In a setback to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the Sabarimala gold heist case, the Kollam Vigilance Court on Thursday granted statutory bail to prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty in the second case registered against him.

Potty was granted bail in the case pertaining to the alleged theft of gold from the door frames of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple after the SIT failed to file its charge sheet within 90 days of his arrest. Earlier, the court had granted him bail in the dwarapalaka idols case as well on similar grounds.

Considering the gravity of the offence, the court imposed strict conditions on bail. Potty has been barred from entering Pathanamthitta district, directed to surrender his passport, and restrained from influencing witnesses. He has also been prohibited from leaving the state without permission.

Potty, who has been in custody for months, is released from the Thiruvananthapuram special sub jail on Thursday evening. With this, Potty becomes the fourth accused to secure bail in the case

Ahead of Potty, three of his co-accused had obtained statutory bail. Former Sabarimala administrative officer Murari Babu, former Sabarimala executive officer Sudeesh Kumar, and former administrative officer S Sreekumar had secured bail earlier.

Potty is accused of conspiring to execute the pilferage of gold from Sabarimala artefacts under the pretext of carrying out maintenance works in Chennai.

The Najafgarh zone of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed a water polluting jeans dyeing factory in Issapur ward on Thursday.

“As per the directions of Sumit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Najafgarh Zone, a team from Najafgarh Zone conducted an inspection in areas under its jurisdiction,” the civic body said in a statement.

During the inspection, a water-polluting unit — a jeans dyeing factory — was found operating in violation of norms. The unit, having an area of more than 2000 square metres, was located near Radha Krishna Vatika, between Mitraon Village and Surehra Village in Issapur Ward. The unit was found running at the time of inspection.

Accordingly, the said polluting unit was sealed on the spot by the MCD team.

The Deputy Commissioner, Najafgarh Zone, has directed that surveys and inspections are being conducted on a daily basis across the zone. Strict action will be taken against any other polluting units found operating in violation of environmental norms.

Portugal great and Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to bring an end to his Saudi Pro League absence and return to action against Al-Ittihad in a high-profile clash on Friday, according to a report by Goal.com.

The update comes after the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was left out of the recent derby against Al-Riyadh, amid growing frustration over how transfer funds are being allocated among clubs in Saudi Arabia. Earlier, ESPN had reported that Ronaldo was prepared to sit out a second straight league game, unhappy with the Saudi Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) handling of investment and squad building at Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo did not feature in Al-Nassr’s narrow 1-0 victory over Al-Riyadh on Monday, with sources suggesting his absence was a form of protest against what he perceived as limited backing for his club, while rivals Al-Hilal continued to strengthen aggressively.

According to ESPN, the Portuguese star was particularly displeased by the attempted move involving Karim Benzema, believing that allowing high-profile transfers to benefit Al-Hilal would tilt the title race unfairly in their favour.

Despite the controversy, Ronaldo trained with the squad this week and shared images on social media wearing Al-Nassr colours. However, notably, the club’s official X handle only posted training photos of head coach Jorge Jesus and other players, with Ronaldo absent from those visuals.

Al-Nassr currently sit second in the league standings with 46 points, just one behind leaders Al-Hilal, and will face sixth-placed Al-Ittihad on Friday. Off the pitch, tensions have been simmering at the club, with sporting director Simão Coutinho and CEO José Semedo recently suspended by the PIF, a development that reportedly further angered Ronaldo and slowed down potential signings due to tightened spending.

In contrast, Al-Hilal are believed to have received a significant financial boost from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud, one of the club’s key benefactors. Sources told ESPN that several of Al-Hilal’s recent signings, including Benzema, were funded by Alwaleed, who owns 25 per cent of the club, with the remaining stake held by the PIF.

While Ronaldo remains frustrated with the broader situation and is still chasing his first major trophy with Al-Nassr, sources indicate that he has offers from clubs in Europe and the United States. However, the 39-year-old is reluctant to make a move that could disrupt his preparation for the FIFA World Cup.

With the Saudi Pro League keen to retain one of its biggest global icons, Al-Nassr and the PIF have reportedly assured Ronaldo of major investment plans in the upcoming summer window, with Portugal teammate and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes among the high-profile names being discussed.

The late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s son Parth Pawar is keen on Sharad Pawar’s Rajya Sabha MP seat, which is likely to become vacant by April 2026, and he is not keen to contest his mother Sunetra Pawar’s Rajya Sabha seat, party sources said.

According to sources, Parth Pawar is not keen to contest the Rajya Sabha MP seat from which his mother Sunetra Pawar resigned before she was sworn in because this would give him only a “partial” term in the Rajya Sabha.

However, Parth Pawar is keen on a “full term” of six years in the Rajya Sabha, and this is possible only if he contests Sharad Pawar’s Rajya Sabha MP seat, whose term will end by April 2026, sources said.

According to sources, Sharad Pawar and the late Ajit Pawar’s sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, held a long, closed-door meeting at the Vidya Pratishthan premises in Baramati on Wednesday.

The meeting discussed the construction of a memorial for Ajit Pawar, but Parth’s desire to enter the Rajya Sabha ended up becoming the main focus of the discussion, sources said.

Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are due to fall vacant in April 2026. These Rajya Sabha seats include seats held by Sharad Pawar, NCP MP Fauzia Khan, RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale, BJP’s Dhairyasheel Patil and Bhagwat Karad, Congress MP Rajni Patil, as well as the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi.

Of all these seats, Parth is interested in Sharad Pawar’s seat because it could give him a full six-year term as a Rajya Sabha MP, sources said.

However, Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra will depend on the strength of parties in the Maharashtra state assembly.

With 288 MLAs and 7 available seats, each candidate will need 37 votes to win the election. According to the current assembly, the BJP has 135 MLAs, the Shiv Sena has 57, and the NCP has 41. This makes it possible for the ruling coalition to win several seats. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is believed to have a sufficient number of seats to elect an independent candidate, which could strengthen Parth Pawar’s chances, if he receives the support of the party leadership, sources said.

A CID team questioned Ajit Pawar’s personal secretary, Avinash Solvat, for more than four hours at the Mantralaya (state secretariat building) about the January 28 air crash, which killed the late Deputy CM and four others at Baramati airport, sources said on Thursday.

The CID team reached Ajit Pawar’s office on the seventh floor of the Mantralaya on Wednesday and questioned Solvat till late evening, and the process is yet to be completed, sources said.

Solvat is considered one of the most trusted aides of the late Ajit Pawar, since he has been associated with Ajit Pawar for more than 15 years.

According to sources, Solvat was questioned about the late Ajit Pawar’s final travel plans, scheduled on January 28, as well as conversations held a day before the tragic air crash.

Sources said that the CID team also sought details regarding who planned the journey, what the aircraft’s technical condition was, and whether the late Ajit Pawar had noticed or mentioned anything unusual in the days leading up to the tragic air crash.

Leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and even sections of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP had demanded a high-level and transparent investigation into the tragic air crash.

As reported earlier, Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLA Amol Mitkari has been at the forefront of these demands and had called for the immediate release of CCTV footage of the late Ajit Pawar’s final journey, even before the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) black box analysis report was released.

Mitkari had urged the DGCA to officially release all CCTV footage from Mumbai airport, from the main entry gate to the moment the late Ajit Pawar boarded the ill-fated aircraft, dated January 28, 2026, even before the black box analysis report was made public. Mitkari had stated that such transparency is essential to dispel doubts and restore public confidence.

Mitkari had raised several unanswered questions regarding the crash, including discrepancies in the number of casualties, inconsistencies in the passenger list, the absence of burnt documents at the site and frequent changes of pilots before the flight. He also questioned why only five bodies were recovered if six people were reportedly on board.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut too had described the tragic air crash as “suspicious” and said that the people of Maharashtra have a right to know how and why Ajit Pawar died. “This was not an ordinary accident. The circumstances surrounding his death raise serious questions,” Raut had told media persons earlier.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is signing future-ready trade agreements with developed nations, emerging as a trusted global partner and playing a key role in global welfare. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, PM Modi said India has become a strong voice of the Global South and is moving towards a new world order.

Referring to global geopolitical changes, PM Modi said a new world order is emerging after the one created following the Second World War. “If one looks objectively and without bias, the tilt is towards India. Today, India is a trusted partner, standing shoulder to shoulder with other nations,” he said.

A day after Congress Members disrupted his reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha, he targeted the party and its government on various issues.

Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi’s “mohabbat ki dukan” slogan, the PM said it contained only “anger and hatred” for him. “The Congress cannot digest how Modi reached here. They believe the post of Prime Minister is their birthright,” he added.

He also slammed Gandhi for calling Union Minister Ravneet Bittu a traitor. Modi said, “Yesterday, the Congress called a Sikh MP a traitor. This is an insult to Sikhs and Sikh gurus. It reflects the Congress’s hatred towards the Sikh community.”

Referring to an incident in which women Congress MPs allegedly tried to block his seat, leading to the deferment of his reply, the PM said the episode was “extremely painful,” and “an insult to the President, the Constitution, tribal communities, and women.”

He also took on Congress’ prime ministers Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, claiming that for them India’s population was a liability and accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of “stealing” the name of a Gujarati-Mahatma Gandhi.

“The BJP-NDA has a different approach of looking for solutions to problems…We believe that 140 crore citizens are our strength, they think it is a liability.”

“Indira ji once went to Iran where in her speech she mentioned her conversation with Nehru ji. She said, when asked how many problems he had, my father once replied ‘35 crore’, which was our population at that time. Now the population is 57 crore, so that is the dimension of my problems….35 crore people felt like a problem to Nehruji. Can there be a leader like that? Can someone be like this to consider their own citizens a problem? We believe 140 crore Indians are our greatest strength,” he said.

He accused the Congress, DMK, and the Left of prioritising personal gain while in power and the TMC of putting pressure on courts to “help infiltrators”. “Colleagues from TMC said a lot of things. They should look within themselves…But they are lecturing us here. Even prosperous nations are driving out illegal residents from their country, but in our country, pressure is being put on the courts.”

Amid sloganeering and a walkout by Opposition members, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s growing global economic stature. He said India is signing trade agreements with major economies, and the country is now seen as a reliable partner. “Developed nations were keen to deepen economic engagement with India. After our trade deals with the EU and the US, the world felt a sense of stability and speed. These are major opportunities for our youth,” he said.

The Prime Minister said it had taken years of effort to shed the negative image created by previous governments. “That is why we focused on future-ready policies. Today, governance is driven by policy and strategy. Guided by the mantra of ‘reform, perform, transform,’ the nation has boarded the Reform Express,” he said.

Highlighting economic reforms, he said the banking sector, once burdened by mounting non-performing assets (NPAs), has now reached historic lows. “Public sector undertakings that Congress pushed towards closure are now delivering record performance,” he said.

On agriculture, Modi said previous governments ignored small farmers. “There are nearly 10 crore farmers with less than two hectares of land. Through PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, nearly Rs 4 lakh crore has been transferred directly to small farmers, giving them new strength and confidence,” he added.

Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (Tata Motors PV) officially announced on Thursday that it has posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 3,486 crore in Q3FY26, due to the impact of a cyber incident at its luxury vehicle unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which severely hampered the company’s global wholesale volumes. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 5,485 crore in the same quarter last year.

The impact of the total exceptional cost due to the cyber incident at JLR was to the tune of Rs 800 crore, while Rs 400 crore was due to the new labour code implementation and another Rs 400 crore was due to stamp duty charges. These one-time expenses added pressure on the company’s profitability.

The consolidated revenue from operations for the quarter stood at Rs 70,108 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025 a decline of 25.8 per cent compared to Rs 94,472 crore in the corresponding period last year.

The company’s EBITDA plummeted to Rs 1,518 crore from Rs 12,663 crore in the year-ago period, due to which the EBITDA margin shrank to 2.2% as against 13.4% in Q3FY25.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) revenue touched £4.5 billion (in British pound terms), which is a decline of 39.4% year-on-year (YoY). JLR’s performance was impacted by the cyber incident, which disrupted production and distribution, alongside a planned wind-down of legacy Jaguar models and softer market conditions in China, the company said in its exchange filing.

The company said its domestic passenger vehicle business improved on a quarter-on-quarter basis due to higher vehicle sales volumes and better incentive support during the quarter.

While global operations faced pressure due to the cyber incident, the domestic market showed signs of recovery. The company will likely focus on stabilising global operations and strengthening domestic demand going forward.

“Overall, it was a challenging quarter as anticipated on account of the carryover impact of the cyber incident at JLR. We expect performance to significantly improve in Q4 with recovery at JLR and continuing growth in domestic market share,” Tata Motors PV Chief Financial Officer Dhiman Gupta said.

“In Q3FY26, we recorded our highest-ever quarterly wholesales at 171k units driven by strong demand tailwinds from GST 2.0 and a robust festive season,” Managing Director & CEO Tata Motors PV Shailesh Chandra said.

The Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the bar on BJP leader Anurag Singh Thakur from associating with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), clarifying that its 2017 direction asking the former BCCI president to “cease and desist” from the board’s functioning was never intended to operate as a permanent or lifelong disqualification.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the earlier order had to be understood in its proper context and was limited to the circumstances prevailing at that time. The clarification effectively removes the impediment to Thakur’s engagement with the BCCI, subject to the body’s rules and regulations.

In its order dated January 2, 2017, the Supreme Court had removed Thakur from the post of BCCI president and directed, “Shri Anurag Thakur, President of BCCI and Shri Ajay Shirke, Secretary, BCCI shall forthwith cease and desist from being associated with the working of BCCI.”

That direction was issued in the backdrop of proceedings relating to the implementation of the Lodha Committee reforms aimed at restructuring the governance and functioning of the BCCI. The Court had also initiated contempt and perjury proceedings against Thakur for allegedly making false statements on affidavit and obstructing the implementation of the Court’s orders.

Although the contempt proceedings were subsequently dropped, Thakur continued to remain under the cloud of the 2017 direction, which was interpreted as preventing him from any future association with the BCCI.

Clarifying the scope of that order, the Bench on Thursday held that the direction was never meant to impose a continuing or indefinite ban.

The 2017 action against Thakur stemmed from his communication with the International Cricket Council (ICC), wherein he had sought a statement suggesting that the reforms ordered by the Supreme Court amounted to “governmental interference” in the affairs of the BCCI.

At the time, the Court had taken a serious view of this conduct, observing: “Such a solicitation was but an effort to thwart the implementation of the orders of the court. An attempt was made to build up a record to indicate that implementing the orders of the Supreme Court of India would run the risk of endangering the status of BCCI as a member of ICC.”

On that basis, the Court had concluded that Thakur’s actions rendered him unfit to continue as BCCI president and had ordered his removal.

With Thursday’s clarification, the Supreme Court has now made it clear that the 2017 direction cannot be read as a permanent embargo, thereby paving the way for Thakur to associate with the BCCI in accordance with its governing framework.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will convene its 85th Public Meeting in Mumbai from 7–12 March 2026, hosted by the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). With its more than one billion Internet users and a thriving digital economy, India is an ideal location for participants from around the world to gather at the ICANN85 Community Forum to advance the technical work that ensures the secure and stable operation of the Internet.

“Ten years after the ICANN Public Meeting in Hyderabad, the ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai offers the Indian Internet community an excellent opportunity to attend and participate in the global dialogue on important Internet governance issues,” said Samiran Gupta, ICANN Vice President for Stakeholder Engagement and Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region. “I want to thank our host NIXI for bringing ICANN85 to Mumbai and I look forward to a fruitful meeting.”

S Shri S. Krishnan, IAS Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) “India’s digital transformation is anchored in an open, secure, inclusive and resilient Internet. Hosting ICANN85 reflects India’s commitment to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance and to advancing policy frameworks that support innovation, inclusion, and trust in the global Internet ecosystem.”

Key Topics at ICANN85: The New gTLD Program, ICANN Community’s Role in Advancing a Multilingual Internet, and the Multistakeholder Model

ICANN85 takes place at a pivotal moment – just before the launch of the New gTLD Program in April. The program, the next expansion of the Domain Name System, helps to evolve the global digital landscape.Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are the extensions that appear after a website name—such as .travel, .company, .bank —and the New gTLD Program allows organizations to create customized domain endings like .brand, .city to better reflect their identity and audience. It provides businesses, communities, governments, and other organizations the rare opportunity to apply for new top-level domains tailored to fit their organization, community, culture, language, and customer interests. The meeting will include important updates about the New gTLD Program.

The New gTLD Program advances ICANN’s 2030 vision as the trusted steward of the Internet’s unique identifier systems to strengthen the single, globally interoperable Internet for all. This truly multilingual Internet enables people globally to use the Internet in their own languages and scripts, which matches the Indian government’s approach towards expanding Internet usage. The cultural and economic benefits of a multilingual Internet are clear. It will serve India’s local language communities as well as the needs of language communities around the world. It will also provide a unique business opportunity for India’s information technology sector.

With its cultural and linguistic diversity, India can be the torchbearer for the rest of the world, not just for enabling the next billion users to get online, but also for native speakers to use the Internet in their native script.

ICANN85 is the first ICANN Public Meeting since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the WSIS+20 Outcomes Document on 17 December 2025. The World Summit on the Information Society: 20-year review (WSIS+20) reaffirmed that the Internet is a shared global resource whose stability, openness, and interoperability depend on the multistakeholder model approach, a position strongly supported by ICANN and the government of India.

The WSIS+20 marked a reaffirmation rather than an end point, demonstrating the need to continue the work of the multistakeholder model, bringing new voices and expertise into the Internet governance ecosystem, strengthening knowledge transfer and capacity building, and sustaining engagement through forums like ICANN Public Meetings.

ICANN Community Excellence Award

Continuing its tradition of recognizing outstanding community member contributions, the ICANN Community Excellence Award will be presented at the Welcome Ceremony (9 March 2026). This award recognizes ICANN community members who have deeply invested in consensus-based solutions and contributed substantively to the ICANN multistakeholder model.

Registration

In-person registration remains open until 6 March 2026. On-site registration is not available. Attendance is free and open to all. For more information, and to register, please visit the meeting website.

About ICANN

ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique, so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

About NIXI

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a not-for-profit organization set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India. NIXI plays a critical role in strengthening India’s Internet infrastructure by facilitating efficient exchange of domestic Internet traffic, managing the .INand .भारत(.Bharat) country-code top-level domains, and promoting adoption of Internet services across the country. Through its initiatives, NIXI supports a secure, resilient, and inclusive Internet ecosystem aligned with India’s digital growth ambitions.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will field candidates for the posts of Mayor of Mumbai and Deputy Mayor, party sources said here on Thursday.

As per the lottery system, the post of the Mayor of Mumbai has been reserved for women of the general category. Accordingly, preparations have begun to field candidates for the posts of Mumbai Mayor and Deputy Mayor despite the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena not having the required number of corporators.

Party sources said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is keen to ensure that the BJP faces a tough contest for both posts. He has summoned Kishori Pednekar, who is Uddhav-led Shiv Sena’s group leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), to his ‘Matoshree’ residence along with other Sena corporators. Detailed discussions are underway to decide the Sena strategy, sources said.

The Uddhav-led Shiv Sena will file applications for the posts of Mumbai Mayor and Deputy Mayor on February 7, sources said.

The Mumbai mayor will be named on February 11, and a special meeting has been organised on February 11 at 12 noon. The time to withdraw applications for the post of Mumbai mayor will be 15 minutes before corporators assemble at the BMC.

There is a strong possibility that the mayor of Mumbai will be from the BJP in the Mahayuti, since it has the largest number of corporators in the BMC, though it is still short of a majority of 114 wards. If the BMC gets a BJP mayor, it will most probably be Tejasvee Ghosalkar, whose name has been discussed.

After the reservation is announced, the names of some more women from the Mahayuti will also come to the fore for the post of mayor. In the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Ward No. 2 was reserved for general women. Tejasvee Ghosalkar contested against Dhanashree Kolge of the Shiv Sena Thackeray group from Ward No. 2. Tejasvee Ghosalkar won this contest with a huge majority from the BJP. (Mumbai Municipal Corporation Reservation 2026)

However, sources said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is keen to ensure that the BJP does not get another opportunity to elect any mayor “unopposed” to the BMC, as it happened in several municipal corporations.

The BJP-led Mahayuti has a majority in the BMC, but this time, Uddhav Thackeray is determined to put up strong candidates for the posts of Mumbai Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the BMC, sources said.

Incidentally, the ruling Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and RPI (Athawale) won the BMC elections, but the willing Mahayuti alliance still lacks four seats to touch the majority 114 mark.

The BJP won the maximum number of 89 corporators, while 29 wards were won by corporators of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. However, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has secured the second position by winning 65 wards in the BMC.

Yet, the Uddhav Thackray-led MNS and Uddhav-led Sena alliance do not have the required majority for the mayor’s post. Even if all opposition parties come together, they still cannot reach the majority of 114.

A Wardha-based lawyer has written a letter to Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat claiming that Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar’s oath-taking ceremony is “illegal”, according to official sources.

Lawyer Harshvardhan Shobha Babarao Godghate has argued that the swearing-in ceremony itself was “illegal” since Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar was neither an elected Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) nor a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) nor a Maharashtra cabinet minister when the oath was administered to her.

In his letter to the Maharashtra Governor, the lawyer has also stated that the very post of a Deputy Chief Minister is “unconstitutional” since such a post has not been mentioned anywhere in the Constitution of India, due to which the swearing-in ceremony was “illegal”.

In a related development, anti-corruption activist and lawyer Anjali Damania has also raised objections to Sunetra Pawar being sworn in as Deputy CM, saying that she should take an oath as a minister first.

However, Sunil Tatkare, who is the president of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, defended the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar.

“We have the political sense to verify technical matters. We have that much knowledge because we have been in politics for many years. We know who can take the oath, and how long a person can remain in office even if he is not a member. We have the example of Ajit Pawar in 1991, and there is the example of Sharad Pawar himself,” Sunil Tatkare said.

Meanwhile, sources said that moves are on inside the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to elect Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar unopposed as the National President of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP before March 2026.

The party has issued a letter stating that Sunetra Pawar will be elected unopposed as the President of the Nationalist Congress Party with the consent of the party’s state office bearers and its national executive office bearers.

After the death of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife, Sunetra Pawar, took the oath of office as Deputy Chief Minister on January 31.

According to Ajit Pawar-led NCP sources, all future decisions will be taken by Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and other NCP leaders. It is also learnt that Sunetra Pawar will go to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a few days.

More than 30 top office bearers of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP have demanded that Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar be made the president of the party, and they have sent a letter to party president Sunil Tatkare and senior NCP leader Praful Patel.

The Andhra Pradesh government has formed a one-man committee to conduct a comprehensive examination of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) led SIT report into the adulterated laddu prasadam of Tirupati to identify lapses and fix responsibility.

At the end of a meeting between NDA allies, JSP and BJP at his camp office, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that none of the reports have given a clean chit to YSRCP in the matter and warned that intimidation and rowdyism would not succeed and strict punishment would be meted out to the guilty.

Ever since the CBI filed a charge sheet in the court, the state has been on the boil. YSRCP leaders claimed that the CBI had given a clean chit to the previous regime since there was no animal fat in the laddus, as alleged by Naidu. This had triggered political clashes between the TDP and the YSRCP, with the supporters of the former attacking the houses of two former ministers, alleging that they had spoken ill of Naidu and IT minister Nara Lokesh. The arrest of YSRCP leader Ambati Rambabu also triggered an undercurrent of caste rivalry between Kapus and Kammas, particularly since the TDP is associated with the latter caste group. Deputy Chief Minister and JSP leader Pawan Kalyan, a Kapu, has been doing some tightrope walking. In the backdrop of these claims and counterclaims, the three NDA allies met at the camp office and put up a united front on the issue.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu referred to the SIT and laboratory reports and stated that the ghee used in the laddus was prepared using chemicals, palm oil and other adulterants. He alleged that lakhs of devotees were given the adulterated laddus in the five years of YSRCP rule. Rejecting the claims of a clean chit, the Chief Minister clarified that the CBI report does not certify anywhere that there was no adulteration and said the accused are spreading false narratives and launching counterattacks to divert attention. He said the committee was being formed after CBI submitted a report to the government and recommended action.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said the government speaks with responsibility and caution on sensitive issues of faith. “No report has given a clean chit so far. Allegations involving animal fat are extremely sensitive and cannot be spoken lightly,“ he said.

He added that the government had made statements only after examining the evidence found in the NDDB CALF test report. BJP state president PVN Madhav criticised the YSRCP and said, “Preparing laddus with chemically processed and adulterated ghee is dangerous. It hurts the sentiments of devotees and plays with public health.” He said the NDA government in the state was committed to restoring transparency and sanctity in temple administration.

At least eighteen people lost their lives and one got injured after an explosion occurred today at around 11 am at a rat-hole coal mine in the Thangsku area in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. Also, several labourers are feared trapped inside the coal mine following the explosion.

The injured labourer has sustained critical injuries. He was initially admitted at the Sutnga Primary Health Centre, but later was shifted to Shillong for advanced medical treatment. However, his condition continues to remain critical, as per the hospital sources.

Rescue ops underway

Rescue teams, including that of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and local administration have reached the spot and carrying out search and rescue operations.

Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills, Vikash Kumar has confirmed the explosion occured today morning and said immediate steps were taken, and assistance from the SDRF was sought to carry out rescue operations.

Also, three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rsuhed to the explosion site to pace up the rescue operations.

Was the mine illegal?

According to the preliminary investigations, the coal mine was operating illegally. It was violating the existing safety norms and the long-standing ban on rat-hole coal mining in the region.

However, the exact cause of the exploasion has not been confirmed by the authrities as of now. Investigation is underway to identify the reason as well as those responsible for the illegal operation of the mine.

Meanwhile, media reports suggest that the use of high-intensity dynamite for mining operations led to the explosion. Notably, the explosion triggered collapse of adjoining mine shafts and quarry structures, which further intensified the damage.

Govt orders comprehensive inquiry

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the explosion. He tweeted: “Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy.”

The Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.

Profoundly saddened by the tragic coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills. My deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy.

The Government of Meghalaya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Accountability…

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) February 5, 2026

CM Sangma affirmed that strict action will be taken against individuals who are involved in any kind of illegal activities. He said, “Whoever is responsible for this particular incident, very strict action will be taken. We will not let anybody who is involved in this, let go. But at the same time, with the start of scientific mining, it is expected that all miners will apply for the mining. Now, there is an option. These are things that cannot be tolerated anymore…We are waiting for further report that comes in, based on that I will be in regular touch with the press…”
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#WATCH | Coal mine incident in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya | CM Conrad Sangma says, “….A dynamite explosion had occurred at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills. This happened today at around 11 am. As per the current reports, about 18 people are dead because of this… pic.twitter.com/WQMRapGAEk

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2026

PM Modi announces ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and announced ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.

In a message posted on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said, “Pained by the mishap in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest.”

During the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the voter list in Uttar Pradesh, Minister of State for Stamp and Court Registration Fees (Independent Charge) Ravindra Jaiswal leveled a serious allegation of ‘vote jihad’ on Thursday.

He claimed that when his party workers meticulously examined the voter list in his North Assembly constituency, they found the names of approximately 9,200 people registered more than once (two, three, four, or even more times). He alleged that most of these names belonged to a particular community.

He met with District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar to file a complaint and submitted the relevant list.

The minister said, “After the new voter list was released, our workers went door-to-door for verification. We have all the data as proof — both on pen drives and in hard copy. The names of several girls were found to be registered at both their parental and marital homes. This is all a game played by Rahul Gandhi’s party.”

He further added, “I have handed over the list of these 9,200 names to the District Magistrate. These should be verified. My constituency has one lakh ten thousand votes, and despite that, such a major irregularity has come to light. The Booth Level Officer (BLO) also found that the names of a father’s four daughters were registered at both their parental and marital homes. The workers have verified this by visiting both locations. We have been working on this issue for a month. A detailed report has been prepared showing how many names appeared two, three, four, or five times at various booths.”

Calling it ‘vote jihad’, Ravindra Jaiswal said, “The Opposition has deliberately orchestrated this. It is a conspiracy to prevent nationalism by casting votes two or three times. This is a jihad of voting.”

District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar stated that BJP MLA and Minister Ravindra Jaiswal has raised some objections regarding the new voter list. The issue of duplicate names at different booths has come to light. He said, “An investigation is being conducted. Only after the investigation will it be possible to comment clearly on the entire matter. Appropriate action will be taken.”

Villages in Uttar Pradesh are now forging a new identity of cleanliness and innovation. New experiments such as road construction from plastic waste, door-to-door waste collection, and compost production for income generation, have transformed the rural landscape of the state, making it high-tech.

In the Lucknow, Rampur, Amethi, Lalitpur, and Etah districts, 75 km of roads have been constructed using plastic waste, presenting a new model of development along with environmental protection.

Amit Kumar Singh, Director of the Panchayati Raj Department, said that a master plan for waste management has been prepared in Uttar Pradesh on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Under this plan, door-to-door waste collection has been started in Gram Panchayats, and vermicompost is being produced. This initiative has generated an income of over Rs 3 crore so far. An additional Rs 29 lakh has been earned from plastic waste management units. Under this scheme, the Panchayati Raj Department is working on the ‘Waste to Wealth’ model in the state.

Under the Swachh Gaon Maha Abhiyan (Clean Village Mega Campaign) run by the Panchayati Raj Department, waste is being transformed into resources. These experiments of utilising plastic waste for road construction, producing compost from organic waste, and increasing the income of Panchayats are proving to be a milestone in making every village in the state clean, self-reliant, and empowered. Through this scheme, innovative experiments will be conducted in every village of the state.

According to Amit Kumar Singh, the department is committed to strengthening Gram Panchayats (village councils) through innovation. The village-level sanitation campaign, coupled with the utilisation of plastic waste, is not only protecting the environment but also generating crores of rupees in revenue.

Acting on the suggestions received during the Pharma Conclave 1.0 early this week, the Uttar Pradesh government, in order to utilise land in Lalitpur in addition to Noida for bulk drug manufacturing units of the red and orange categories, is accelerating the development of a future-ready pharma ecosystem through UPSIDA’s Lalitpur Pharma Park.

The conclave highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s emergence as a business-friendly and investment-ready hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare innovation—driven by strong governance, improved law and order, and progressive policy support.

According to officials here on Thursday, Phase I spans 352.91 acres, dedicated to formulation units, bulk drugs, and common infrastructure, while Phase II, covering 1,465 acres, is under development, for which an Expression of Interest (EOI) has been floated. Backed by an overall land bank of nearly 8,000 acres, Uttar Pradesh is strategically positioning itself as a leading destination for pharma investments.

Strengthening this ecosystem further, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority is developing a 350-acre Medical Device Park in Sector-28, equipped with advanced testing laboratories and an ASCA certification facility to reduce dependence on overseas testing. Additionally, a 250-acre Pharma Formulation Park is planned in Sector 7 near the Noida International Airport, reinforcing Uttar Pradesh’s potential to emerge as North India’s key healthcare manufacturing hub with strong export connectivity.

Officials said a major highlight of Pharma Conclave 1.0 was the announcement of an investment intent of nearly Rs 10,000 crore, along with the exchange of 11 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in pharmaceuticals and medical devices. These proposals are expected to significantly enhance manufacturing capacity, generate employment, and strengthen healthcare supply chains—accelerating the overall growth of the State’s pharma sector.

Pharma Conclave 1.0 strongly underscored the importance of building a resilient research and innovation backbone. Leading scientists and institutional representatives—including Dr Radha Rangarajan (CDRI), Prof Shubhini A. Saraf (NIPER Raebareli), Dr Neelima Mishra (National Institute of Biologicals), and Dr Seema Pai (ISCR)—shared valuable insights on strengthening scientific capabilities in the State.

The conclave saw strong participation from leading pharma companies, highlighting interest in expanding operations in Uttar Pradesh. Stakeholders discussed growth, investments, and partnerships, reaffirming the State as a preferred destination. Infrastructure emerged as key, with leaders stressing plug-and-play facilities, ready land, and compliance-ready spaces to fast-track projects and boost competitiveness.

The conclave also highlighted the critical role of policy support and regulatory facilitation in shaping the State’s pharma growth trajectory.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted a memorable triumph in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Final, successfully chasing down a daunting target to overcome Delhi Capitals in a high-stakes clash at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara. In a rematch of the 2024 final, RCB once again rose to the occasion, delivering a composed performance to etch their name into WPL history.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals produced a commanding batting effort to post a formidable 203/4 in their 20 overs, the highest team total ever recorded in a WPL final. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues led from the front with a well-compiled 57 off 37 balls, while Laura Wolvaardt (38 off 22) and Lizelle Lee (37 off 30) ensured sustained momentum through the middle overs. Chinelle Henry provided the late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 27 off just 12 deliveries, including a decisive 24-run 19th over that pushed DC past the 200 mark.

Facing a stiff chase, Royal Challengers Bengaluru responded with maturity and intent. Led by captain Smriti Mandhana, RCB’s top order embraced the challenge, combining composure with controlled aggression, keeping the Delhi Capitals under pressure throughout the innings.

……..

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have Claimed the Crown once again in spectacular fashion to clinch the #TATAWPL 2026 title ❤️#ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/JDKUm3BDqk

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

RCB win their second WPL title, posting 204/4

Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Marizanne Kapp taking the new ball for Delhi Capitals. Harris got RCB off the mark in style, cracking two boundaries early in the opening over. However, the early momentum was checked in the second over when Harris was bowled by Chinelle Henry, giving DC their first breakthrough.

Georgia Voll walked in at No. 3 and immediately injected stability into the chase, finding the fence at regular intervals. She punished Chinelle in the fourth over with two crisp fours and followed it up with a similar effort against Kapp in the fifth. Mandhana joined the party in the sixth over, launching a six and a four to keep the required rate in check.

The duo maintained a steady scoring rhythm, bringing up RCB’s 100 in the final ball of the 10th over, fittingly with Mandhana clearing the ropes. The skipper continued her charge in the 11th over with another six, while Voll rotated strike efficiently to complete her half-century off just 37 balls, her fourth fifty in the TATA WPL, also raising a crucial 100-run partnership.

Mandhana reached her own milestone in the 12th over, bringing up her seventh WPL fifty with a boundary off Sneh Rana. Voll followed with two consecutive fours in the same over, as RCB tightened their grip on the chase. Both batters added a boundary each in the 13th over, before Mandhana accelerated further with two fours in the 14th and repeated the feat in the 15th.

A fifty in the #Final for the #RCB captain ❤️

Will she lead her team to glory tonight?

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | @RCBTweets | @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/m3sDwG8RHj

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Minnu Mani provided DC with a much-needed breakthrough in the 17th over when Voll was caught by Shafali Verma, walking back to a standing ovation for her superb 79 off 54 balls. At that stage, RCB were 174/2, needing 30 runs from 21 deliveries.

Richa Ghosh joined Mandhana but had a brief stay, striking a boundary in the 18th over before being caught off Nandini Sharma. Nadine de Klerk then walked in as RCB edged closer to the target. In the penultimate over, de Klerk struck a four, but Mandhana fell soon after, dismissed by Chinelle Henry.

Radha Yadav finished the job in style, smashing back-to-back boundaries to take RCB past the finish line in 19.4 overs, ending on 204/4 and sealing a thrilling chase to hand Royal Challengers Bengaluru their second WPL title.

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An incredible finish to #TATAWPL 2026 as @RCBTweets clinch an absolute thriller to win their Title No. 2⃣

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/sTZtNXQ3Ue

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Delhi Capitals post highest total in WPL final history

Delhi Capitals got off to a confident start in the WPL 2026 Final with openers Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma setting the tone against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Lauren Bell took the new ball for RCB, and Shafali immediately put the pressure on, cracking a four off the final delivery of the opening over. The duo looked assured in the powerplay, rotating the strike well and finding boundaries at regular intervals.

The momentum picked up in the fourth over when Lizelle Lee launched Sayali Satghare for two consecutive sixes, underlining DC’s attacking intent. Shafali continued to find the gaps and struck two boundaries in the sixth over, but her promising innings came to an end soon after. She was dismissed by Arundhati Reddy, caught behind by Richa Ghosh, giving RCB their first breakthrough.

Laura Wolvaardt walked in at No. 3 and got off the mark in style with a boundary. The pressure stayed firmly on RCB as Lee and Wolvaardt kept the scoreboard ticking. In the seventh over, Lee smashed two fours and a six, while Wolvaardt capped the over with a four off the final ball. However, Lee’s fluent knock ended in the eighth over when Nadine de Klerk bowled her, with Grace Harris completing the catch, bringing an end to a strong opening phase.

DC skipper Jemimah Rodrigues then took charge. She announced herself with a boundary in the ninth over and steadily built the innings alongside Wolvaardt. Jemimah found her rhythm in the middle overs, striking three fours in the 12th over as DC maintained control. The duo stitched together a crucial partnership, keeping the run rate healthy.

In the 15th over, Jemimah completed a well-crafted fifty, taking a single off the second-last ball, before Wolvaardt followed it up with a towering six on the next delivery. The 76-run partnership finally ended in the 16th over when Sayali Satghare dismissed Jemimah, with Nadine de Klerk taking the catch, giving RCB a much-needed wicket.

With momentum still on DC’s side, Chinelle Henry walked in and made an instant impact. The 19th over proved decisive as Henry went berserk, smashing four boundaries and a six, swinging the game firmly in DC’s favour. In the final over, she added another six off the third-last ball before Wolvaardt struck a boundary off the penultimate delivery, pushing DC past the 200-run mark — the highest total ever in a WPL final.

Fiery final flourish!

Chinelle Henry at her very best to power @DelhiCapitals to 2⃣0⃣3⃣/4

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0XSZa#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/IBNEaimlGh

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Wolvaardt was run out on the final ball while attempting a second run, but by then, the damage was done as Delhi Capitals closed their innings at a record 203/4, putting RCB under massive pressure in the title clash.

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Toss Update

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi Capitals.

Toss @RCBTweets have won the toss against @DelhiCapitals and elected to bowl in the #Final

Predict the target #DC will set

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0YqOI#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/Gml8UX87a3

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Malaika Arora lights up the WPL 2026 Final Ceremony

As the WPL 2026 Final gets set to begin at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, the atmosphere was lifted by a special opening performance from Bollywood star Malaika Arora. The popular actor and dancer took centre stage ahead of the high-voltage clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals, delivering a vibrant performance that added glamour to the summit clash.

Glitz, Glamour and Energy ✨

Malaika Arora enthralls the crowd in Vadodara ahead of the #TATAWPL 2026 Grand Finale! #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/Qe25yUxBpx

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

After Malaika Arora’s high-energy act, Punjabi singer Talwinder Singh took over the stage, lifting the atmosphere with his live performance.

High notes & Higher energy

Talwiinder Singh gives a musical start to the #TATAWPL 2026 Final #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC | #Final pic.twitter.com/VSayPz2hXl

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

Captains at the Toss

Smriti Mandhana (RCB):
“We’d like to field first today. Of course, it’s been a trend in the tournament, but having said that, on a good wicket, it’s always good to know what you’re going to chase. We’re playing with the same XI what we played in the last match.

(On the break and playing the final) It’s been brilliant, I feel. First 2–3 days, we all had a good time off. We didn’t think a lot about cricket. And of course, in the last two or three days, we came back together, practised hard. And again, there’s nice nerves, nice anxiousness, and nice excitement. And I feel you all have to embrace it.

(Different preparations for the final?) Well, I’m not sure that it’s different. What’s worked for us is keeping things as simple as we can. And I think nothing changes for us today as well. Everyone had that calm energy today. But of course, the excitement level is high. And for sure, we know that we have to turn up and play our best cricket.”

Jemimah Rodrigues (DC):
“It’s better to lose the toss in such big games. We are going with the same team. We’ve kept it very simple, kept our plans simple. We played the Eliminator here, so we know what it’s going to be like.”

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (w), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell

Delhi Capitals:
Lizelle Lee (w), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma

Here are the Playing XIs of @RCBTweets and @DelhiCapitals for the #Final

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/9sgUo0YqOI#TATAWPL | #ClaimTheCrown | #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/wSONndtya7

— Women’s Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 5, 2026

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Match Details

Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals, WPL 2026 Final

Date: February 5, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Live Streaming Details

Where to watch on TV:
The RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network.

Where to live stream:
The match will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.

RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Squads

Delhi Capitals Women’s Squad:
Lizelle Lee (w), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Alana King, Taniya Bhatia, Lucy Hamilton, Pragati Singh, Eddla Srujana

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s Squad:
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (w), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Dayalan Hemalatha, Prathyoosha Kumar, Gautami Naik, Prema Rawat