Times of India

PDP has slammed the Jammu and Kashmir government for availing the Centre's Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. PDP legislator Waheed Parra called it a "most dangerous scheme" and accused the National Conference of betraying its mandate by taking interest-free loans for capital investments, effectively mortgaging the state.

Samba police apprehended a drug peddler after he attempted to deposit counterfeit currency. Investigations stemming from this incident led to the seizure of approximately 1.9kg of a cocaine-like substance, valued at Rs 19.4 crore. The suspect, a driver by profession, confessed to a long-standing involvement in cocaine sales, with the recovered drugs found in a factory garage.

Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, refused to answer questions from a House Oversight Committee. She invoked her Fifth Amendment right, stating she would only speak if granted clemency by US President Donald Trump. Maxwell's lawyer indicated she is prepared to share "unfiltered truth" if clemency is granted.

The standoff is over. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a U-turn over their boycott of the February 15 game against India at the T20 World Cup. The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash at the T20 World Cup will go ahead as scheduled.

Iran's ambassador to India highlighted the Chabahar Port project as a testament to strong India-Iran partnership, crucial for regional connectivity and development. This initiative builds upon millennia of shared history and culture.

Aiden Markram's explosive 59 powered South Africa to a commanding 213/4 against Canada. Despite a valiant 64 from Navneet Dhaliwal, Canada fell short, finishing at 156/8. Lungi Ngidi's 4/31 and a late surge from David Miller and Tristan Stubbs secured a dominant 57-run victory for the Proteas in their T20 World Cup opener.

YouTube TV is launching over 10 new, lower-priced subscription plans, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model. Users can now pay for specific genres like Sports, News, or Entertainment, with introductory discounts available for new subscribers. These flexible bundles aim to offer more control and cost savings while retaining key features like unlimited DVR.

Actor Rajpal Yadav surrendered to Tihar jail following a cheque bounce case involving approximately Rs 2.5 crore. The legal battle stems from a 2010 loan for his directorial venture, which failed at the box office. Despite years of appeals and partial repayments, the court dismissed his final extension request, citing a lack of seriousness.

Cricket's governing body, the ICC, met with Pakistan and Bangladesh boards. Discussions covered the T20 World Cup and South Asian cricket growth. Bangladesh will face no penalties for its absence from the recent T20 World Cup. The nation will also host an ICC event before 2031. This reaffirms Bangladesh's importance in global cricket.

Ramadan, the most sacred month for Muslims, begins in India on February 19, 2026. Devout Muslims worldwide will observe a month-long fast from dawn to dusk, abstaining from food and water. This period holds immense religious and spiritual significance, marked by pre-dawn meals (Sehri) and evening breaks of fast (Iftari).

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has urged Pakistan to play the scheduled T20 World Cup match against India on February 15, saying it would serve the interests of the global cricket ecosystem. The appeal came after BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul's visit to Pakistan, where he praised the PCB for its support and sportsmanship.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman sharply criticized Pakistan's handling of militancy and its Afghanistan policy, questioning how terrorists cross the border while trade is blocked. He also lambasted broader foreign and economic policies as failures, leading to national isolation and declining trust from China regarding CPEC.

Associate teams have set the tone at the T20 World Cup, and Scott Edwards-led Netherlands will look to build on their strong showing against Pakistan when they face Gerhard Erasmus' Namibia in Delhi. While the Dutch may carry momentum from a high-intensity opener, Namibia’s consistency promises a closely-fought Group A encounter.

As Israeli prime minister Netanyahu visits Washington, concerns over US-Iran talks and potential military escalation are high. Israel warns it will act alone if Iran crosses its red line on ballistic missiles, fearing limited US strikes could leave Iran's core capabilities intact. Netanyahu aims to press for stricter terms on Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

On its part the Trump administration has claimed that India has committed to ending both direct and indirect imports of oil from the Russian Federation. The executive order by Trump says that the tariffs on Indian exports to the US could be increased if such crude imports resume.

Rahul Gandhi's insistence on reading purported extracts from the yet-to-be-published Naravane's book shone the spotlight on the rules and regulations that restrict senior military officials from revealing classified information or crucial leadership decisions even after retirement. The book was slated to hit the stands in January 2024, but the Army and the defence ministry asked the publisher not to go ahead until they had reviewed its contents.

Microsoft has appointed Charlie Bell, its former security chief, as the company's new engineering quality head — less than a year after CEO Satya Nadella said AI writes 30% of its code. The move comes amid rising Windows 11 bugs, underwhelming Copilot adoption, and growing evidence that AI-generated code introduces more errors than it eliminates.

The Supreme Court extended the deadline for West Bengal's electoral roll revision, demanding a personal affidavit from the DGP over alleged threats to election officials. Micro-observers will only assist Electoral Registration Officers, who retain final decision-making power. The court also directed the deployment of Group B officers for the process.

India's ambitious Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project is reportedly excluding Hindustan Aeronautics Limited from its development phase, signaling a potential shift towards private industry leadership. This move, amid HAL's existing commitments and Tejas Mk-1A delays, aims to accelerate the development of the indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter.