenges, and prospects for the Left ahead of Assembly elections. He says Kerala has been pushed to ‘the brink of a financial crisis for political reasons’

The T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage is set with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, England, West Indies, New Zealand and South Africa qualifying. India topped Group A, while Australia were eliminated. The teams are split into two Super 8 groups, with fixtures across India and Sri Lanka from February 21 to March 1. The top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE, once close allies, are now locked in open rivalry, impacting the Yemen war, cross-border trade, and regional flashpoints. This strategic split challenges core assumptions about Gulf stability and investor confidence. The dispute, fueled by economic competition and differing regional visions, is escalating with potential for proxy conflicts and business friction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the global community at the AI Impact Summit to leverage technological disruption as humanity's greatest opportunity, emphasizing "right action" guided by "right understanding." The summit also saw the country's nameplate displayed as "Bharat," a recurring practice at official global events, sparking renewed discussion.

Grammy-winning artist SZA recently embarked on a personal spiritual journey in India, seeking stillness and balance beyond her demanding global career. Her visit included a silent retreat and participation in Mahashivratri at the Isha Yoga Center, showcasing a deep dive into mindfulness and cultural immersion.

K. Babu exudes confidence that his party will ‘shortlist the best candidate’ for the constituency and that UDF will win 2026 Assembly elections

IT & HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said the project marks a significant milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s clean-energy journey

South Africa's specialist consultant Albie Morkel lightened the mood ahead of their UAE clash, joking about his brother Morne's role with India. Albie's focus on yorkers and building confidence has bolstered the Proteas' formidable pace attack, with bowlers like Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen excelling. He credits Stephen Fleming for shaping his player-centric coaching approach.

Student welfare, university autonomy and AI integration form core of new policy framework

Speaking to the media, he said that the Vedanta group has announced the new proposal claiming it would have a lower carbon footprint. “Such a proposal would create apprehensions again, and the public may be victim to hazardous pollution,” he charged

Officials said the representations received within the prescribed time frame will be examined before finalising the rules