Kalki Koechlin is crossing borders, languages and cinematic cultures! The National Award-winning actress is all ready to charm international audiences in ‘Her Song’, a French comedy-drama executive produced by Oscar winner James Ivory.

The film will make its world premiere as the opening night selection at Cinequest on March 10 in San Jose, California.

Kalki’s first French-English role

In a rare mix of French and American-accented English, Kalki leads an ensemble cast that includes French actress Eléa Clair, Zach Grenier, Thais Sobreira, Marie-Christine Adam, and Christophe Grundmann, fresh off his acclaimed 2026 Oscar-nominated short ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Her Song (feature film) (@hersong.film)

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the French Pyrenees, ‘Her Song’ tells the story of Olivia, an American writer who returns to her family’s ancestral home. This is the same house her grandmother escaped to during World War II to flee Nazi-occupied Paris.

Also Read: Why Donald Trump went after Bad Bunny for Super Bowl Halftime Show: Language, immigration politics, culture wars

There, Olivia meets Madeline, a spirited local whose creativity and zest for life mirror the past echoes of Olivia’s grandmother.

The film intertwines three narratives: Olivia’s grandmother’s past, Olivia’s present-day experiences, and the story she’s writing. Through her friendship with Madeline, Olivia discovers that everyone carries an “inner song”. This is a concept that draws inspiration from a playful, fictional story about a Namibian tribal tradition.

From Bollywood to the world stage

Kalki is no stranger to challenging roles. She won India’s National Film Award for ‘Margarita with a Straw’. International audiences may recognise her from Berlinale-selected ‘Gully Boy’, Netflix’s ‘Sacred Games’, or Prime Video’s ‘Made in Heaven’. ‘Her Song’ marks her first official foray into a European-set English-language project.

Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman is once again breaking the mold and this time with some deeply personal revelations about gender and identity in addition to why queer stories speak to her heart.

The British star we’ve loved in everything from ‘The Crown’ to ‘The Favourite’ has shared that she has “always felt sort of non-binary”. And it’s clear this perspective guides the projects she chooses.

In a candid interview with ‘Them’ magazine, Colman opened up about feeling at home in stories that explore queer lives.

“I think it’s a community that I love being welcomed into,” she said. “I find the most loving and the most beautiful stories are from that community. And I feel really honored to be welcomed.”

“I describe myself to my husband as a gay man”

Colman didn’t stop at queer storytelling. She went all in on sharing her own personal identity. She revealed she often feels like she has “a foot in various camps” when it comes to gender and sexuality.

In a charming twist of honesty, she told her husband she thinks of herself as a “gay man,” and he’s totally on board with that.

Also Read: Why Donald Trump went after Bad Bunny for Super Bowl Halftime Show: Language, immigration politics, culture wars

“I’ve never felt massively feminine in my being female,” Colman explained. “Throughout my whole life, I’ve had arguments with people where I’ve always felt sort of nonbinary. Don’t make that a big sort of title! But I’ve always described myself to my husband as a gay man. And he goes, ‘Yeah, I get that.’”

She also admitted that most of her close friends aren’t strictly heterosexual. “The men I know and love are very in touch with all sides of themselves,” Colman said highlighting how her world is full of people who embrace fluidity and self-expression.

Heartstopper and Jimpa: Why queer stories matter

Colman’s affinity for queer narratives isn’t just theoretical. She’s promoting her new movie ‘Jimpa’, directed by Sophie Hyde, in which she stars alongside John Lithgow and Aud Mason-Hyde.

The film tells the story of a mother taking her non-binary teen to visit her gay grandfather in Amsterdam. This is a tale that resonates deeply with Colman’s own understanding of identity.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to stories that explore complexity in love and identity,” she said. “There’s a kind of honesty and tenderness in these stories that I find really beautiful.”

While Colman was speaking about inclusion and understanding, co-star Aud Mason-Hyde addressed a more complicated topic: John Lithgow’s casting as Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO ‘Harry Potter’ series. The casting stirred conversation because of JK Rowling’s past criticisms of trans rights.

Mason-Hyde, who worked closely with Lithgow on ‘Jimpa’, praised the actor for his warmth and respect. “He is such an incredibly talented actor, but also such a beautiful human to make work with. I never felt invalidated or questioned in my identity or in my transness by him,” Mason-Hyde told ‘OUT’.

However, Mason-Hyde admitted there was a bittersweet side. “There’s an element of this that feels vaguely hurtful,” they said, referring to Lithgow taking a role linked to Rowling. “But also, that can’t take away from the beautiful work we did together and how authentically he played his role in this movie.”

The long-running drama surrounding the India–Pakistan clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 continued on Monday, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) urging Pakistan to play the highly anticipated match scheduled for February 15.

The breakthrough came after an emergency meeting in Lahore attended by ICC representatives, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Md Aminul Islam. ICC Deputy Chair Imran Khawaja, Singapore’s representative on the governing council, was appointed as the mediator in the dispute.

The BCB expressed its gratitude to the PCB, the ICC, and all stakeholders for their support in resolving the recent controversy surrounding the tournament.

In a statement, the BCB extended its “profound and heartfelt gratitude” to Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the PCB, and Pakistan’s cricket fans, praising the board’s “exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity” during the episode.

BCB President Md Aminul Islam said he was “deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period,” adding, “Long may our brotherhood flourish.” He also revealed that, following his visit to Pakistan and discussions with stakeholders, he requested Pakistan to play the February 15 match against India “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”

Dhaka: BCB President Md Aminul Islam specifically acknowledged PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqui, his board, and Pakistan’s cricket fans. He requested Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game against India on 15 February. pic.twitter.com/6m3pNwSN6U

— IANS (@ians_india) February 9, 2026

The controversy escalated after Pakistan’s government announced that the Men in Green would not take the field against India, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif linking the boycott to the Bangladesh issue as a gesture of solidarity.

Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament after their request to play all matches outside India was rejected by the ICC, citing security concerns following Mustafizur Rahman’s withdrawal from the IPL 2026 amid political tensions.

Meanwhile, the ICC reportedly asked the PCB to demonstrate mitigation measures under the Members Participation Agreement (MPA), particularly regarding the invocation of a ‘Force Majeure’ clause. According to ESPNcricinfo, the PCB cited government orders for the boycott, prompting the ICC to outline potential sporting, commercial and governance implications, including sanctions.

The PCB, however, believes it has a strong legal precedent, referencing a previous dispute with the BCCI over an unfulfilled bilateral series agreement that reached the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee.

As suspense over India’s Russian oil purchase persists, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has also stayed away from the yes or now answer as he stresses that India’s energy sourcing decisions are guided by national interest, with an emphasis on diversification and competitive pricing.

When asked about the White House claim that India has agreed to stop purchasing Russian Federation oil, Misri said that as a developing economy and significant net importer, India must prioritise stable and affordable energy supplies.

He stated that the governemnt foremost priority is to protect Indian consumers. The Foreign Secretary further explained that the government seeks to ensure that “consumers receive adequate energy at the right price and through reliable and secure supplies.”

Highlighting the global uncertainties, he said, “India is not just one of the largest consumers of energy, but it also plays an important role as a stabilising factor in global energy markets.”

The Foreign Secretary added, “The key drivers of our energy policy are adequate availability, fair pricing, and reliability of supply.”

Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also addressed the issue, saying that “diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this.”

“Insofar as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government,” the MEA said.

The statement, however, stopped short of ruling out the purchase of Russian oil. “All of India’s actions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” it added.

While announcing the India-US trade deal, Trump had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil.

Subsequently, the White House also stated that New Delhi has committed to stopping the import of Russian oil and buying energy products from the United States.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned SI Manoranjan Mondal, the newly-appointed officer in-charge of Budbud police station and coal and sand dealer Chinmay Mondal of Raniganj in connection with the raids conducted on 3 February at 10 locations simultaneously under the PMLA.

It should be recalled that on 3 February, the ED had for the first time ever raided the house of a police officer in the rank of officer in charge of a police station at Durgapur. Though the CBI and the ED had earlier arrested inspector Ashok Mishra a few years ago, who was the IC of Bankura police station in connection with the illegal coal mining case, but his house was nor searched and he was arrested after repeated summons and grilling.

Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan, on Monday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, alleging a complete collapse of governance in the State and claiming that the treasury is empty.

Addressing a press conference at Thalassery in Kannur district, Satheesan said that even Left sympathisers do not want the LDF to return to power. “They are only reflecting the general sentiment prevailing in Kerala,” he said.

Backing poet and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Chairman K. Satchidanandan’s recent criticism of the LDF, Satheesan said the noted Left intellectual had merely echoed what the United Democratic Front (UDF) has been consistently saying. “Satchidanandan has voiced the general sentiment of Kerala,” he added.

“Even good communists within the Communist Party and Left comrades are not interested in the continuation of this government. Those who are most aware of the decline of the CPI(M) are its own comrades. Satchidanandan’s words only confirm that reality,” Satheesan said.

Poet K. Satchidanandan, along with acclaimed writer and activist Sarah Joseph, has publicly called for a change of government in Kerala.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Satchidanandan reiterated his stand that alternating governments are essential for a healthy democracy. “It is a basic democratic principle that power should alternate between the ruling party and the opposition,” he said, adding that his view was shaped by the experience of West Bengal.

“I have learned about the Bengal experience directly from party members there. When a government continues for long, many people enter it without the party’s knowledge and with selfish motives. Instead of decentralisation, power becomes increasingly centralised,” he said.

Sarah Joseph also said on Monday that a change of government was necessary in the State. “The Left today is about power, not democracy,” she alleged, adding that being in the opposition is often beneficial for a ruling party.

She accused the present regime of attempting to silence the media, which she described as the voice of the people. “All communist parties are destroyed when they move towards authoritarianism. Power gets concentrated in the hands of one person, leading to dictatorship, which ultimately destroys the party,” she said.

Joseph warned that the BJP could fill the political vacuum after the LDF’s decline and said that the excessive branding around Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could prove harmful.

Buoyed by a dominant performance at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida last November, India’s women boxers are targeting a strong medal haul at the Asian Boxing Championships, scheduled to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from March 28 to April 11. The continental meet will serve as a key preparatory event ahead of the Asian Games later this year.

Led by two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), the Indian contingent asserted its dominance at the World Boxing Cup Finals, winning seven of the 10 gold medals on offer. The other gold medallists were Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) and Nupur Sheoran (80+kg), highlighting the depth and consistency of India’s women’s boxing programme.

The boxers are currently undergoing intensive training at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala, as part of the national camp supported under the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Annual Calendar for Training & Competition (ACTC), in collaboration with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

For Nikhat, the World Boxing Cup Finals marked a significant milestone in her comeback after a six-month injury layoff due to a meniscus tear. Following a disappointing Paris 2024 Olympics campaign and a quarterfinal finish at the 2025 World Championships in Liverpool, the gold medal in November provided a timely boost.

“I was very happy to end 2025 with a gold medal in November. I also began the new year on a winning note by emerging as national champion at the Senior Nationals. It gives me immense confidence that I am getting back in form and delivering consistently. 2026 is a very important year and I hope to win gold in all the major events lined up to make India proud,” Nikhat said.

The 29-year-old, who is supported under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), credited technical adjustments and sparring with male boxers for her resurgence as she targets major multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

“I have worked on my past mistakes and sparred with boxers of different styles over the last few months. After Paris 2024, when I returned from injury, I trained at the Army Sports Institute in Pune and sparred extensively with junior and male boxers. That helped me a lot. I regularly discuss my mistakes with my coaches and work on different aspects of my boxing, which has improved my results,” she explained.

Parveen Hooda, a former Asian champion and World Championships bronze medallist, described the World Boxing Cup Finals as a crucial comeback event following her own injury struggles.

“The World Cup Finals was my comeback tournament, as I competed at the international level after a long time due to injury. My opponents were very accomplished boxers, so the event was extremely valuable for me,” Parveen said.

She also highlighted the impact of head coach Santiago Nieva, whose return has sharpened the squad’s preparation.

“Coach Santiago’s periodisation plans and emphasis on fitness and technique have been very useful, not just for me but for all the women boxers. It has boosted our confidence. I have also worked on my strength. Earlier, I felt my punches lacked power, so I focused on that aspect with the coach, and it has improved. With the Asian Championships next month and the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year, we need to peak at the right time, and that is part of the plan,” the 25-year-old said.

World champion Minakshi Hooda, meanwhile, is focusing on improving her footwork as she prepares for a busy international season.

“Last year, I competed in several international events and won gold in many of them. With major events like the Asian Games coming up later this year, I am working on my footwork and leg strength. My natural style is to tire out my opponents by constantly moving in the ring, so footwork is crucial. I need to complete all three rounds without giving my rival opportunities to score,” she said.

“With the new coach and changes in the training regime, I am confident of winning a medal at the Asian Games in Japan,” Minakshi added.

The Election Commission of India on Monday appointed Ashok Kumar as the new Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the national capital. He will replace R. Alice Vaz.

According to officials, Kumar, a 2006-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, will assume charge with immediate effect and continue in the post until further orders.

The appointment was formally communicated to Delhi Chief Secretary Rajeev Varma on Monday.

“As per the Election Commission’s directions, Ashok Kumar shall cease to hold and hand over forthwith all charges of work under the Government of NCT of Delhi that he may be holding prior to assuming office as Chief Electoral Officer,” the official communication stated.

The poll panel has also made it clear that while functioning as CEO, Kumar shall not hold any additional charge under the Government of NCT of Delhi, except that he will be designated as Secretary to the Government in charge of the Election Department in the State Secretariat.

Former India captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were demoted to Grade B as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced the Annual Player Retainership for senior men and women for the 2025-26 season.

The BCCI awarded central contracts to 30 senior men’s players while doing away with the A-plus category altogether. The contracts will be valid from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

In the 2024-25 BCCI central contracts, Rohit and Kohli were in A-plus grade along with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had earlier cited that there aren’t as many players currently fulfilling the criteria to fit into topmost category, due to which in the 2025-26 central contracts, the BCCI has scrapped A-plus category.

Kohli and Rohit, who now restricts themselves only to the 50-overs format after retiring from Tests and T20Is, headline Grade B, which also includes KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer.

India’s current Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, are the only players named in the top Grade A bracket among the men.

As per the 2024-25 BCCI contracts, any player in Grade A would receive Rs 5 crore annually, while Grade B players would get Rs 3 crore. Grade C players would get Rs 1 crore.

Earlier, Grade A+ players (Kohli, Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja) used to receive Rs 7 crore. The BCCI has not yet officially declared whether the payment structure for 2025-26 will be any different.

On the women’s side, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues headline Grade A, while Deepti Sharma features in Grade B alongside Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh and Sneh Rana.

Several players have been placed in Grade C across both squads, including Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh among the men, and Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam and G Kamalini among the women.

BCCI Central Contracts for 2025-26

Senior Men

Grade A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja.

Grade B: Washington Sundar, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer.

Grade C: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Senior Women

Grade A: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma.

Grade B: Renuka Thakur, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana.

Grade C: Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal, Kranti Gaud, Uma Chetri, Arundhati Reddy, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, Kashvee Gautam, G. Kamalini, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday alleged a conspiracy to illegally delete the names of genuine voters from electoral rolls in several districts of Uttar Pradesh and demanded the immediate cancellation of all Form-7 applications submitted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Acting on the directions of party national president Akhilesh Yadav, SP state president Shyam Lal Pal submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh, urging urgent intervention in the matter.

In the memorandum, the SP claimed that in many districts including Auraiya, Prayagraj, Mau, Mathura, Sonbhadra, Fatehpur, Basti, Varanasi, Etawah, Jhansi, Aligarh, Farrukhabad, Moradabad, Kanpur, Rampur and Ballia, a large number of Form-7 applications were allegedly filled and submitted by BJP workers to Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

The party alleged that these forms contained the names and EPIC numbers of voters who support the Samajwadi Party, particularly from the Muslim community and the PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) sections, and that undue pressure was being exerted to delete their names from the voters’ list.

Citing multiple instances, the SP claimed that in several places, despite “no-mapping” notices being issued and required documents being submitted, hearing officers passed orders in violation of established rules.

It further alleged that at many booths, Form-7 applications were submitted in bulk by a single individual, fake signatures were detected, and Election Commission of India (ECI) norms including limits on the number of forms that can be submitted in a day were blatantly violated.

The party demanded that, to ensure transparency and fairness in the SIR process, all Form-7 applications received so far be cancelled immediately. It also sought registration of FIRs against those who submitted fraudulent applications and forged signatures, and strict action against officials found violating ECI guidelines.

Panic spread across parts of Sikkim following a series of mild earthquakes over the past few days, prompting the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to urge the public to remain calm, alert and prepared, and to refrain from spreading rumours or unverified information.

In an official advisory, the SDMA clarified that earthquakes are natural geological phenomena and cannot be predicted with certainty. While Sikkim falls under a high seismic zone, authorities stressed that there is no cause for alarm and emphasised the importance of basic preparedness rather than panic.

The government has advised citizens to identify safe spots at homes, workplaces and public spaces, follow standard earthquake safety measures during tremors, and rely only on official advisories issued by authorised agencies. Mock drills and awareness programmes have been conducted regularly across the state, particularly in schools, to enhance disaster preparedness, officials said.

Meanwhile, following the recent earthquake that struck the Gyalshing area, structural impacts have been observed in some school buildings in the district. During a site inspection on 6 February, preliminary assessments confirmed the presence of cracks in multiple buildings.

At Hee-Yangthang Senior Secondary School, several major and minor cracks were found on walls and ceilings, along with damage to door and window frames. Similar cracks were reported at Bongten Senior Secondary School, while multiple minor cracks were observed in the old Junior High School building under Khandu Senior Secondary School. Buildings at Radhu Junior High School and Lower Radhu Primary School were also inspected.

No human casualties have been reported so far. However, authorities said further technical assessments would be conducted to ensure the safety of students and staff. The District Education Office and district administration are closely monitoring the situation and will take additional measures if required.

Separately, the urban development department has informed residents who constructed houses in Gyalshing Bazaar under Gyalshing Nagar Panchayat without approved blueprints that a verification process is underway. A total station survey of building footprints has been completed, and scrutiny of records will be carried out to determine eligibility for regularisation under the Sikkim Site Allotment Rules, 2012, and the Sikkim Building Construction Regulations, 1991.

Authorities reiterated that preparedness measures are in place and sought public cooperation to ensure safety and resilience.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed objections raised by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally appearing before the Court to argue her PIL challenging the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State and seeking the holding of the State Assembly elections, slated in May this year, based on the 2025 electoral rolls.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria made it clear that there was nothing unusual about a constitutional authority appearing before the Court to argue her case.

“What is unheard of in it? This shows trust and faith in the Constitution. Don’t politicise this issue,” the Bench told counsel appearing for the Hindu Mahasabha, rejecting the objection outright.

On February 4, Mamata Banerjee had personally appeared and argued her PIL against the SIR. The Chief Minister, who had filed the PIL in her individual capacity, had sought the conduct of State Assembly elections on the basis of 2025 electoral rolls and the withdrawal of notices issued to approximately 1.38 crore voters in the category of “logical discrepancy”.

Addressing the court, Mamata Banerjee had alleged a large-scale targeting of West Bengal, stating: “They only targeted West Bengal on the eve of the election… They wanted to do something in 2 months, which takes 2 years… BLOs committed suicide, and they blamed the election officials… West Bengal is targeted, why not Assam?”

The Chief Minister had also criticised the deployment of micro-observers from BJP-ruled states, alleging political bias.

The newly-formed Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), floated by controversial MLA Humayun Kabir, opened its office in East Burdwan this afternoon, with the party’s district secretary announcing a political battle against the three-time MLA from the Purbasthali (Uttar) Assembly constituency.

Baban Ghosh, the district secretary of the JUP, inaugurated the party’s first office in Purbasthali and said: “It is my prime duty to uproot the sitting MLA, Tapan Chatterjee. He has built a dynasty here, where thieves and musclemen are looting the masses indiscriminately.”

Although the Election Commission of India is yet to announce the Assembly elections, Ghosh claimed: “I am the JUP candidate for Purbasthali (Uttar), where I will fight against Chatterjee.”

Chatterjee, the three-term local MLA, however, did not attach much importance to Ghosh’s statements. He said: “Only utopians like him can have such daydreams. The people of Purbasthali do not stand by him ~ that much I know.”

Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) officially announced on Monday that it has secured long-term financing from leading Japanese banks for its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project, which aims to strengthen the evacuation of renewable power across northern India.

The company said the corridor will play a central role in transporting solar energy from Rajasthan’s resource-rich regions to the national grid. Designed as a high-capacity ±800 kV HVDC network, the project will have an evacuation capacity of 6,000 megawatts. The 950-kilometre corridor will link Bhadla in Rajasthan to Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh and is scheduled to be commissioned by 2029. Once operational, it is expected to become a critical green transmission artery supporting India’s growing clean power demand.

However, the exact amount of financing secured has not been revealed.

The financing consortium is led by Japan’s MUFG Bank Ltd and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, reflecting sustained global confidence in India’s renewable infrastructure sector. The project is also supported by advanced HVDC technology from Hitachi, delivered in partnership with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), strengthening India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem.

The asset forms part of the Adani Group’s integrated clean energy platform. Rajasthan continues to serve as a major generation hub for Adani Green Energy Limited, whose projects already supply renewable power to AESL’s subsidiary, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited. AEML currently integrates over 40 per cent renewable energy into its supply mix, placing Mumbai among the world’s leading cities in sustainable power usage.

The HVDC corridor is expected to significantly improve grid stability while enabling large-scale integration of renewable energy for major urban and industrial centres. By ensuring reliable long-distance transmission, the project will help balance fluctuating renewable generation with rising consumption.

With the Assembly polls scheduled in a couple of months, the Election Commission of India has asked the state home department to complete the transfer and posting of all police personnel directly associated with election-related duties by 15 February.

The Additional Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) of West Bengal in a directive to the state Home Secretary, has asked the department to comply with the order strictly and submit a compliance report to the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office by the same date.

The report will then be forwarded to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

An official in the CEO’s office said the move is aimed at ensuring neutrality and transparency ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The transfer of police personnel linked to the electoral process has been described as a critical step, with the latest communication being a follow-up to guidelines issued earlier on 12 January, this time fixing a clear deadline.

The commission has underlined that no delay or leniency will be accepted in implementing the directive and has asked the state government to take prompt action in line with its guidelines concerning police officers and personnel engaged in election duties.

Political observers note that the transfer of police officials before elections has frequently sparked controversy in the past.

The ECI’s firm deadline has added fresh momentum to the issue, with attention now focused on how effectively the state administration executes the order within the stipulated time frame.

As a constitutional authority mandated to ensure free, fair and impartial elections, the ECI regularly uses the transfer of officials, particularly police and administrative officers, as a key mechanism to prevent undue influence on the electoral process.

Ahead of major polls, the commission typically orders the relocation of officers who have served long tenures in the same district, face past election-related complaints, or are perceived to have political proximity.

The Opposition parties’ reported plan to move a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker was criticised by sources in the government and in the office of Om Birla on Monday, alleging that an attempt was being made to push a false narrative over the unprecedented developments in the House on February 4.​

The sources issued a strong rebuttal to the Opposition’s allegations that there was no imminent threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Opposition women MPs when the Speaker adjourned the House on that day.​

However, the Opposition has alleged that the statement made by the Speaker regarding his advice to the Prime Minister not to come to the House to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address was devoid of facts and that there was no imminent threat to the PM.​

Government sources strongly disagreed, saying the Speaker’s statement must be viewed against the backdrop of the grave and unprecedented disorder that unfolded in the House that day.

From the very commencement of the proceedings, the atmosphere in the Chamber deteriorated sharply, giving rise to serious concerns regarding safety, decorum, and the dignity of parliamentary functioning, said a government functionary.​

At the initial stage of the proceedings, MPs belonging to opposition parties entered the Well of the House in open defiance of established parliamentary norms. The situation escalated rapidly as certain Members climbed onto tables, tore official papers, and hurled them towards the Chair, he said.​

“These acts signified a complete breakdown of discipline and constituted one of the most unfortunate and undesirable episodes witnessed in the Lok Sabha, drawing widespread attention and concern both within the House and beyond, in India and abroad,” he said.​

Amid this chaos, several women MPs moved aggressively towards the Prime Minister’s seat, forming a virtual cordon around it. Disturbingly, certain women Members further crossed over to the Treasury Benches, carrying banners and placards and adopting an openly confrontational posture.​

They not only laid siege to the Prime Minister’s seat but also advanced deep into the Treasury Benches, encroaching upon the space where senior Ministers were seated, thereby heightening the sense of disorder and insecurity within the Chamber, said a functionary in the Lok Sabha Speaker’s office.​

“In view of this sequence of events, the Speaker had genuine and well-founded concerns regarding the safety of the Prime Minister and the maintenance of order in the House. His advice to the Prime Minister not to enter the Chamber at that juncture was guided solely by the need to ensure the smooth functioning of parliamentary business and to safeguard the dignity and sanctity of the institution,” he said.​

The Speaker’s foremost constitutional responsibility is to maintain decorum, propriety of the House and order, and his actions were firmly anchored in this obligation, he said.​

The Opposition’s subsequent claims that there was no imminent threat to the Prime Minister are therefore entirely baseless and stand contradicted by the events that transpired on the floor of the House, said a government source.​

The Speaker’s assertion reflects not conjecture or exaggeration, but a responsible and conscientious discharge of his duty to protect Parliament and all its members.​

Subsequently, opposition Members visited the Speaker’s Chamber, where they resorted to the use of unparliamentary language and made threatening remarks.​

Such conduct was wholly unbecoming of MPs and further underscored the volatility of the situation prevailing that day, said an MP.​