Times of India

Prashant Kishor expressed his support for TVK president Vijay, vowing to assist in securing a victory in the 2026 assembly election. Kishor highlighted TVK as a movement for change, emphasizing shared values of dignity, equality, and opportunity, and urged party members to strengthen their efforts in the coming months.

In Navi Mumbai, a 14-year-old boy and his parents were apprehended for allegedly raising anti-national slogans during the India vs Pakistan cricket match. Legal experts called the police action hasty, suggesting a notice should have been issued first. The family's rented scrap shop was also demolished without notice, raising legal concerns. Police and municipal authorities cited various reasons for their actions.

AAP announced Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora as the candidate for Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, dismissing speculations about Arvind Kejriwal's entry into the upper House. Opposition criticized AAP, alleging an attempt to accommodate a non-Punjabi in Rajya Sabha from Punjab.

Indian-origin MIT graduate Tushar Shah, part of a six-person crew, completed an 11-minute space journey on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin NS-30 mission from West Texas. Shah, a supporter of philanthropic causes, is also a hedge fund partner. The spacecraft traveled past the Von Karman line, returning safely after experiencing weightlessness and offering views of Earth. This mission reflects growing India-US space collaboration.

The first cases of avian influenza virus (H5N1) in domestic cats in India have been reported in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara. This raises concerns about the virus's potential to mutate and infect humans. Scientists identified a specific strain and noted 27 mutations in the infected cats. This occurrence calls for enhanced surveillance in poultry, wild birds, mammals, and humans, due to potential human-to-human transmission.

The farmer protests at the Punjab and Haryana borders have entered their 380th day, surpassing the previous Delhi protests in duration. Farmers demand higher crop prices, debt relief, and better working conditions. Talks with the central government have been fewer this time, with six rounds in 380 days. Protest highlights include fast unto death by Jagjit Singh Dallewal and national highway blockages.

A petition demanding the revocation of Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship has been signed by over 250,000 Canadians. The petition accuses Musk of undermining Canada's national interest and sovereignty due to his close ties with US President Donald Trump. Despite the significant support, the petition is largely symbolic and lacks legal force.

Donald Trump stated that the European Union was initially formed to undermine the US and rejected Ukraine's Nato membership. He emphasised European responsibility for Ukraine's security and announced a visit from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Trump proposed a critical minerals deal, following negotiations over US aid repayments, while seeking an end to the Ukraine war.

Indira Gandhi International Airport is set to complete major projects including the restoration of Terminal 1 by March 15, closure of Terminal 2 for repairs, conversion of a domestic pier at T3 for international flights, and upgrading runway 28 for CAT IIIB. These are planned for completion before winter.

A seven-year-old girl lost her vision after allegedly being slapped by her school principal in Moradabad. Her mother is seeking assistance for her treatment at AIIMS Delhi. Authorities are investigating the incident, although preliminary findings suggest the girl had an existing eye condition.

A young man from Haryana, Sumit, was deported from the US just 12 days after a grueling 7-month journey involving travel through 12 countries. Sumit and several others faced physical and mental torture and were swindled by agents. The police have registered a case against five agents based on Sumit's complaint.

Following a win against Pakistan, the Indian cricket team resumed training at the ICC Academy, with captain Rohit Sharma taking it easy due to a hamstring issue. Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami showed strong performance, with the team in high spirits and aiming to maintain their unbeaten run before the knockouts of the Champions Trophy.

The Lokayukta investigation cleared Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of any involvement in the Mysore Urban Development Authority site allotment case. It revealed that Siddaramaiah became aware of the transactions only in 2013 and had no influence over them. His wife, Parvathi, returned the sites to uphold his reputation. Investigators found no substantial evidence linking Siddaramaiah to any illegal activities.

Prakriti Lamsal, a Nepalese student at KIIT, died after filing harassment complaints. Her father and Nepalese authorities demand justice and an impartial investigation. Protests and diplomatic interventions highlight the call for accountability and prevention of future incidents among Nepali students in India.

A clash broke out between two communities during Mahashivratri celebrations in Hazaribag's Ichak block over the installation of a loudspeaker. The violence resulted in injuries to about 12 people and several vehicles being set on fire. Police imposed prohibitory orders and arrested two individuals to control the situation.

With assembly polls impending, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has inducted seven BJP legislators into the cabinet, raising its strength to 36. This expansion, the third in 13 months, sees BJP ministers outnumber JD(U) at 21 to 13. The added ministers hail from various backgrounds, with representation from Mithilanchal, backward and extremely backward classes, and upper castes, indicating a strategic move ahead of elections.

An advisory committee advised strict penalties for men who proxy for elected women in gram panchayats. Recommendations include capacity-building for women leaders, reporting mechanisms for proxy cases, and leveraging technology for real-time support and monitoring of women's participation.

In Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, a 14-year-old boy attempted to rape and subsequently murdered a 4-year-old girl after luring her with chocolates. The accused, influenced by watching porn, was arrested following the discovery of the victim's body and CCTV evidence linking him to the crime.

In a controversial move, the Trump administration has approved a $397 million package for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jet fleet, while offering India the advanced F-35 Lightning II jet. This dual approach aims to recalibrate South Asia's power dynamics, but raises concerns about Pakistan's potential misuse of the F-16s.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor backed Kerala unit chief K Sudhakaran amid reports of rift, highlighting significant victories under his leadership. Tharoor encouraged unity within the party. Sudhakaran deferred to the party's high command on his position, while denying any controversy regarding his commitment. Speculations intensified with Sudhakaran's recent interactions and requests for role clarification.