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Kerala temples unveil robotic elephants as alternative to real tuskers

Two robotic elephants developed by the Voices for Asian Elephants Society were unveiled at temples in Kerala’s Alappuzha district. Named Neelamkulangara Vishnudasan and Omkareswaram Rama Senapathy, they were ceremonially introduced at the Panavally Neelamkulangara Sree Narayana Vilasam Sree Maha Vishnu Temple and the Omkareswaram Sree Rama Subrahmanya Temple in Cherthala.

According to the organisation, the elephants entered the temples amid traditional music and rituals, offering “a humane and culturally sensitive alternative to live captive elephants” while preserving Kerala’s sacred pageantry and customs.

Founder and Managing Director Sangita Iyer said captive elephants face suffering and early deaths. Referring to a recent stampede involving Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran and the death of a mahout in another incident, she underscored the need for meaningful reform.

Standing 10 feet tall and weighing about 500 kg, the fibre-and-rubber elephants feature electronically movable eyes, ears, trunk and tail, and can carry up to four people during rituals. Designed by Four He-Arts Creations in Chalakudy, they are the third and fourth such installations commissioned by the society.

Delhi records warm day at 28.4 degrees Celsius, AQI in 'poor' category

Delhi witnessed a warm Friday as the maximum temperature settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius, 2.9 notches above normal, while the air quality remained in the "poor" category at 209. The minimum temperature was recorded at 12.8 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

For Saturday, the weather office has forecast a mainly clear sky with mist during the morning hours, and the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 28 degrees Celsius. Station-wise data showed that Ridge recorded the highest maximum temperature at 28.8 degrees Celsius, 3 notches above normal, followed by Lodi Road at 28.6 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees above normal.

Meanwhile, Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 26.3 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees above normal, and Ayanagar recorded 26.8 degrees Celsius, 3.3 degrees above normal. The Ridge recorded a maximum temperature of 26.5 degrees Celsius, 2.7 notches above normal, while Palam recorded 23.6 degrees Celsius. On the air quality front, the city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 198.

Manipur journalists hold protest in Imphal over assault of local newspaper editor

Journalists in Manipur staged a sit-in in Imphal on Friday to protest against the assault of the senior editor of a local newspaper by armed men.

During the protest, jointly organised by All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) at Keisampat Leimajam Leikai, the scribes raised slogans and held placards with "we oppose attack on media persons" and "stop intimidating media persons" written on them.

Armed men intercepted the car of Khoirom Loyalakpa, the editor of Manipuri daily Naharolgi Thoudang, near Hatta Cemetery, around 10 pm on Wednesday, police said.

Two rounds were fired at his vehicle, which shattered the rear glass. Following this, the attackers physically assaulted him, they said.

India reaffirms support for two-state solution to Palestine issue

India on Friday reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution to the Palestine issue and said it had joined more than 100 countries and international organisations in a statement condemning Israel's attempts to expand unlawful settlements in the West Bank.

India did not figure in the initial statement that was endorsed by around 80 countries and organisations. Palestine's UN envoy Riyad Mansour released it on Tuesday. A fresh statement saw India and around 20 countries and organisations back it.

Asked why India was not part of the initial statement, External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing that the document had not been negotiated by the countries and organisations as has been the norm.

"Our position on this particular issue was most recently expressed in the India-Arab League ministerial joint statement," he said.

RSS' defamation case: Rahul Gandhi to appear before Bhiwandi court

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will appear before a magistrate's court at Bhiwandi in the district on Saturday in connection with a defamation case filed against him by an RSS activist, his lawyer said.

"Rahul has been asked to furnish a fresh surety as (Congress leader) Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, his current surety, died on December 12," his lawyer advocate Narayan Iyer told PTI.

Shivraj Patil, a former Union minister, had stood as surety or guarantor when Rahul Gandhi was granted bail in the case.

The judge specifically instructed Rahul, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to be present in person to complete the formalities related to the new surety, the lawyer said.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist Rajesh Kunte filed a complaint in the court alleging that the Congress leader, while speaking at a rally at Sonale village during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, stated that the Sangh was behind the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

The false remark maligned the RSS's image, said Kunte in his complaint under section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.

Kunte's cross-examination and re-examination during the trial is over. The next hearing was initially scheduled for December 20, 2025, but was postponed to January 17, due to the need for a new surety. On January 17, the magistrate further adjourned the matter to February 21. 

Bihar CM reduced to 'puppet', criminals roaming free with impunity: Tejashwi Yadav

Claiming that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been reduced to a "puppet" in the hands of the BJP, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, alleged on Friday (February 20) that criminals were operating freely across the state.

Addressing reporters outside the assembly, Yadav said the NDA government has established a "dartantra" (system of fear) in the state. "The situation in Bihar is extremely unfortunate. Our CM appears unconscious and unconcerned about ground realities. The BJP is using him like a puppet," he claimed. The RJD leader claimed that crime is rampant not only in Bihar but across BJP-ruled states.

Yadav pointed out that the chief minister traditionally retains the Home and Law departments but alleged that Kumar has been "so weakened" that these key portfolios have effectively been taken away from him. Accusing the government of shielding criminals, he said those committing crimes have become 'vijay' (victorious) and 'samrat' (king) in the state, an apparent reference to Deputy CMs Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary. "There is no shame left in this government. Criminals are carrying out a naked dance of crime fearlessly and with impunity," he alleged.

AIADMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu will only finish in third place, says Congress MP

The AIADMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu will only finish in third place in terms of vote share in the upcoming Assembly polls, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said on Friday.

Citing a study, the MP from Virudhunagar constituency asserted that the alliance, whether contesting from Sivakasi or anywhere else, would only fare better than third place.

Addressing reporters, he said, "Our survey indicates that the AIADMK-led alliance will secure only 18-20 per cent (of the total votes polled in Assembly elections). This is an undeniable truth." According to him, even those BJP leaders planning to contest would eventually withdraw, fearing defeat in the polls.

"In this election, it is very clear that the AIADMK-BJP alliance will be rejected by the people. They will come in third place. (Actually) we are talking about two parties that are not even in the race," he said.

On his earlier statement that he would not contest again from Virudhunagar constituency, Tagore reiterated his decision.

"My relationship with Virudhunagar is one of love and affection. I will continue to raise my voice in the Parliament for the welfare of people of Virudhunagar," he added. 

Supreme Court of India refuses to entertain plea against naming religious structures after Babur

The Supreme Court of India on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to restrain the construction, establishment or naming of any mosque or religious structure after Mughal emperor Babur or the Babri Masjid. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta showed its disinclination to consider the petition, following which the petitioner’s counsel withdrew it. The bench subsequently ordered, “Dismissed as withdrawn.”

The petitioner’s counsel referred to suspended All India Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir’s reported announcement to construct a replica of the Babri Masjid in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. He told the court the petitioner was opposed to the construction of mosques in the name of “invaders” and alleged that Kabir had “announced for construction of Babri Masjid in Murshidabad despite the fact that Babur was an invader,” urging that action be taken.

The plea sought directions to the Centre and state authorities to restrain the construction of any monument or mosque in the name of Babur and to consider framing guidelines, circulars or administrative orders to ban the construction or naming of religious structures after Babur, Babri Masjid or “any such person who invaded in India” across the country.

The matter comes in the backdrop of the apex court’s landmark November 2019 verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi–Babri Masjid title dispute, which cleared the way for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.

Gold futures climb to Rs 1.56 lakh/10g amid rising US-Iran tensions

Gold prices climbed by Rs 1,315 to Rs 1.56 lakh per 10 grams in the futures trade on Friday, tracking firm global trends amid renewed geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, which boosted the safe-haven asset.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the yellow metal for April delivery appreciated by Rs 1,315, or 0.85 per cent, to Rs 1,56,134 per 10 grams in a business turnover of 7,355 lots.

In the international market, Comex gold futures for April delivery gained USD 49.55, or 1 per cent, to USD 5,046.95 per ounce. 

Gold went above the USD 5,000-mark as safe-haven demand strengthened amid rising US-Iran tensions, Hareesh V, Head of Commodity Research, Geojit Investments Ltd, said.

He added that a strong US dollar and shifting interest-rate expectations could temporarily cap sharp gains; continued escalating tensions are likely to keep risk-averse flows elevated, potentially supporting a further rise in gold prices in the coming days.

Youth Congress workers stage protest at Bharat Mandapam

Workers of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a topless protest outside Bharat Mandapam amid the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre over the issues of unemployment and inflation.