Times of India

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a sweeping victory in the Chhattisgarh civic polls by winning all 10 mayoral posts. The voter turnout was 72.19%, with Koriya and Gariaband recording the highest turnout. This victory, according to BJP chief JP Nadda, reflects the trust of people in the BJP's public welfare schemes and leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India captain Rohit Sharma, along with his teammates, departed for Dubai ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. All Group A matches, including India's games against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, will be held in Dubai. Key players Bumrah and Jaiswal are out due to injuries, with Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy filling in as replacements.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference urged the formation of a unified European armed force, citing the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war as proof of its necessity. He stressed the need for Europe to prepare for U.S. disengagement on critical issues, advocating for European military independence while maintaining a NATO partnership.

Barron Trump, despite being the son of President Donald Trump, maintains a low profile at NYU's Stern School of Business. His presence is notable, though his activities remain private due to constant Secret Service supervision, sparking both curiosity and speculation among students.

Ashley St. Clair, a 31-year-old author and influencer, claimed via X on February 14, 2025, that she secretly gave birth to Elon Musk’s 13th child five months ago. St. Clair emphasized the need for privacy and safety for their child, urging media to respect their privacy. Elon Musk has yet to directly address the claim.

Actress Jaya Bachchan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman engaged in a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha over the treatment of the film industry in the Union Budget. Jaya Bachchan accused the government of neglecting the industry, while Sitharaman defended the government's stance and highlighted past political actions against film personalities.

Maye Musk expressed her excitement over Elon Musk's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi and Musk discussed collaboration in areas such as innovation, space exploration, and sustainable development. Elon Musk gifted PM Modi a heat shield tile from SpaceX, while Modi presented Musk's children with classic Indian books.

An initial group of Indian cricketers and support staff gathered in Mumbai, preparing to travel to Dubai for the Champions Trophy. Key players, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, were seen at the airport. Changes in the squad include Harshit Rana replacing injured Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy in for Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Hamas militants released three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza, exchanged for over 300 Palestinian prisoners. This orchestrated swap saw hostages Sagui Dekel-Chen, Sasha Trupanov, and Yair Horn parading before their release. Concerns remain over both Israeli and Palestinian detainees' treatment. Tensions persist, especially post Trump's controversial Gaza relocation proposal, with the ceasefire's future uncertain as negotiations continue.

Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha ordered the dismissal of three government employees for alleged terror activities, including arranging weapons and staging attacks. This decision comes amid heightened efforts to dismantle the terror ecosystem in the region and ensure security.

Anna Muzychuk, Ukraine's top-ranked chess player, is set to compete in Norway Chess Women 2025. She aims to build on her runner-up finish from last year. The tournament features strong contenders like Ju Wenjun and Koneru Humpy. Equal prize money and unique scoring systems add to the competitive excitement. Muzychuk focuses on strategic preparation.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra advises Team India to focus on chasing targets in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, emphasizing their batting strengths. Despite a diverse bowling lineup, Chopra highlights potential weaknesses and suggests India's batters take on the responsibility of winning games. All matches in Dubai minimize concerns about pitch conditions affecting second-innings performance.

India will start their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 in Dubai, facing Bangladesh. They have included five spinners in their squad, which has raised concerns about being too spin-heavy. Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggests that India might have one or two spinners too many in their 15-member squad.

Ravichandran Ashwin emphasizes the need to stop treating Indian cricketers as superstars and urges for normalization in the sport. He believes players should be seen as relatable sportspersons. Ashwin, who recently retired, advocates considering top performances as routine and aims for higher collective goals in Indian cricket.

Aakash Chopra speculates the 2025 Champions Trophy might be the last ICC event for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja due to the upcoming changes in the Indian team. The trio's participation in future tournaments is uncertain. With the next T20 World Cup in 2026 and ODI World Cup in 2027, the team might look different.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has criticized the Indian government's handling of deportation processes as a second US aircraft with illegal Indian immigrants is set to land in Amritsar. Chidambaram and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann raise concerns over the treatment and landing location, calling it a test for Indian diplomacy.

Iga Swiatek, three-time defending champion, faced a shocking 6-3, 6-1 defeat to Jelena Ostapenko in the Qatar Open semi-finals. Ostapenko's powerful performance marked her fifth consecutive win over Swiatek, halting Swiatek's 15-match winning streak in Doha. Ostapenko advances to the final to compete against Amanda Anisimova for the WTA 1000 title.

The INDIA bloc remains divided over Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's claim that flights with illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar to defame the state. While some MPs support Mann's view that flights should have landed in other states, others dismiss his assertions as meaningless.

India's Champions Trophy campaign faces a setback with Jasprit Bumrah out due to a back injury, weakening their bowling attack. His replacement, the inexperienced Harshit Rana, and concerns about Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami's readiness add to India's challenges. Former cricketer David Lloyd highlights the difficulties ahead for India's pace attack.

Ranveer Allahbadia approached the Supreme Court to consolidate multiple FIRs against him for controversial remarks. His plea was presented before Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar. Senior lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud represented Allahbadia, emphasizing the need for urgent hearing due to a summon from Assam police.