Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told NDA MPs that India has emerged as a central force on the global stage and is playing a key role in shaping the world order. He was referring to recent trade agreements with several countries, including the newly announced India–US and India–EU deals.

“The developed countries want to work in partnership with India,” PM Modi said, addressing the NDA parliamentary party meeting.

PM Modi was felicitated by NDA leaders for the successful conclusion of trade agreements with 39 countries. According to those present at the meeting, the Prime Minister said these deals demonstrate India’s ability to showcase its strength despite global uncertainty. “PM Modi called it a milestone that had created a better environment for bilateral relations. He acknowledged the challenges during negotiations, saying that critics had doubts, people were criticising but patience paid…the world order is changing,” they said, referring to PM’s speech

Quoting the PM, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said there was enthusiasm among MPs over the trade agreements concluded under PM Modi’s leadership. “The trade deals have been signed with a total of 39 countries. This is historic. All these 39 countries are developed countries…This is historic. There has been a very good atmosphere in the country,” he said.

LJP leader and Union minister Chirag Paswan praised the PM, saying that “India has the capability to emerge as a global manufacturing hub. How MPs can promote different verticals in the export sector and how this opportunity can be availed were all discussed (in the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting).

The Prime Minister also warned NDA leaders against complacency after recent electoral successes.

According to Rijiju, the PM said that these NDA’s victories in various elections were the result of people-friendly policies and sustained hard work.

The Prime Minister urged NDA MPs not to rest on their laurels following wins in polls, including local body elections, saying that the coalition has been winning various elections due to its people-friendly policies, he said. “The NDA is winning one election after another because of its good work. Elections cannot be won without being on the ground. We must remain connected to the people and work for their welfare,” Rijiju said, quoting PM Modi.

At the meeting—the first of the Budget session—the Prime Minister also praised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, calling it “futuristic” and a “Vision for 2047” that lays the foundation for a Viksit Bharat.

Rijiju said the Prime Minister gave broad guidelines to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs on parliamentary and welfare-related work and urged them to take the message to the grassroots.

Newly elected BJP president Nitin Nabin was also present at the meeting. “His tenure has begun with a big bang,” PM Modi is believed to have said. MPs from the BJP, TDP, JD(U), LJP (R), Shiv Sena, JD(S), and other NDA constituents attended the meeting.

President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a six-day visit to Odisha, offered prayers at the 12th-century Shakthi shrine, Maa Biraja temple, in Jajpur on Tuesday.

Later, the President, who arrived here on Monday, will perform religious rituals at Navi Gaya, a sacred river ghat, for offering puja in honour of ancestors.

The President is also scheduled to grace the convocation ceremony of Fakir Mohan University at Balasore and inaugurate its newly constructed auditorium.

On February 4, the President will unveil the statue of Bhanjbir Sunaram Soren and interact with students at Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Mahuldiha, Rairangpur.

She will also inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various projects such as the Government Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital, Odisha University of Agriculture Technology Campus, Archery Centre, City beatification and drainage upgradation projects, various CSR projects and the MSCB University Information Technology Campus at Rairangpur.

On February 6, the President will interact with women and youth of tribal communities at Simlipal. She will also grace the ‘Black Swan Summit, India’ being organised by the Government of Odisha in collaboration with Global Finance and Technology Network, at Bhubaneswar.

A tight security net was thrown around the temple in view of the President’s visit.

Legendary music director SP Venkatesh passed away at his home at the age of 70, according to Onmanorama. Fans and the film fraternity are mourning the loss of a maestro whose tunes defined Malayalam cinema for decades. His final journey will be held tomorrow at Alapakkam, Chennai.

Also Read: Abhijit Majumdar, Odia music composer, dies at 54 after prolonged illness at AIIMS Bhubaneswar

SP Venkatesh: From strings to spotlight

Venkatesh’s musical journey began humbly in 1971. A gifted guitarist, he started his career working with renowned music director Vijayabhaskar.

By 1975, he was stepping into world of Kannada cinema as an assistant music director learning the ropes and sharpening his skills. His first independent venture came in 1981 with the Telugu film ‘Prema Yuddham’. This marked the start of career that would span over four decades.

Malayalam cinema finds its musical voice

Though he cut his teeth as an assistant under composers like Raghavan Master and contributed to background scores for AT Ummar, it was the 1986 film ‘TP Balagopalan MA’ where Venkatesh’s talent began catching attention.

With guidance from filmmakers Dennis Joseph and Thampi Kannanthanam, he soon rose to become a leading music director in Malayalam cinema.

The game-changer came with Thampi Kannanthanam’s ‘Rajavinte Makan’. Its songs and background score became chartbusters. From that point, Venkatesh became the go-to composer for the 1990s Malayalam film scene.

A hit factory of the 90s

The 1990s were golden years for Venkatesh. His compositions for films like ‘Vilambaram’, ‘Vazhiyorakazhchakal’, ‘Douthyam’, ‘Bhoomiyile Rajakumaaran’, ‘Vyooham’, ‘Kuttettan’, ‘Minnaram’, ‘Kilukkam’, ‘Johnnie Walker’, ‘Devasuram’ (background score), ‘Dhruvam’, ‘Valsalyam’, ‘Paithrukam’, ‘Sainyam’ became unforgettable.

Known for his mastery over instruments like the mandolin, guitar, banjo, Venkatesh’s background scores often elevated the films themselves. He also orchestrated music for other composers and scoring for few Bollywood and Bengali films.

Family, early training, and musical roots

Music ran in Venkatesh’s veins. His father Pazhani was an accomplished mandolin player, and young Venkatesh followed in his footsteps picking up multiple instruments and working as an assistant to Shyam and Raveendran.

Dennis Joseph formally introduced him to Malayalam cinema and his collaboration with Thampi Kannanthanam turned into a long series of hits that still resonate today.

Awards, records, legendary feats

Venkatesh’s work did not go unrecognised. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Music Director in 1993 for ‘Paithrukam’ and ‘Janam’ along with the Filmfare Award for ‘Paithrukam’. In 1999, he reportedly recorded nine songs in a single day for the unreleased Tamil film ‘Ithu Mudivithillai’.

SP Venkatesh leaves behind a treasure trove of melodies and background scores that shaped the soundscape of Malayalam cinema.

Liverpool have reached an agreement for the transfer of Jeremy Jacquet from Stade Rennais, with the defender set to join the club ahead of the 2026-27 season, subject to a work permit and international clearance, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

Liverpool have agreed to pay a fixed fee of 55 million pounds plus a potential 5 million in performance-related add-ons.

“The Reds have secured a deal for the 20-year-old that will see him complete the remainder of the current campaign in Ligue 1 and move to Anfield in the summer on a long-term contract,” Liverpool said in a statement.

The young French defender had been on Chelsea’s radar for the latter part of the January transfer window. Liverpool joined the race late and secured a 60 million pound deal.

Jacquet, who has five caps for France U21s, has made 18 appearances for Rennes in his country’s top flight so far this season. Overall, the centre-back has figured on 31 occasions for Rennes since making his debut in January 2024.

He also gained Ligue 1 experience during a loan spell with Clermont Foot. In 2024, Jacquet helped France to the final of the U19 European Championship, during which he was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Earlier, Harvey Davies returned from his loan spell at Crawley Town. He penned a new deal with the Reds before completing his temporary switch to Crawley.

The goalkeeper is back at Liverpool after making 19 appearances across all competitions for the League Two side during the first half of the season. He spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan in the same division at Crewe Alexandra, where he appeared 32 times.

Davies joined Liverpool at U9 level and has advanced through the Academy ranks to be involved in the senior team’s matchday squad on 18 occasions to date.

As Kohrra returns with a darker, more layered second season, creator Sudip Sharma says one element audiences may find surprising but completely authentic, is the presence of humour and meme culture within the show’s intense crime narrative.

Also Read: Mona Singh on 21 years of change: ‘I’ve evolved with the industry’

According to Sharma, comedy isn’t something that needs to be forcefully injected into stories set in Punjab, it exists naturally, even in the bleakest circumstances.

 

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‘Humour is impossible to avoid in Punjab’

Speaking to IANS, Sharma explained that Punjab’s cultural texture is inherently infused with wit, regardless of how grim the situation might be. “It’s impossible not to find comedy in Punjab. It’s just there everywhere — you just have to look around,” he said, adding that even serious moments are often expressed in ways that carry an undercurrent of humour.

“The Punjabi language and Punjabis as a community are very funny. Even the most serious things are often said in a very funny way. I tried to tap into that.”

Also Read: Amaal Mallik reveals how ‘Sooraj Dooba Hai’ changed his career, and why he lost 45 films thereafter

Memes as cultural shorthand

Season 2 of Kohrra subtly weaves popular meme references into its storytelling, a choice Sharma says was entirely intentional. “It was a conscious decision,” he admitted, noting that meme culture is deeply embedded in everyday conversations, especially among the show’s creators and cast.

Also Read: Grammy Awards 2026 red carpet: Bold fashion hits and misses that stole the show

Sharma shared that writers and actors often exchange jokes and memes while working together, interactions that organically influence the tone of the series.

“When Gunjit, Mona Singh, Barun, and I sit together, those jokes keep flowing. We forward memes to each other all the time. So if you’re making something about Punjab, even a serious subject, these things will come in naturally.”

Balancing darkness with levity

Rather than diluting the seriousness of the narrative, Sharma believes humour helps ground the show in reality.
“These moments don’t break the tension,” he said.

“They reflect how people actually speak, cope, and connect, even when they’re dealing with trauma or violence.”

What to expect from Season 2

Kohrra 2 features Barun Sobti returning as sharp-witted investigator Amarpal Garundi, this time paired with a new character played by Mona Singh. Together, they investigate a chilling murder involving a woman, set against Punjab’s stark, wintry landscape.

Also Read: Grammy Awards 2026 full list of winners: Album, record, song of the year and more

Rannvijay Singha also joins the cast in a pivotal role.

Created and written by Sudip Sharma, Gunjit Chopra, and Diggi Sisodia, the new season brings a fresh case and a new dynamic while retaining the show’s signature moody realism.

 

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Streaming details

Produced by Film Squad in association with Act Three, Kohrra 2 is backed by Saurabh Malhotra, Sudip Sharma, Manuj Mittra, and Tina Tharwani. The series is set to premiere on Netflix on February 11.

 

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Also Read: Sinners music honours Black voices through blues and jazz; what awards mean for artists rising from oppression

India will host the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship in 2027, a key Olympic qualifying event that will offer eight quota places for the LA 2028 Games, the Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) confirmed on Monday. The competition will be held from December 1 to 10 at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.

“The Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2027 will be organised by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) from 01 to 10 December 2027 at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi, India,” the ASC said in a release.

“The championship will hold added significance as eight Asian continental quota places for the LA Olympic Games 2028 will be distributed during the event.”

The quotas will be allocated to National Olympic Committees (NOCs), except those obtained through the Olympic Ranking or universality places, which are awarded to athletes by name.

For India, the 2027 event could prove crucial as the country begins shaping its campaign for Los Angeles 2028. Hosting an Olympic qualifying tournament at home not only provides familiarity with conditions but also offers key advantages such as crowd support, reduced travel fatigue and logistical comfort, factors that can make the difference in high-pressure qualification events.

India had enjoyed a strong qualification cycle ahead of Paris 2024, securing the maximum possible 16 Olympic quotas, eight each in rifle and pistol, in shooting qualifying events. The contingent size also underlined the growth of the sport in the country, with India sending a record 21 shooters to the Paris Olympics, a significant rise from the 15 who competed in Tokyo.

However, despite winning three medals in Paris, all bronze, shooting remains “unfinished business” for India. The 2027 Asian Championship, with Olympic quotas on the line, will be seen as a major opportunity to strengthen the pipeline and build momentum towards improving the colour of those medals in LA.

The hosting rights also reinforce the growing importance of the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range as a consistent global venue, strengthening India’s shooting ecosystem and long-term high-performance setup.

Meanwhile, India are already eyeing home success with New Delhi set to host the Asian Shooting Championship (Rifle/Pistol) from February 2 to 14. The hosts have assembled the largest contingent with 118 athletes, over a third of the total 311 shooters entered for the competition.

Kazakhstan is the second-largest contingent with 35 athletes, while Iran has registered 28. Regional powerhouses Korea, Iran and Japan have also fielded strong squads, with Chinese Taipei, Vietnam and Hong Kong expected to produce competitive performances.

In total, the championship will feature athletes from 20 countries, with 564 starts across the competition.

Air India has begun a precautionary inspection of fuel control switches across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet after a pilot reported a possible defect on one aircraft.

The Tata Group-owned airline started checks on Tuesday. About half the fleet has already been inspected, with no technical issues found so far, news agency ANI mentioned sources as saying. Inspections of the remaining aircraft are still underway.

The move follows the grounding of an Air India Boeing 787-8 after a pilot flagged a potential problem with the fuel control switch during operations.

Checks underway; matter escalated to Boeing and DGCA

Sources said the airline has escalated the issue to Boeing for priority evaluation. No adverse findings have emerged during the ongoing fleet-wide re-inspection of fuel control switches, they added.

An Air India spokesperson confirmed that the issue was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and that the aircraft manufacturer is being involved to examine the concern at the earliest.

“We are aware that one of our pilots has reported a possible defect on the fuel control switch of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. After receiving this initial information, we have grounded the said aircraft and are involving the OEM to get the pilot’s concerns checked on a priority basis. The matter has been communicated to the aviation regulator, DGCA. Air India had checked the fuel control switches on all Boeing 787 aircraft in its fleet after a directive from the DGCA, and had found no issues. At Air India, the safety of our passengers and crew remains top priority,” the spokesperson said.

Pilots’ body flags past incidents, seeks investigation

Following the development, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged both the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to examine the issue more closely.

FIP president Captain CS Randhawa said this was the third known instance involving uncommanded movement of fuel control switches on a Boeing 787 aircraft.

Speaking to ANI, he said: “The first incident on the Boeing 787-800 aircraft took place on 17 February 2019 at Osaka on an ANA flight, which was landing at Osaka, where both fuel control switches on touchdown, when the throttles were brought to idle position, both these switches went to cutoff position automatically due to an electrical malfunction of the TCMA. We have been relating the same theory for the Air India 171 crash on 12th June at Ahmedabad. This is the third incident where there has been an uncommanded movement of the fuel control switches on the Boeing 787 aircraft.”

Air India has not reported any disruption to flight operations so far. Inspections are continuing as a precaution.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on Meta Platforms and WhatsApp LLC over their privacy policy, stating the tech giants will not be allowed to exploit the personal data of Indian citizens.

Expressing serious concern about their practices, the top court dubbed them a “mockery of constitutionalism”.

“We will not allow you to share a single piece of information. You can’t play with the right to privacy in this country,” a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said, as per ANI news agency. The bench also comprised Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi.

The court made the remarks while hearing a batch of appeals filed by Meta Platforms and WhatsApp LLC challenging a judgment of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that had upheld the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) order imposing a Rs 213.14 crore penalty on Meta for WhatsApp’s 2021 “take it or leave it” privacy policy.

The court also heard a separate appeal filed by the CCI challenging one of the NCLAT findings that there was no abuse of dominance by the two companies, and its move to allow them to share users’ data for advertising purposes.

The Supreme Court questioned the validity of consent, stating users were effectively forced to accept the privacy policy on a “take it or leave it” basis.

Justice Joymalya Bagchi pointed out that the companies’ practices amounted to obtaining “manufactured consent” from users.

“You are making a mockery of the constitutionalism of this country. We will dismiss it right away. How can you play with the right to privacy of people like this? Consumer has no choice, you have created a monopoly,” the CJI said, as per the LiveLaw website.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, during the hearing, said the personal data is not only sold, but also commercially exploited.

Justice Bagchi said the Court would like to look into how WhatsApp “rented out” the data.

“Every silo of data, irrespective of privacy, has a value, we would like to examine, what is the rent sharing of data…we are concerned about how our behaviour is utlitsed and monetised for trends. You are using the data for the purpose of targeted online advertising,” Justice Bagchi reportedly said.

The court has adjourned the matter till February 9, granting Meta and WhatsApp time to file affidavits.

Dhurandhar 2 Teaser Reactions: Ranveer Singh is back, and Hamza Ali Mazari is ready to make your jaw drop. The teaser for ‘Dhurandhar 2’ landed on Tuesday, and X (Twitter) is full of fans laughing, crying, roasting the clip all at once.

X (Twitter) reactions on ‘Dhurandar 2’ teaser: “Chuna laga diya”

Not everyone was thrilled. Many fans expected brand-new footage, only to get a reminder of the first film’s post-credit montage. Tweets ranged from playful disappointment to full-on memes.

@AdityaDharFilms People are waiting for something new, but he shows us post credits lol. #Dhurandhar The Revenge pic.twitter.com/EfMUwUiU2q

— Soham (@sohamsjani7) February 3, 2026

Ye kya tha @AdityaDharFilms ?
Teaser k naam par part 1 ka post credit fir se dikha dia ..#DhurandharTheRevenge #Dhurandhar2teaser #Dhurandhar

— फिल्मी मलेरिया (@thefilmymalaria) February 3, 2026

Waited all day for Dhurandhar 2 teaser
Got the end-credits clip instead
Oye chuna laga diya #DhurandharTheRevenge pic.twitter.com/eayXvwzLBZ

— Meet (@Meet_edits) February 3, 2026

Dhurandhar: The Revenge it’s looking better then part 1 pic.twitter.com/PIPesHlfwC

— VK18 Army | Virat Kohli (@VK18Army) February 3, 2026

Dhurandhar 2 Teaser is Exactly the Dhurandhar 1’s Outro Nothing extra shown in Teaser Lol, Chuna laga diya jo log teaser ka intezaar kar rahe the unko

— Music & Mountains (@Mousiqui6638) February 3, 2026

Two things

1. Dhurandhar’s original teaser had more clips of the second part than this one
2. I already saw this in Netflix

If this was meant to shock me, I’m definitely shocked right now https://t.co/fAhFBvWm4B

— Adi (@arandomguyposts) February 3, 2026

Dhurandhar 2 ke teaser me to chuna laga diye @AdityaDharFilms sir

— Indian (@Hindubihari07) February 3, 2026

It seems the teaser split the internet. Half rolling their eyes, half already counting days to March 19.

What the teaser shows (Hint: mostly familiar)

Also Read: ‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ teaser OUT: Clean-shaven Ranveer Singh returns as Hamza Ali Mazari in blood-soaked action montage

Before the teaser went live, Ranveer kept fans glued to their screens with a tweet promising the drop at 12:12 pm Tuesday. Earlier that morning, a blood-soaked poster hit social media showing Hamza drenched in rain and rage, a man on a mission for revenge against Pakistan’s crimes.

The teaser itself is mostly a throwback. It’s the end-of-movie montage from ‘Dhurandhar’, featuring Night Rider-style music and flashbacks of Ranveer’s journey from a clean-shaven young man to the feared Dhurandhar we all know. The official logline reads: “Yeh naya Hindustan hai. Yeh ghar mein ghusega bhi aur maarega bhi.”

The first ‘Dhurandhar’ smashed records. The film crossed ₹1,000 crore at the Indian box office and later moved to Netflix, which director Aditya Dhar called a “new chapter” for the franchise.

Since its theatrical release on December 5, the film kept pulling in audiences, cementing its place as the highest-grossing single-language Hindi film in India.

Co-stars like Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi only added to the star power.

‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ release date

March 19 isn’t just Hamza’s day. It’s a full-blown Bollywood clash. ‘Dhurandhar 2’ will go up against Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ and ‘Dacoit’, starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur.

Moviegoers will have a tough choice, and the box office is expected to light up like fireworks.

If you thought the first ‘Dhurandhar’ was intense, brace yourself because Ranveer Singh is back, and he’s not holding anything back. The teaser for ‘Dhurandhar 2’ dropped on Tuesday. Fans are already buzzing about the action-packed, high-octane world of Hamza Ali Mazari, Ranveer’s character.

Also Read: Dhurandhar 2 first look: Ranveer Singh unveils intense avatar as Hamza, sequel titled ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’

Catch the ‘Dhurandhar 2’ teaser here

Before the teaser hit, Ranveer kept fans on the edge of their seats, tweeting Monday that it would arrive at exactly 12:12 pm on Tuesday. Early morning, a blood-soaked poster appeared on social media showing Hamza drenched in rain and fury; a man on a mission to avenge Pakistan’s crimes against India.

The teaser itself, however, doesn’t reveal anything new. It’s essentially the end-of-movie montage from the first ‘Dhurandhar’ complete with Night Rider-style background music and flashbacks of Ranveer’s journey from a clean-shaven young man to the feared Dhurandhar we know.

The official logline says: “Yeh naya Hindustan hai. Yeh ghar mein ghusega bhi aur maarega bhi.”

Dhurandhar box office to streaming success

The first ‘Dhurandhar’ wasn’t just a crowd-puller; it was a record-breaker. After raking in over ₹1,000 crore in theatres, the film moved to Netflix on Friday, marking what director Aditya Dhar called a “new chapter” for the franchise.

The movie kept drawing audiences long after its December 5 release becoming the highest-grossing single-language Hindi film in India.

And for those who can’t get enough of Ranveer and his co-stars Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. The film is also available in Tamil and Telugu.

Sequel buzz and CBFC nod

Fans are already hyped for ‘Dhurandhar 2’, set to hit theatres on March 19. The second teaser has received an A (Adults Only) certificate from the CBFC.

After the jaw-dropping success of the first film, expectations for Hamza’s return are sky-high.

What films will clash with Dhurandhar 2

March 19 is shaping up to be a big day for Bollywood. ‘Dhurandhar 2’ won’t just have fans. It’ll face stiff competition from Yash’s ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ and ‘Dacoit’, starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur.

The Kerala Assembly was thrown into chaos on Tuesday as the ruling front and the opposition clashed sharply over allegations that the investigation into the Sabarimala gold smuggling case was being deliberately derailed, and the protest ended with Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan leading the entire opposition out of the house for the day.

Intense protests by the opposition forced repeated adjournments, turning the House into a scene of shouting matches, physical jostling and unprecedented disorder.

The trouble began when opposition members boycotted the Question Hour and descended into the well of the House holding placards and banners, accusing the government of sabotaging the probe.

As the protest escalated, a group of opposition MLAs led by Anvar Sadath attempted to rush towards the Speaker’s dais and later tried to enter the Speaker’s chamber.

Watch and Ward personnel intervened, leading to pushing and shoving inside the House.

Amid the mounting uproar, Speaker A.N. Shamseer rose from his chair and walked out, forcing a temporary suspension of proceedings.

LoP V.D. Satheesan alleged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold smuggling case had reached a dead end due to interference from the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office.

He accused the police of facilitating default bail for all high-profile accused and claimed that the prime accused, Unnikrishnan Potti, would walk free soon.

According to Satheesan, pressure from the Chief Minister’s Office had shaped the course of the investigation.

Declaring that the opposition could not cooperate with Assembly proceedings under such circumstances, he announced that protests would be intensified both inside and outside the House.

As opposition MLAs continued their demonstration in the well, Speaker Shamseer warned that the banners must be lowered or they would be forcibly removed.

The ruling front responded aggressively. Minister M.B. Rajesh dismissed the protest, alleging that the opposition was “suffering from a lack of issues” and did not even have an adjournment motion to move.

He accused the opposition of insulting democratic institutions and mocked it for venting frustration in the Assembly after setbacks in the High Court in cases, including Sprinklr.

Ruling front members moved close to the well of the House and raised slogans against the opposition, further inflaming tempers.

Despite the House reconvening later in the morning, the din continued, forcing another adjournment.

The bitter war of words and physical confrontations underscored the deepening political fault lines, with the Sabarimala gold smuggling case emerging as a flashpoint that paralysed the Assembly and set the tone for an increasingly confrontational session.

Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has acquired his artificial intelligence (AI) start-up xAI, the billionaire entrepreneur said.
Musk’s note about the deal to acquire xAI was posted by the rocketmaker and shared on his social media platform X.

Musk’s xAI owns and operates his social network X after he merged those two entities last year.
According to a Bloomberg report the combined company of SpaceX and xAI has a valuation of USD1.25 trillion, and SpaceX plans to Initial Public Offering (IPO) later this year.
A CNBC report said that the merger deal between SpaceX and xAI was completed on Monday.
Musk had expanded xAI by merging it with his social network X, which used to be known by the name Twitter. Incidentally, xAI’s main product Grok is under investigation in the EU over its AI image generation feature, with concerns that it was used to create sexualised images. xAI has stated that it has imposed restrictions on Grok users that limit image editing.
Meanwhile, in his note on the SpaceX and XAI merger, Musk said the combination would form an “innovation engine” putting AI, rockets, space-based internet, and media under one roof.
This marks not just the next chapter, but the next book in SpaceX and xAI’s mission: scaling to make a sentient sun to understand the Universe and extend the light of consciousness to the stars!” Musk said.
According to the SpaceX press release, the merger will eventually allow placing AI data centres in space, powered by solar energy.

Musk said, “My estimate is that within 2 to 3 years, the lowest cost way to generate AI compute will be in space. This cost-efficiency alone will enable innovative companies to forge ahead in training their AI models and processing data at unprecedented speeds and scales, accelerating breakthroughs in our understanding of physics and invention of technologies to benefit humanity.”
“This new constellation will build upon the well-established space sustainability design and operational strategies, including end-of-life disposal, that have proven successful for SpaceX’s existing broadband satellite systems.”
The merger follows after SpaceX last week filed an official request with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deploy and operate a constellation of up to one million satellites designed as orbital data centres with unprecedented computing power for advanced AI models and applications.

While the ongoing T20 World Cup row has thrown the tournament into uncertainty, one team that has benefited from the situation is Scotland, even if this wasn’t the way they would have wanted to qualify.

On Monday, Scotland men’s head coach Owen Dawkins confirmed his coaching team and support staff for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India.

Dawkins, along with men’s assistant coach Gordon Drummond, was appointed in December 2025. The duo will be supported by Moneeb Iqbal, Paul Tweddle and Zac Bess during the tournament.

“I’m delighted to confirm the Scotland coaching team for this T20 World Cup campaign,” Dawkins said.

“Given the extremely short notice we had to build a staff for the tournament, it was important for us to provide a staff with a number of different experiences to work alongside Gordon and myself, and it’s great to see we’ve assembled a high-quality group.”

Dawkins also highlighted the value Iqbal and Tweddle bring to the squad.

“Moneeb and Paul both bring huge value in their different areas. Moneeb has good awareness of much of the playing squad having worked with them across the last few years including at the last World Cup in the Caribbean.

“Paul brings great experience and success from his time at Somerset and having previously toured with England. I’m excited to have him lead on our fielding during the tour and know the players will gain lots from him.”

The Scotland head coach also praised the support staff for adjusting quickly to the sudden call-up, with Scotland receiving the ICC invitation to compete in the marquee tournament just 10 days ago.

“Our support staff have been operating at a high level… and it’s this flexibility with all our staff that will help us be successful as a squad,” Dawkins added, while thanking Head of Performance Steve Snell for putting the structure together at short notice.

Among the support staff, Dr Raj McRea-Routray will serve as team doctor, Gary Metcalfe as physiotherapist, and Fiona Rae as team manager.

Iqbal, a former Scotland international, will take up the role of spin coach for a second successive Men’s T20 World Cup, having been part of Scotland’s coaching setup at the 2024 edition in the West Indies and USA.

Tweddle, Somerset’s fielding and assistant coach, was part of the coaching staff that guided the county to T20 Blast titles in 2023 and 2025. He has also served as interim head coach at Taunton and worked with England Lions.

Meanwhile, Bess will take charge as strength and conditioning coach, a role he currently performs with Nottinghamshire. He has previously worked with Worcestershire and has franchise cricket experience with Trent Rockets in The Hundred.

In distressing news coming in from Uttarakhand, a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus carrying over 35 passengers fell into a deep gorge in Dehradun district on Tuesday. Reports said at least three persons – two women and a child – have died in the incident, while many others are injured.

The accident took place near Sudoi Khad on the Kwanu-Minas road in Kalsi area of Dehradun district. The roadways bus was travelling from Nerwa to Vikas Nagar.

News agency ANI reported that a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has reached the accident site to carry out a search and rescue operation. Local residents are also helping in the rescue operation.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand | A bus carrying passengers falls into a gorge in the Kalsi area of Dehradun district; Teams of SDRF are present at the accident site are carrying out search and rescue

(video source: SDRF) pic.twitter.com/QmCG06wXus

— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2026

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said medical teams in the region have been put on alert in view of the accident, and preparations are also being made in case injured passengers need to be airlifted to medical treatment.

“We have received the extremely distressing news of the accident involving a bus of the Himachal Transport Corporation on the Kwanu-Minas Motor Road in the Kalsi area (Dehradun). Upon receiving information about the accident, I spoke with the District Magistrate over the phone and issued necessary instructions. The district administration and police have promptly initiated relief and rescue operations. All nearby medical centers have been placed on high alert mode. If needed, any seriously injured passengers will be airlifted and admitted to advanced medical centers. I pray to God for the safe well-being of all passengers,” the CM posted on X.

क्वानू-मीनस मोटर मार्ग, कालसी क्षेत्र (देहरादून) में हिमाचल परिवहन निगम की बस के दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने का अत्यंत दुःखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ है।

दुर्घटना की सूचना प्राप्त होते ही जिलाधिकारी से दूरभाष पर बात कर आवश्यक निर्देश दिए। जिला प्रशासन एवं पुलिस द्वारा त्वरित कार्रवाई करते हुए…

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) February 3, 2026

Ruckus was witnessed in Parliament on Tuesday, on the third day of the Budget Session. Amid debate on the motion of ‘Thanks to the President’s Address’, the Lok Sabha faced repeated adjournments over the issues of the India-US ‘trade deal’ as well as over the matter of Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi again raising the India-China issue. The Lok Sabha was adjourned yesterday after a heated exchange between the Congress and the ruling BJP over former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s “unpublished” book on the 2020 India-China border skirmishes. The debate had started after Rahul Gandhi repeatedly sought to raise the alleged details of the Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh in 2020.

Earlier today, the Congress party had asked the Central government to take Parliament into confidence on the recent US and EU trade deals. Congress MP KC Venugopal gave an Adjournment Motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the India-US trade agreement, claiming “adverse consequences” for Indian industries and farmers. Last night, India and the United States announced the trade deal reducing tariffs on Indian goods’ export to the US to 18 per cent.

Parliament updates:

Get ready, Moonwalk fans! The King of Pop is ready to take over cinemas once again. Lionsgate has dropped the first trailer for ‘Michael’, a biopic promising an intimate peek into the life of Michael Jackson from his early Jackson 5 days to becoming a global icon. And yes, it’s stirring excitement (and maybe a little curiosity) among fans worldwide.

Catch the ‘Michael’ trailer here

A family affair in spotlight

In a casting twist that’s sure to make headlines, Michael’s nephew Jaafar Jackson steps into the legendary role. This marks Jaafar’s first major film performance, and he’s got big shoes (and sequined socks) to fill.

Director Antoine Fuqua, known for gritty hits like ‘Training Day’ and ‘The Equalizer’, is full of praise for his young star. “It goes beyond the physical resemblance,” Fuqua told ‘People’. “It’s Michael’s spirit that comes through in a magical way. You have to experience it to believe it.”

The Jackson clan and Hollywood heavyweights

The film doesn’t stop at Jaafar. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, the family’s patriarch, while Nia Long steps in as matriarch Katherine Jackson. Miles Teller takes on the role of entertainment lawyer John Branca, and Laura Harrier plays music producer Suzanne de Passe.

Fans of Motown and pop history will be intrigued by Kat Graham as Diana Ross and Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy.

Also Read: When Manish Malhotra styled Michael Jackson in just one day!

Even the Jackson siblings get their moment: Jamal R Henderson is Jermaine, Tre’ Horton plays Marlon, Rhyan Hill embodies Tito, Joseph David-Jones takes on Jackie, and Jessica Sula portrays La Toya.

The young Michael Jackson of Jackson 5 fame is played by Juliano Valdi.

Beyond the music: The story of ‘Michael’

According to the official synopsis, ‘Michael’ is a deep dive into the man behind the sequins. The film traces his journey from the discovery of his prodigious talent to his rise as creative visionary obsessed with perfection.

Fans will get a look at both the glitz and the challenges that shaped his life, with some of his most iconic early solo performances recreated for the big screen.

A biopic backed by the Jackson estate

The Jackson estate has given its stamp of approval ensuring the film stays true to the family’s perspective on Michael’s life. Produced by Lionsgate and GK Films, the project aims to honour the legacy of one of music’s most influential figures. And this gives audiences an unprecedented look at the man behind the legend.

Mark your calendars, pop lovers. ‘Michael’ hits theaters on April 24.