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Monday, February 23, 2026
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Panthic tug-of-war: Akal Takht’s summon to Punjab CM Mann & case of the missing saroops

Summon came after Mann govt revived five-year-old row, registered police case over missing copies of Guru Granth Sahib, which the Sikhs consider a living guru.

Akali Dal turns Mann’s ‘dinosaur’ jibe into comeback campaign. Punjab politics takes ‘Jurassic Park’ turn

From lizards, to dinosaurs crushing brooms with their feet, AAP & SAD have turned barbs into a memefest with AI images packed with political messaging.

Politics to entrepreneurship, how Kerala’s Kudumbashree is giving women a platform, a life of autonomy

Launched in 1998, the women’s empowerment programme has become a political nursery: 7,210 of 23,612 councillors elected in the 2025 local body polls are Kudumbashree volunteers.

‘Marathi manoos’ hub to multilingual metropolis: Mumbai’s demographic mutation has political dimensions

BMC polls next month will be a crucial test for Thackeray legacy in Mumbai, where Shiv Sena once dominated civic politics. But city's changing character has had an impact on voting pattern.

A state with 17 DGPs: Punjab’s policing paradox amid a spate of cold-blooded murders

In past 2 months, a kabbadi player was shot dead at a tournament, a gang opened fire at a wedding killing 2 guests, a shopkeeper was killed for refusing to give in to extortion.

Many faces of actor Dileep—Ernakulam boy, Malayalam cinema ‘star’ & ‘villain’ in actress assault case

Once one of Malayalam cinema’s most bankable stars, Dileep became one of its most polarising figures. Acquitted after eight years, he now looks set to return to the spotlight with a new release.

Praise from citizens, brickbats from politicians: ‘Upright’ IAS Tukaram Mundhe & his many transfers

Mundhe had faced 23 transfers in 20 years, but his Nagpur posting remains the most contentious, still causing headaches for the IAS officer five years later.

Why Panjab University row struck such a chord. A 143-yr legacy shaped by Partition, patronage & politics

The Centre’s bid to modify the composition of the university’s two decision-making bodies from elected bodies to nominated ones has sparked an unprecedented student protest on campus.

Families hopeful as Kamathipura finally on brink of a makeover. But sex workers have no place in it

Mumbai: Gritty women dressed in bright saris or salwars walking down narrow alleys, their faces painted with garish make-up, flowers in their hair. Lecherous...

The Thevar factor in southern Tamil Nadu & how DMK, AIADMK have harnessed it for electoral gains

Traditionally an AIADMK votebank, the Thevars are now seen to be moving towards DMK. While they may influence how other communities vote, are they numerically strong enough to play kingmaker?

On Camera

Nick Jonas wearing a mangalsutra is validation for many Indians. He’s our favourite jiju

Nick Jonas is not trying to modernise the mangalsutra, but his gesture shows that choices can be equal. If commitment must be flaunted, it need not be gendered.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Suspected brake failure leads to Tejas accident after landing, airframe likely to be written off

The IAF, so far, remains mum on this accident which has led to grounding of the fleet for safety checks.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.