India

In Devanahalli, Karnataka, a residential school owner Dhananjay and his wife Shailaja were booked under the POCSO Act for repeated sexual harassment of minors, illegal confinement, and cover-up. Victims contacted parents, prompting police action and ongoing legal proceedings

In Amaravati, the Andhra Pradesh government plans to develop rare earth and titanium-based minerals from its beach sand reserves, aiming to reduce dependence on China, build a coastal value-addition corridor, and boost domestic manufacturing for clean energy and defense

Air India passengers in Tel Aviv were evacuated to shelters, and the airline has suspended flights to New Delhi for a week after Israel launched a pre-emptive strike on Iran.

In Prague, Grand Master Jorden van Foreest defeated World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in round three of the 2026 Prague Chess Festival Masters, moving into a tie for first while Gukesh fell into a tie for last

DMK and Congress began formal seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with Congress seeking more than 25 seats, a Rajya Sabha berth, and a share in power

Palayam Imam VP Suhaib Maulavi urged Muslims to open mosques and homes for Hindu devotees during the Attukal Pongala festival, promoting interfaith harmony and fraternity amid ongoing debates over the “Kerala Story 2” movie

In Madurai, elaborate security measures have been deployed at Tirupparankundram Subramanya Swamy Temple ahead of Narendra Modi’s visit, coinciding with foundation stones and inaugurations of projects worth over ₹7,100 crore across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

In Sheopur, nine cheetahs from Botswana arrived at Kuno National Park under Project Cheetah, raising India’s tally to 48 and boosting efforts to restore the species decades after its extinction.

The United States Department of Defense will deploy OpenAI models on classified networks, CEO Sam Altman said, stressing safeguards on surveillance and autonomous weapons amid reported differences with Anthropic

Actress-politician Kangana Ranaut shared elegant photos in a traditional Patola saree from the Rising Bharat Summit 2026, alongside motivational advice on social media about ambition, self-worth, and staying away from negativity

The Election Commission of India will publish West Bengal’s final voters’ list, categorising names as “approved”, “under adjudication”, or “deleted”, with lakhs under judicial scrutiny and multiple online and offline verification options available to electors

Narendra Modi will visit Ajmer to launch a nationwide HPV vaccination drive, distribute appointment letters to 21,863 youths, and unveil development projects worth ₹16,686 crore, focusing on healthcare, infrastructure, and employment generation

Hasini Yadav beats Sanjana 5-7, 5-7 in the singles final—both are from Telangana

Sreenidi Deccan FC will open their Indian Football League 2025-26 season against Diamond Harbour FC at Kalyani Stadium, Kolkata. Portuguese coach Carlos Vaz Pinto returns to lead the Deccan Warriors, backed by key new signings in a strong squad for the campaign.

Hockey India has appointed Adoptrees as the Sustainability Partner for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Hyderabad. The initiative will plant trees for every goal and penalty corner, promoting sustainability and creating a lasting environmental legacy across India

Five players from Telangana have been selected for the Indian ball badminton team for the Indo-Malaysia international series in Malaysia from February 28 to March 4. The team trained under TBBA supervision and received a send-off on Friday

Indian Railways won the 72nd Senior Men’s National Kabaddi Championship by defeating Maharashtra 49-31 in the final at Vadodara. Led by Sunil Kumar, Railways dominated the tournament, overcoming 29 teams to lift the prestigious trophy.

Jammu and Kashmir moved closer to their maiden Ranji Trophy title after dominating Karnataka on the penultimate day in Hubballi. Auqib Nabi’s five-wicket haul and Qamran Iqbal’s unbeaten 94 gave J&K a massive overall lead

England defeated New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling T20 World Cup Super Eights match in Colombo. Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed led the comeback after early setbacks, keeping Pakistan’s semifinal hopes alive and helping England top Group 2.

Ongoing military conflict with Afghanistan has its roots in Islamabad’s duplicitous policy on terrorism: nurturing ‘good terrorists’ to target India while fighting ‘bad terrorists’ who, it alleges, are trained in Afghanistan

Despite bans in nearly 70 countries, the toxic weedkiller remains legal in India, raising alarm over poisoning deaths and the risk of Parkinson’s

The J&K Students Association has sought Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s intervention over alleged harassment of Kashmiri students at a Kurnool nursing college, citing denial of Ramzan facilities, discrimination, and violation of fundamental rights

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Anjadip in Chennai to strengthen its anti-submarine and coastal defence capabilities. Equipped with advanced indigenous systems, the vessel enhances under-sea warfare readiness and reflects India’s growing self-reliance in defence production

While discharging Arvind Kejriwal and others in the excise case, a Delhi court warned that prolonged detention under PMLA can turn punitive. It stressed that arrest and incarceration must remain exceptions and that personal liberty is a constitutional right