Times of India

The political tension in Delhi escalates as the AAP and BJP clash over accusations regarding the renovation of the Chief Minister's bungalow. AAP leaders tried to inspect the disputed property but were blocked by police, leading to heated exchanges. The BJP condemns the AAP's actions as anarchy, while AAP counters with allegations of baseless claims.

Jasprit Bumrah retains his top spot in the ICC Men's Test Bowling Rankings with a career-best rating of 908, despite missing bowling in the second innings of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy finale. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja also secure significant positions in the rankings, while Australia's Scott Boland and South Africa's Kagiso Rabada make notable gains.

A high-stakes chase led by Nashik Police resulted in the capture of drug traffickers and the seizure of 28 kg of ganja. The pursuit, which began when a car sped past a checkpoint, involved eight patrol vans and ended near Chakradhar Swami Mandir. Officers were commended for their swift action and strategic planning in apprehending the suspects.

Several individuals were injured when an elephant turned violent during the BP Angadi 'Nercha' at Tirur in Malappuram, Kerala. The incident, captured on video, shows the elephant picking up and hurling a man. This occurred during the annual 'Nercha' feast at the Pattambi Mosque, which commemorates a revered Muslim saint and attracts thousands of devotees.

Prominent businessman Boby Chemmanur was detained by a Special Investigation Team in Wayanad for allegedly sexually harassing Malayalam actress Honey Rose. The SIT was created to investigate allegations against Chemmanur, who faces non-bailable charges. Rose stated that she reported the issue to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who assured strict action.

Congress has announced a Rs 25 lakh health insurance scheme named 'Jeevan Raksha Yojna' for Delhi if they come into power. This is part of their effort to regain political relevance. Elections are set for February 5, with results on February 8. The party is also promoting other welfare schemes to attract voters.

BJP accuses Arvind Kejriwal of deviating from his promise of living modestly and instead building a lavish 52-crore residence with taxpayer money. AAP's Sanjay Singh challenges BJP, highlighting PM Modi's ₹2,700 crore residence. BJP alleges misuse of public funds, while AAP defends the CM's official residence renovations.

With the ICC Champions Trophy just over a month away, significant construction work at key Pakistani stadiums remains incomplete. The ICC are set to conduct status checks and discussing contingencies, due to the ongoing infrastructural delays and challenging weather conditions in Pakistan. The tournament begins on 19 February.

Elon Musk has stirred European politics by backing far-right movements and criticizing leaders, especially in Germany and the UK. His social media platform X amplifies controversial views, notably endorsing Germany's AfD and attacking UK PM Keir Starmer. Musk's actions raise concerns about tech moguls' influence on democracy and international relations under Trump's incoming administration.

A DTC bus conductor, Yogesh, after killing his bus driver friend Manjeet over an argument involving alcohol, mistakenly went to a children's home instead of a police station to confess. He admitted the crime to the security guard, who then informed the police. The police found Manjeet's body with a gunshot wound in the car.

SEBI warned Ola Electric for violating disclosure norms by announcing expansion plans on social media before notifying the stock exchanges. Bhavish Aggarwal posted about the store expansion on X hours before informing BSE and NSE. Ola faces potential enforcement action if compliance standards aren't improved. This occurs amidst other regulatory challenges for the company.

A semi-literate 38-year-old man named Deepak Bharti attempted self-immolation due to a marital dispute with his wife, Deepa Bharti, who works at a guest house in Cantonment area. Despite pouring petrol on himself in public, he was rescued and hospitalized. The incident, involving escalation of a domestic issue, was witnessed and managed by bystanders and police.

Ireland has formally joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging genocide in the Gaza Strip. This move reflects Ireland's longstanding criticism of Israeli policies and escalating diplomatic tensions. Other nations supporting the case include Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, Libya, Bolivia, Turkey, the Maldives, Chile, Spain, and the State of Palestine.

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith disapproves of a two-tier system for Test cricket, expressing concern over the impact on other teams outside the top three nations (India, Australia, England). He stresses the importance of supporting teams like South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and others to maintain competitive balance in world cricket.

Electric car sales surged by 20% in 2024, with around one lakh units sold, thanks to price cuts despite concerns over charging infrastructure and battery longevity. Tata Motors led the market, followed by JSW MG Motor. Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai plan to enter the EV market this year, anticipating further growth through new model launches.

The Supreme Court has expressed concern over continued vacancies in state and central information commissions, emphasizing that the Right to Information Act should not be rendered ineffective. Advocate Prashant Bhushan highlighted that despite the SC's 2019 judgment detailing timelines for appointments, the situation has worsened. States and the Centre were instructed to expedite the selection process and file compliance reports.

The upcoming Delhi assembly elections scheduled for February 5 are set to be a high-stakes contest among AAP, BJP, and Congress. As AAP seeks a third consecutive term, its popularity faces challenges due to incumbency and corruption allegations while BJP and Congress aim to reclaim influence in the capital.

Congress aims to revive its weakened national presence through the Delhi elections despite poor past performances. After consecutive assembly defeats, the party hopes an AAP decline could enable a coalition government and improve its standing nationwide, especially post-2024 national elections.

A tragic incident in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, claimed the life of 25-year-old Tuleshwar Rana, who was driving an SUV for police personnel when a Maoist IED blast occurred. Tuleshwar's parents were unaware he was transporting policemen and were devastated by the news. His SUV took the full impact of the blast, making it difficult to retrieve his body.