Feb 26 News Live: HC considers appeal against stay on 'Kerala Story 2' release
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Here is the top, trending news of Thursday, February 26, 2026, including Indian politics, states' politics, geopolitics, federal issues, economics, development issues, sports, entertainment, and so on.
Read updates below.
Live Updates
- 26 Feb 2026 8:57 PM IST
Kerala HC considers appeal against stay order on 'The Kerala Story 2' release
A division bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday considered an appeal against its single judge order putting on hold for 15 days the release of The Kerala Story 2.
In a late-evening hearing, a bench of Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and PV Balakrishnan observed that the pleas opposing the film's certification were in the nature of a public interest litigation and questioned how the single judge could hear it.
Hours after the single judge stayed the film's release, the producers moved an appeal and the hearing in that by the division bench began from 8 pm.
The producers claimed that the film does not harm or denigrate the state of Kerala or any religious community.
Appearing for the producers, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul told the court that even the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) found that there was nothing in the film which denigrates the state.
"The film only portrays a social evil," he contended.
- 26 Feb 2026 8:08 PM IST
South Africa hammer West Indies in T20 World Cup, keep India afloat
South Africa continued with their clinical show in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 as they outclassed the West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash in Ahmedabad to stretch their unbeaten run. The Proteas now have four points from two matches and sit comfortably at the top of the points table.
A dominating show by the Proteas pacer was followed by authoritative batting. Yet again, South Africa executed their plans perfectly to further their cause, racking up their sixth win on the trot and halting West Indies' unbeaten run in the tournament.
With South Africa taking two vital points off the West Indies, hosts India now have their qualification hopes firmly in their own hands, as a Caribbean win would have dented their chances severely.
The loss hurt the Caribbean side’s net run rate which came down to 1.791 from a healthy 5.350. They would have to beat India in their final Super 8 game.
- 26 Feb 2026 8:01 PM IST
US holds talks with Iran amid deploying more forces to Middle East
Iran and the US on Thursday engaged in several hours of indirect discussions in Geneva regarding Tehran's nuclear negotiations, perceived as a final opportunity for diplomatic resolution, as the Donald Trump administration has assembled a fleet of aircraft and warships in the Middle East to exert pressure on the Iranian establishment to reach an agreement.
Trump is seeking a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear programme, as he sees an opportunity while Iranian authorities cope with growing dissent at home following nationwide protests last month.
Tehran, meanwhile, has maintained it wants to continue to enrich uranium even as its programme sits in ruins, following Trump ordering an attack in June on three of the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites, part of a bruising 12-day war between Iran and its regional rival Israel in 2025.
If an American attack happens, Iran has said all US military bases in the Mideast would be considered legitimate targets, putting at risk tens of thousands of American service members. It has also threatened to attack Israel, meaning a regional war again could erupt across the Middle East.
- 26 Feb 2026 7:51 PM IST
SC defers plea challenging Sonam Wangchuk's detention to March 10
The Supreme Court on Thursday postponed the hearing on a petition submitted by Gitanjali J Angmo, the spouse of imprisoned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, to March 10. The plea contests his detention under the National Security Act (NSA).
A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P B Varale said it will go through the videos of Wangchuk's speeches given to it, during the Holi vacation.
"We wanted to see those pen drives. We have asked the Registrar IT to make arrangements during vacations," the bench observed. The top court clarified that it will finish hearing the plea on March 10 and reserve its order.
The apex court on Monday (February 23) adjourned the matter for hearing on Thursday as Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not available.
- 26 Feb 2026 7:43 PM IST
Nagaland signs MoU with IMD for better weather forecasting, atmospheric research
Nagaland's higher education department on Thursday inked a 20-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to enhance weather forecasting and atmospheric research in the northeastern state.
As per the agreement, the Centre will install one X-Band Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at Dimapur Government College under its Mission Mausam scheme, an official statement said.
The main goal of the MoU is to improve weather-forecasting abilities and bolster agrometeorological services in Nagaland, thereby facilitating better policy planning, disaster readiness, and public safety.
The institutional cooperation between state and IMD will focus on advancing knowledge in urban meteorology and atmospheric sciences, along with exploring mutually identified new research areas. The collaboration is expected to improve understanding of weather hazards specific to Nagaland and support more accurate operational weather forecasts.
- 26 Feb 2026 7:36 PM IST
Judicial officers from Jharkhand, Odisha to reach Bengal for SIR aid
Approximately 200 judicial officials from Jharkhand and Odisha are expected to arrive in West Bengal shortly for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, said Subrata Gupta, special rolls observer of the Election Commission for Bengal, on Thursday.
Gupta stated that the panel will soon be notified regarding the appointment of the officials, in accordance with the Supreme Court's recommendation to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Sujoy Paul.
"We will make all arrangements for the training of the judicial officers for the exercise," he told reporters after attending a stock-taking meeting convened by the chief justice.
According to the apex court's directive, judicial officers from Bengal’s lower courts have been deputed to adjudicate claims and objections of persons listed under logical discrepancies, whose names are in jeopardy of being removed from the electoral rolls.
- 26 Feb 2026 6:59 PM IST
India slams Pakistan at UN over Jammu & Kashmir remarks
Slamming Pakistan at the UN, India has said the country lives in “la-la land” and finds it unbelievable that Jammu and Kashmir’s developmental budget is more than double the recent bailout package Islamabad sought from the IMF.
Anupama Singh, First Secretary in the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in Geneva, exercised India’s Right of Reply on Wednesday (February 26) after Pakistan raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the high-level segment of the 61st Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
“India is compelled to exercise its Right of Reply in response to references made to it during the high-level segment by Pakistan and the OIC. We categorically reject these allegations,” she said, referring to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Singh added that it is hard to take lectures on democracy from a country where civilian governments rarely complete their terms.
"They ring hollow. The record voter turnout in general elections and Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir, is a testimony to the fact that people of Jammu & Kashmir have rejected the ideology of terrorism and violence propagated by Pakistan and are surging ahead on the path of development and democracy,” she said.
- 26 Feb 2026 6:57 PM IST
SC seeks expert panel to redefine Aravallis
The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 26) asked the environment ministry and other stakeholders to suggest names of domain experts for the panel that would define the Aravalli hills and ranges, and observed that only lawful mining would be allowed in the region.
The top court, on December 29, took note of the outcry over the new definition of the Aravallis and kept in abeyance its November 20 directions that accepted a uniform definition of these hills and ranges. It had also stalled all mining activities.
It remarked that there was a need to resolve "critical ambiguities", including whether the criteria of 100-metre elevation and the 500-metre gap between hills would strip a significant portion of the range of environmental protection.
On Thursday, a top court bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi extended its earlier stay order for the time being.
- 26 Feb 2026 6:51 PM IST
Sebi revises valuation methodology for gold, silver held by mutual funds
Capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on Thursday (February 26) revised the valuation methodology for physical gold and silver held by mutual fund schemes, mandating the use of polled spot prices published by stock exchanges for calculating the worth.
The spot prices used for settlement of physically delivered bullion derivatives contracts will now form the basis for pricing such holdings, replacing the earlier benchmark-linked approach.
This will become effective from April 1, 2026, the markets regulator said in its circular.
Currently, gold and silver ETFs (exchange traded funds) value their holdings based on the AM fixing prices of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), adjusted for currency conversion, transportation costs, customs duty, taxes and other levies to arrive at domestic prices.
- 26 Feb 2026 4:59 PM IST
Delhi Police arrests 7 for robbing student
Seven members of an armed gang, including its kingpin, have been arrested for allegedly robbing a college student at gunpoint after he was lured through a fake cryptocurrency deal in west Delhi’s Paschim Vihar, police said on Thursday.
The complainant, a BTech student of a government college in Dwarka, recently received a scholarship of Rs 2 lakh and planned to invest in cryptocurrency.
He contacted a social media account offering USDT (a cryptocurrency) at discounted rates and fixed a meeting, police said.
According to the complainant, when he reached Paschim Vihar East Metro Station with two friends, one of the accused allegedly entered his car and brandished a pistol.
He told police then five to six accomplices then surrounded the vehicle, robbed him of Rs 1.83 lakh before fleeing.
The kingpin, Amit Jain (31), allegedly created fake social media pages after suffering heavy business losses abroad.
Police have recovered Rs 1.45 lakh in cash, a pistol with three live cartridges, a car, a motorcycle, a scooter, a laptop and 11 mobile phones used in the crime.
