A student from Maharashtra drowned and another went missing after venturing into the sea in Chennai, officials said on Sunday. It was not immediately known which institution the students were from or the exact location where the incident occurred. The Maharashtra government has appealed to the Tamil Nadu authorities to expedite the search and rescue operations. The incident took place on Saturday when a group of 26 students visited the seashore. Three of them entered the water, during which Mayuri Chaudhari from Nagpur drowned. Jay Patil went missing, and a search operation was underway to trace him, according to a statement from the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office. Another student, Raj Kedari, was rescued safely, the statement said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has contacted the Tamil Nadu government and is overseeing the relief efforts. He urged the Tamil Nadu authorities to provide immediate assistance and intensify the rescue operation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 February,2026 02:19 PM IST | Nagpur | PTIPresident Droupadi Murmu received Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. She also hosted a banquet in his honour. The President thanked him for his participation and valuable contribution to the AI Impact Summit. She also congratulated him on the successful hosting of the BRICS and COP-30 Summits in Brazil last year, according to the release. The President was happy to note that the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership continues to make steady progress across several sectors, including trade and investment, defence, oil and gas, bio-fuels, agriculture and livestock, healthcare and traditional medicine, space, science and technology, digital cooperation, and cyber security. Underlining that Brazil is India's largest trade partner in Latin America, the President said that there is immense potential to expand and diversify the bilateral trade. She stated that India is keen to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR and is equally committed to deepening bilateral trade engagement with Brazil, the release stated. The President was happy to note that India-Brazil cooperation in agriculture has grown stronger in recent years. She said that our trade in primary and secondary products, as well as agro-chemicals, is substantial. She emphasised the need to promote research and technology transfer in areas such as crop production, irrigation techniques, post-harvest management, and biotechnology. The President said that India and Brazil share a strong partnership in the energy sector, encompassing both conventional and renewable energy, including trade and investment. She appreciated Brazil's continued support for the Global Biofuel Alliance. She stated that as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the India-Brazil partnership has also been fruitful. The President highlighted that this is also an opportune time to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in critical minerals and rare earth materials. She was happy to note that an important agreement had been signed in this sector today. The President said that as leading voices of the Global South, India and Brazil must continue working towards reform of multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to make them more representative of contemporary realities, the release stated. The two leaders agreed that there is tremendous potential to further deepen India-Brazil bilateral cooperation. President Droupadi Murmu expressed confidence that under the leadership of President Lula, India and Brazil will grow even closer. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in India on February 18. During the period February 19-20 participated in the India AI Impact Summit. This is President Lula's fifth visit to India as President of Brazil. The visit comes seven months after the state visit of PM Modi to Brasilia on July 8, 2025.
22 February,2026 12:24 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIA fire broke out in a residential house in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials said. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. More details awaited. Recently, there have been multiple fire incidents in Kulgam, including one in Dragdan village where two residential houses were gutted, and another in the Daderkoot area where three houses were damaged, possibly due to a short circuit. The authorities are investigating the causes of these fires, and fire services have been prompt in responding to the incidents. In some cases, no loss of life has been reported, but household goods and belongings have been damaged. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 February,2026 12:20 PM IST | Kulgam | ANIA Delhi court on Saturday sent the four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers, who were arrested for protesting at the AI Impact Summit venue a day ago, to five-day police custody. A detailed order is awaited. The arrested protesters were Krishna Hari, national secretary of Youth Congress from Bihar; Kundan Yadav, IYC state secretary, Bihar; Ajay Kumar, IYC state president, Uttar Pradesh; and Narasimha Yadav from Telangana. BJP protests take over the nation. PICS/PTI Delhi Police sought five-day custody of the arrested protesters, arguing that they raised anti-national slogans and wore t-shirts with objectionable images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the event venue. T-shirts spoke of the India-US Trade Deal and the Epstein Files, and read, “PM is compromised”; with pictures of the PM and US President Donald Trump. Counsel for the police argued that it was a “serious” matter. An attempt was made to stop the police, following which three personnel were injured, he said. Delhi police said the protests were similar to Nepal’s Gen Z protest last year. Besides, the conspiracy behind organising the protest, the source of funding and where the t-shirts were printed needed to be ascertained, the counsel said. The counsel appearing for the arrested protesters argued that they were associated with a political party and had exercised their democratic right to protest peacefully. The advocate claimed that their arrest greatly diminished the dignity of democracy and that if arrests are to be made for protesting, then MPs protesting in Parliament should also be arrested. BJP holds nationwide protests Madhya Pradesh Nearly 10 persons, including a policeman and two journalists, were injured after Congress and BJYM pelted stones at each other during a protest in Indore on Saturday. BJYM members reached Congress office and tried to lay siege to it. During the clash, water bottles, oranges, and tomatoes were also thrown. To bring the situation under control, police used water cannons. New Delhi Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and Lok Sabha MP Manoj Tiwari termed Congress demonstration as an act of “treason”. BJP leaders like state general secretary Vishnu Mittal and MLA Raj Kumar Bhatia showed up for protests in Delhi. Police personnel stopped them at a barricade as they tried to march towards Congress headquarters. Haryana BJYM held a demonstration against the led by senior BJP leader and former Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, assembled at Sector 5 and raised slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. They also burnt an effigy of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, accusing him and his party workers of trying to insult India at the mega event, demanding an apology from Gandhi for allegedly defaming the country. “The way some ‘goondas’ of Rahul Gandhi held a demonstration and insulted India... there can be no bigger crime than this,” Gupta said. Rajasthan BJYM led by state president Shankar Gora on Saturday staged a demonstration outside the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters. “A large number of women were also present there. In opposing the Prime Minister and the BJP, the Congress has now started opposing the nation itself,” Gora said. A scuffle broke out as some protesters attempted to cross the barricades, but police stopped them. The demonstration continued for around half an hour more. Uttar Pradesh In the presence of police officers, hundreds of BJYM workers expressed their anger. BJYM district president Chandan Narayan Singh said. Following the protest, BJYM workers submitted a memorandum demanding the identification and strict legal action against the perpetrators behind the incident to the District Magistrate and City Magistrate Preeti Jain at the Collectorate. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 February,2026 08:37 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesSwami Avimukteshwaranand, on Saturday, asserted that the FIR ordered against him in a child sexual abuse case would ultimately expose what he described as "false matter", expressing full faith in the judicial process and saying that the truth would emerge through investigation. Speaking to media persons, Swami Avimukteshwaranand said the legal process would ultimately reveal the truth. "Filing a case is appropriate, because once the case is registered, further investigation and evidence gathering will take place, and the truth about the false case filed against us will come to light," he added. The seer also questioned the credibility of the complainant, claiming that the person making allegations had a criminal background. "The individual who has levelled accusations against me is himself a history-sheeter. His record proves this," Swami Avimukteshwaranand alleged, further claiming that the person's primary activity was filing fabricated cases against people to extort money. Referring to Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya, the seer alleged that the complainant portrayed himself as the Jagadguru's disciple. He further claimed that attempts were being made to silence voices raised for cow protection. "We have complete faith in the judiciary. We are not like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath that we would want cases against us to be withdrawn. We will continue to speak without fear," he said, adding that he believed truth would prevail. Meanwhile, his disciple, Swami Mukundanand Giri, also rejected the allegations, calling them a conspiracy to defame the Shankaracharya tradition. "This is a legal process. We only want the court to hear our side fully and consider the correct facts as soon as possible," he said. Earlier, Special POCSO Judge Vinod Kumar Chaurasia directed the Jhunsi Police Station in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj to register an FIR on a complaint filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari. The court ordered further investigation after reviewing a preliminary inquiry report submitted by the Prayagraj Police Commissioner Jogendra Kumar. The case pertains to allegations of sexual abuse of minors under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 February,2026 11:18 PM IST | Varanasi | IANSThe Congress on Saturday demanded that the government put the interim trade agreement on hold and renegotiate the terms of the deal after the US Supreme Court invalidated the reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the government must also ensure that the interests of Indian farmers are fully protected during the renegotiations and asked the government to categorically state that it will not allow any import liberalisation to the American side. Speaking with reporters here, Ramesh questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the entire deal and said he should clarify on whether he agrees with Trump's statement that nothing changes in the trade deal with India. "Does Modi agree with Trump that the trade agreement with India still holds," the Congress leader asked, while pointing out there was no response from the government so far. Claiming that the India-US interim agreement will adversely affect the Indian farmers and put their livelihood in jeopardy, he said the government should put this deal on hold till clarifications are made and called for renegotiating the deal afresh. "The US Supreme Court decision is very significant and our government must keep this trade agreement on hold. "We demand that the PM should categorically state that India's policy after the US Supreme Court decision will be reviewed and we will not carry out import liberalisation till clarifications come," Ramesh said, adding that this is to protect and safeguard the livelihood of lakhs of farmers in the country. He referred to the special concessions provided to the US agricultural products that threaten the livelihood of our farmers. He said the trade agreement mentions that the tariffs will be reduced or completely eliminated on farm products including cotton, soybean and fruits. The Congress leader also questioned the tearing hurry shown by Modi in getting the trade deal announced by Trump on February 2. He attributed this to "Modi's panic" and to divert attention from Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament the same day quoting the sensational revelations made by former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane that Prime Minister had abdicated his responsibility while telling him 'jo uchit samjho who Karo' (do whatever you think is right), on Chinese aggression at the border. The first question arises is why did the prime minister was in a hurry to announce this, he said. The US Supreme Court on Saturday struck down Trump's global tariffs, saying it is against the American Constitution, Ramesh said. "Our second question is that when the PM, the commerce minister (Piyush Goyal), knew from December that any time (now) the Supreme Court verdict could come, many believed that it could be struck down. Why did you hurriedly strike a deal when you knew the verdict could go against Trump," he asked. The 10 per cent tariff would be imposed on imports and as per law this will be for 150 days, he said. He observed that there was nothing to celebrate about the ten percent tariff from the 18 percent as these had actually gone from 3.5 percent to ten percent. Referring to Trump's statement after the Supreme Court decision that the Indo-US Trade Agreement still holds, Ramesh asserted that Modi must say in clear and unambiguous terms that the 'Framework of Interim Agreement' cannot be implemented under current circumstances in view of the US Supreme Court's decision. After the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's global tariffs, Gandhi accused Modi of being "compromised", saying his "betrayal" in the India-US interim trade deal stood exposed. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said after the US Supreme Court quashed presidential powers to impose tariffs under the IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 1977), Trump has announced the imposition of 10 per cent additional tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act, 1974. "The simple questions are - are these tariffs sustainable viz-a-viz India? Can these tariff provisions be justifiably applied to India? "Will these new tariffs still hold the US-India Trade Deal (Framework Agreement), which is being widely opposed by farmers, small and medium businesses, energy and data experts, and economists alike," he posted on X. "Will the Modi government now show the courage to walk out of a one-sided US-India Trade Deal," Surjewala asked. He also asked if the Modi government will now declare in "national interest" that it will buy cheaper Russian and Iranian crude oil with a view to ensure "energy security" of the country. "Will the Modi government declare that it will no longer withdraw 'non-tariff barriers', i.e., withdraw the meagre subsidy on agriculture or permit import of genetically modified crops into India, thereby protecting our seed integrity, purity, and biodiversity? Will the Modi Government now declare that it is no longer under an obligation to import USD 500 billion worth of American goods (Rs 45 lakh crore) over the next 5 years on zero tariff," he asked. In a major setback to what was Trump's pivotal economic agenda in his second term, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 verdict, ruled that tariffs imposed by Trump on nations around the world were illegal and that the president had exceeded his authority. Shortly after the court verdict, Trump asserted that there is "no change" in the trade deal with India. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 February,2026 11:00 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe foundation of developed India will be laid on the basis of self-reliance for which having chips made in India is very important, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. In a virtual address to lay the foundation stone of India Chip Pvt Ltd, the HCL Group and Foxconn JV, Modi said a weak supply chain of tiny chips during the Covid-19 pandemic halted development of several economies and stopped work at various factories. "Developed India will be built only when India is self-reliant. For this, Made in India chip is very important. Whatever India is doing in the field of technology in this decade, it will become foundation of our capability in the 21st century," Modi said. The India Chip Pvt Ltd - the HCL Group and Foxconn joint venture for Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly & Test (OSAT) facility - will come up in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) at Jewar, Greater Noida. India Chip Pvt Ltd is a 60:40 joint venture between HCL Group and Foxconn. The advanced OSAT facility is expected to be operational by 2028. The company has earmarked an investment of Rs 3,700 crore over the next few years in the facility that will produce display driver chips. The investment is expected to create over 3,500 direct and indirect jobs, build local supply chains, and attract ecosystem partners across the semiconductor value chain. With a planned capacity to process 20,000 wafers per month, the facility aims to meet India's growing domestic demand for semiconductor components while strengthening a resilient, self-reliant semiconductor supply chain. "In the last 11 years, the Prime Minister has established India as powerhouse of electronics manufacturing. India is now ranked third among nations that export electronics. In a month, 3.6 crore chips will be produced from this plant. The brain of the digital screens that you see will now be made in Jewar," Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Jewar is emerging as a jewel not only for UP but also for the country. The development of UP will depend on the Prime Minister's vision for chips, he said. "Today we are ground breaking for India chip. We want to establish reliable semiconductor assembly and testing facility in India. We look forward to growing together and contributing to India's growth in global technology landscape," Bob Chen, President, Semiconductor Business Group, Foxconn, said. HCL Group Chairperson Roshini Nadar said the joint venture facility will cater to the requirement of both domestic and international markets. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 February,2026 08:05 PM IST | Greater Noida | PTIThe Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan has launched 'Baku Evenings', a new cultural series aimed at promoting the country's culture, education, arts, and heritage through engaging community events in Azerbaijan. The inaugural edition organised on February 20 celebrated the Sanskrit and Hindi languages in a bid to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries, an embassy official said. The event saw the participation of several guests, including Dhruv Trivedi, lecturer of Sanskrit and Hindi at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, along with some of his students. 'Baku Evenings' seeks to foster meaningful cultural exchange and strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Azerbaijan, the official said. The gathering focused on celebrating India's ancient and living language, Sanskrit and the old language Hindi. Diplomat Abhay Kumar, also a writer, artist and a language enthusiast, engaged with students, who shared their passion through recitations of timeless Sanskrit shlokas. The two sides also had lively conversations in Hindi and insightful discussions on Indian culture and literature. "Participants highlighted the profound wisdom embedded in Sanskrit texts and the expressive vibrancy of modern Hindi, underscoring the growing interest in Indian languages among Azerbaijani youth," the embassy said in a statement. The session also witnessed participation from members of the Indian diaspora, including students and a group of social media influencers from Azerbaijan, the official said. The evening concluded on a warm note with a recitation from Rabindranath Tagore's "Gitanjali", followed by an authentic spread of Indian delicacies, allowing attendees to experience a taste of India's rich culinary heritage alongside its linguistic traditions. Kumar said such brings alive the shared values and cultural affinities between the two nations. "We are inspired by the dedication of the young Azerbaijani students, and look forward to many more such enriching interactions," he said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 February,2026 08:04 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIThe Delhi government is likely to notify rules for the inclusion of transgender persons under the SMILE scheme, Garima Greh shelter homes and Ayushman Bharat TG Plus health coverage within the next 15 days. An official said that the rules will provide legal recognition, access to livelihood support, healthcare, education, rehabilitation and protection against discrimination for transgender persons. These rules will be in line with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity, he said.The draft rules have completed the consultation process, and the gazette notification file has been sent for the final signature of the lieutenant governor, after which the rules will be formally notified and implemented across Delhi, he told PTI. The move follows an order issued on November 19, 2025, by the central government, asking all states and Union territories to adopt and implement the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and related rules. The Centre's order aligned with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and its Rules, 2020, ensuring legal recognition, welfare measures and protection against discrimination for transgender persons in education, employment, healthcare and access to public services. The order further stated that transgender persons are guaranteed equality, dignity and non-discrimination under Articles 14 (right to equality), 15 (prohibits discrimination against citizens on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth), 19 (protects freedoms of speech and expression, peaceful assembly, forming associations/unions, free movement, residence, and practicing any profession or business) and 21 (right to life or personal liberty) of the Constitution. It also proposed rules that seek to operationalise these rights through structured welfare mechanisms at the state level. According to the order, the SMILE scheme provides livelihood support, skill development, education assistance, healthcare access and rehabilitation for transgender persons and other marginalised individuals, and has been operationalised in alignment with the 2019 Act. The rules provide for healthcare support through Ayushman Bharat Transgender Plus, including gender-affirming care, hormone therapy, sex reassignment surgery and post-operative care, with free medical coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per person per year, it added. The order also mandated setting up Garima Greh shelter homes to offer safe accommodation, food, medical care, counselling and recreational facilities for transgender persons in need. It further directed the establishment of district-level transgender protection cells under district magistrates to monitor offences, ensure timely registration of FIRs and conduct sensitisation programmes to strengthen legal protections for the transgender community. The rules also provide for grievance redressal, inter-departmental coordination and monitoring of welfare schemes, and integration with the National Portal for Transgender Persons to enable certification, scheme access and transparency through multilingual digital services. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 February,2026 05:58 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIPolice have launched an investigation after the Maharashtra HSC Class 12 Chemistry question paper was allegedly circulated on social media in Nagpur ahead of the examination. According to the officials, screenshots of what was claimed to be the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Chemistry paper began doing the rounds on messaging platforms shortly before the exam commenced. The paper being allegedly circulated on social media prior to the examination triggered concern among students and parents, with allegations that the paper may have been leaked prior to distribution at examination centers. Officials said that local police have initiated a probe to verify the authenticity of the circulated paper and to determine whether it matches the actual question paper administered by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). Education department authorities have also been alerted. Board officials are reportedly cross-checking the viral content with the original paper to assess whether there has been any breach in protocol. Further details are awaited as the investigation continues.
21 February,2026 02:42 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentSecurity was tightened across key religious and heritage sites in Delhi on Saturday, including areas around the Red Fort and parts of Chandni Chowk. The action by Delhi Police was taken after intelligence inputs suggesting a possible terror threat. As reported by news agency PTI, security agencies issued an alert on a possible explosion threat near Red Fort, a major tourist destination and high-security zone. During the early hours of Saturday, central intelligence agencies indicated that Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has allegedly kept prominent religious places in India on its target list. Intelligence inputs are still being verified Sources from PTI said that specific inputs suggested that a temple in the Chandni Chowk area could be among the potential targets. While the intelligence inputs are being verified and assessed, security has been stepped up in and around sensitive religious places and crowded public areas, they added. “Intelligence agencies indicated that LeT could be attempting to carry out an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)-based attack. The alleged plan is reportedly linked to attempts by the terror group to avenge the February 6 blast at a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan,” sources from PTI said. While central agencies and Delhi Police units are maintaining close coordination, surveillance has been intensified through CCTV monitoring. Furthermore, in view of tightening the security measures across the national capital, vehicle checks and deployment of additional personnel at vulnerable points are also being carried out precisely. Bomb squads and dog squads placed on standby Bomb disposal squads, dog squads and quick reaction teams have also been placed on standby at strategic locations, they added. The alert comes in the backdrop of the deadly car explosion near the historic Red Fort on November 10, 2025, which killed at least 13 people and injured more than 20 others. The blast occurred when a car loaded with explosives detonated near Gate No. 1 of the Red Fort metro station, igniting multiple vehicles nearby and causing panic in the densely populated area. Security agencies have urged people to remain vigilant and immediately inform police or emergency services about any suspicious objects or activity. However, officials said there is no cause for panic and that the measures are precautionary in nature. An official further said, “Further intelligence gathering and verification of inputs are underway, as reported by PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
21 February,2026 02:04 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1771681961409_d.png "PM Narendra Modi. File Pic")
-1771682962949_d.png "The Embassy of India in Baku. Pic/Baku Indian Embassy")
-1771676334037_d.png "Legal recognition, healthcare, livelihood support for transgender persons coming soon in Delhi. Representational Pic")
