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NEW DELHI: A 32-year-old man died after falling into an open drain in Delhi. The man fell in the manhole near the Mahashakti Kali Temple in Rohini’s Sector 32 on Tuesday evening, ANI reported.The incident occurred in the Begampur area, where local residents alerted emergency services after the man slipped into the uncovered drain. A call was received by the Delhi Fire Services around 7.45 pm, following which rescue teams were rushed to the spot.Despite sustained rescue efforts, the man was later declared dead, officials said. His identity has not yet been officially released.The incident comes days after a 25-year-old motorcyclist, Kamal Dhyani, died after falling into a 15-foot-deep pit in west Delhi’s Janakpuri area on February 6, raising fresh concerns over open drains and unattended excavations across the city.Local authorities said the area has been secured and further action will be taken after an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the fall.
File photo: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman
NEW DELHI: Tobacco Board, under the administrative control of the Department of Commerce, has written a letter to finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighting the adverse impact of the unprecedented increase in excise duties on cigarettes on the industry, as well as on millions of farmers and workers.The excise hike effective February 1 has resulted in a price increase of up to 60 per cent in real terms.Steep tax increases heightened risk of accelerated illicit cigarette trade, which has emerged globally as a serious economic and governance challenge.
The unregulated market deprives governments of substantial tax revenues, undermines legitimate businesses, fuels organised criminal networks, and poses risks to public health and security.“Considering the urgent industry situation and the significant impact on the farming community, I request you to intervene and revise the excessive duty rates on tobacco products,” Tobacco Board Chairman Yashwanth Kumar Chidipothu said in a letter dated February 10.The chairman, who is also a senior BJP leader, stated that he was writing on behalf of FCV (Flue-Cured Virginia) tobacco farmers who had approached it to express their serious concerns over the tax hike.He further reiterated that, as reported in the media, farmers have begun staging protests and submitting representations to their respective Members of Parliament.“High tax and price differentials create strong incentives for smuggling, particularly when enforcement capacity is constrained. Weak border controls, fragmented oversight, and the absence of effective tracking and tracing mechanisms allow illicit operators to exploit policy gaps, while illicit cigarettes increasingly serve as a conduit for organised crime and money laundering,” he said.The consequences extend beyond revenue loss, with global evidence suggesting that billions in excise and tax revenues are diverted annually to the illicit economy, reducing funds available for public services, the representative said.At the same time, legitimate manufacturers face shrinking market shares, job losses, and plant closures, while consumers are exposed to products that bypass health regulations, lack age-verification safeguards, and are often linked to other illegal goods such as counterfeit cigarettes, illicit vapes and nicotine pouches, he added.The Tobacco Board Chairman stressed that addressing the illicit cigarette trade requires a balanced and coordinated policy approach, including strengthened enforcement, effective track-and-trace systems, coherent and enforceable regulations, and enhanced international cooperation.“The unprecedented increase in excise duties on cigarettes has created serious distress across the tobacco value chain, affecting millions of farmers, workers and small shops who depend on this sector for their livelihoods,” he said.The tax hike is expected to severely depress farmer incomes, as the legal cigarette industry, the primary domestic buyer of FCV tobacco, is likely to sharply curtail its offtake, he said, adding, this would leave farmers unable to recover even the basic cost of cultivation, currently estimated at around Rs 200 per kilogram.“There is widespread concern that market prices could collapse, pushing farmers into acute and potentially irreversible debt. Farmers point out that a 22 per cent tax increase in 2014 resulted in a price decline of Rs 20 to 30 per kilogram,” he said.
Mumbai: A magistrate court cited the rejection of a father’s medical insurance claims due to alcohol consumption as a key factor in the transfer of the temporary custody of his 13-year-old daughter to her mother. “The medical documents produced by the applicant (mother) indicate that the respondent (father) is suffering from health issues due to consumption of alcohol, and his medical insurance claim was also rejected on account of alcohol intake. The child is a 13-year-old girl, and considering her age and gender, her welfare would be best served by residing with her mother. The respondent is addicted to liquor, and therefore, custody of the minor girl with him does not appear to be conducive to the welfare of the child,” Magistrate Girish S Mane said.This finding, coupled with the child’s own request during an interaction with the judge, led to the conclusion that the girl’s safety and moral development were at risk. During the interaction, the child voluntarily stated that her father consumes liquor and uses bad language, further expressing a firm desire to reside with her mother.Under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, the court ordered the father to hand over the child within 10 days. The mother will retain temporary custody until the girl reaches adulthood or the main legal case is resolved. The court stated that the demeanour and confidence of the child indicated her statements were made “voluntarily, freely, and without any fear”, necessitating that her wish to leave her father’s home be granted.While the father raised allegations of an affair against the mother to contest the transfer, the court dismissed these claims as unsubstantiated. “Irrespective of such allegations, the wish and welfare of the child shall remain the paramount consideration,” the Magistrate said.The child’s mother first moved a plea seeking various reliefs under the Domestic Violence Act in 2025. To seek custody of her child, Section 21 of the Domestic Violence Act was invoked. It provides for temporary custody to the “aggrieved person”.In her plea, submitted and argued by advocate Adnan Mookhtiar, the mother alleged that she was forcibly removed from her shared household by the father on April 2, 2024, leaving the minor child in his sole custody. She submitted that the father is a chronic alcoholic and heavy smoker, conditions she documented through supporting exhibits. This addiction, she claimed, created an unstable and dangerous environment that impaired his ability to provide proper care and posed a grave risk to the child’s physical and psychological wellbeing.She also alleged that the father suffers from extreme anger and a volatile temper. The mother also alleged that he frequently uses abusive and derogatory language that insults the modesty of women. The mother contended that exposing a young girl to such a verbally abusive atmosphere normalises disrespect, damages her self-worth, and distorts her understanding of healthy interpersonal relationships, making the current environment entirely unsuitable for the child’s moral upbringing.The mother also expressed a “substantial risk” to the child’s safety, specifically citing concerns regarding potential physical or sexual abuse due to the father’s lack of moral restraint and the absence of female supervision. She submitted that, as the biological mother, she is best equipped to offer a nurturing and secure home.The father was granted visitation rights every Sunday at a mutually agreed-upon location to maintain a parental bond.
NEW DELHI: The USA team wasn’t the only surprise package awaiting the Indian team in their opening game of the T20 World Cup last Saturday. The Wankhede square, which gripped and offered turn, was the bigger surprise. For a team that came into the tournament eyeing a 300-plus score, the excruciating struggle to post 161/9 against an ICC Associate Member must have hurt some egos.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!It is learnt that that the Indian team management has made its displeasure known to the Indian cricket board (BCCI) about the nature of the pitch in the game against USA. It’s early in the tournament and the pressure of defending a World Cup title at home must be immense. The pitch, on top of that, has challenged India’s planning for the World Cup.
Not long ago, during the home series against South Africa in Dec, the team management was forced to take a step back and set relatively moderate targets to avoid batting collapses. Whether on the sluggish pitches of the UAE during the Asia Cup in Sept or the lively tracks in Australia in Oct, India’s all-out aggressive brand of batting had been challenged. The bowlers were largely the protagonists of the wins in that period. This is when the team management decided to play bold, first by dropping vice-captain Shubman Gill and then by re-adopting the attack-at-all-cost approach. It defines head coach Gautam Gambhir’s T20 ethos. The results followed in the home series against New Zealand preceding the T20 World Cup. The only match that India dropped in the five-match series was in Vizag, where the ball appeared to grip the surface when India batted second.
Poll
What should be India’s strategy moving forward in the T20 World Cup?
Going forward, India have matches in New Delhi, Colombo and Ahmedabad in the league matches. The square here at the Ferozeshah Kotla has a reputation of being a high-scoring one since 2023. The pitch has got rest only in the last three weeks after non-stop cricket since the last IPL. In Colombo, meanwhile, the pitches have appeared sluggish.TOI understands that India’s think-tank has a preference for high-scoring games. The awe-inspiring and record-shattering scores against New Zealand last month happened at venues that offered pitches as hard as concrete slabs and heavy dew that made the balls feel as if they were submerged in water.Dew, incidentally, hasn’t been a major factor yet in this early stage of the World Cup.“The pitch in Mumbai was a bit surprising. India should not get cautious if the pitches offer a bit of help for the bowlers. The team’s strength lies in its aggressive approach. Yes, they should also have alternate ways of scoring runs but they must not give up on the attacking game,” said former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta, adding, “The last game against USA was a classic example where caution was the last resort. If they run out of power-hitters, they can switch to a conservative approach. They have players with those skills, as they showed in the low-scoring Asia Cup. In T20s, sometimes all you need is four overs of momentum to swing the match in your favour. That can only happen with a positive mindset.”India’s comfort zone is highscoring games on belters, where they can bank on a formidable bowling lineup to restrict the opposition. But it is also true that in World Cups, very big totals have proven difficult to achieve. It’s up to the Indian team to take the pitch out of the equation.
For a young cricketer, there are moments that shape belief forever. For India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre, one such unforgettable chapter unfolded in Mumbai when none other than Sachin Tendulkar handed him a deeply personal gift — a signed Test jersey worn by the legend during his final international series. It was not just a meeting of generations, but a powerful passing of the torch.
Fresh from leading India Under-19 cricket team to their sixth U19 World Cup title in Zimbabwe, Mhatre returned home to widespread admiration. India had outplayed England Under-19 cricket team in a high-pressure final, with Mhatre’s calm leadership and tactical maturity standing out throughout the tournament.
While accolades poured in from fans and experts alike, nothing compared to the personal recognition that awaited him. Tendulkar, a name synonymous with Indian cricketing dreams, chose to honour the teenager in a way that words alone never could.
What made the gesture extraordinary was the story stitched into the fabric. Tendulkar revealed that the jersey he gifted was one he wore during his final Test series for India — a symbol of closure for one journey and the beginning of another. Along with the jersey came a handwritten note, simple yet profound, encouraging Mhatre to stay grounded and focused amid growing attention.
“Keep working hard. Focus. Don’t get carried away by people. Keep practising,” Tendulkar advised in the video shared online.
“There will be plenty of distractions, whatever they may be. Dear Ayush, wishing you all the success in your career,” added the former India skipper.
U19 World Cup ✔️
Blessings from the God Of Cricket himself ✔️
Onward, Ayush 💛🤩#WhistlePodu
📽️: Ayush Mhatre pic.twitter.com/dHMTNgnMnX— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) February 9, 2026
Also WATCH: Virar erupts in celebration as Ayush Mhatre gets grand welcome after U19 World Cup triumph
For Mhatre, the moment went beyond celebration. It was a reminder that success at the junior level is only the first step in a long and demanding journey. Tendulkar’s message underlined values that defined his own career — discipline, humility, and relentless preparation. Those close to Mhatre say the young captain was visibly moved, aware that the jersey carried decades of Indian cricketing history. In a country where Tendulkar remains an eternal benchmark, receiving such a gift is both an honour and a responsibility.
India will require cumulative investments of $14.23 trillion in the power sector, including renewables, storage and transmission, by 2070 under a net-zero scenario, where non-fossil fuel-based generation accounts for 98 per cent, a Niti Aayog report said on Tuesday.The report, “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero: Sectoral Insights – Power”, said India’s development and climate ambitions increasingly hinge on electricity. As the country moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047 and Net Zero 2070, reliable, affordable and cleaner electricity will be central to inclusive and sustainable growth, it noted.With nearly 258 GW of renewable energy capacity installed by December 2025, India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest renewable energy market, reflecting the pace of clean energy expansion, reported news agency PTI.
The report warned that the next phase of growth will be more complex, with electricity demand rising sharply due to urbanisation, cooling needs, digitalisation, electric mobility and green hydrogen. Electricity’s share in final energy consumption is projected to rise from 21 per cent in 2025 to nearly 60 per cent under the Net Zero Scenario by 2070.Per-capita electricity consumption is expected to jump from about 1,400 kWh in 2025 to 7,000–10,000 kWh by 2070, approaching levels seen in advanced economies such as France and South Korea. By 2070, total installed power capacity is projected to be 14 times current levels under the net-zero pathway, with renewable energy accounting for about 90–93 per cent of capacity.Solar power is set to become the backbone of the system, with capacity reaching 3,250–5,500 GW, while onshore wind is expected to exceed 1,000 GW, alongside 50–70 GW of offshore wind. Battery storage is projected to expand to as much as 3,000 GW by 2070, while pumped hydro storage could reach around 160 GW. Nuclear power is also seen as a strategic pillar, scaling up from 8.8 GW in 2025 to over 300 GW by 2070 to provide firm, low-carbon power.
Niti Aayog also underlined the need to decarbonise the transport sector through modal shift, zero-emission vehicles and clean fuels to meet the Net Zero 2070 target.The think tank estimated cumulative investments of about $4.3 trillion in transport by 2070 under the net-zero pathway.The report further stressed strengthening domestic exploration and mining of critical minerals, building R&D capabilities and diversifying international supply chains to reduce import dependence. It said supply security would depend on aligning demand growth, domestic capacity creation, global engagement and innovation over time.
NEW DELHI: Norway Chess has announced Alireza Firouzja as the latest player for its 2026 edition in Oslo, but India’s top-ranked player Arjun Erigaisi is still not part of the confirmed lineup. Firouzja, known for his aggressive and exciting style, said, “I’m looking forward to competing against the best chess players in the world at Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo.”
Firouzja is considered one of the brightest stars in modern chess. He became a grandmaster at just 14 and later made history by becoming the youngest player ever to reach a 2800 rating. He also crossed the 2700 rating mark at 16, showing how quickly he climbed to the elite level. He has played in the FIDE Candidates Tournament twice, first after winning the Grand Swiss in 2021 and later through the world rating list in 2024.He is no stranger to Norway Chess, having played there four times and finishing second in 2020 and 2021. Tournament organisers praised his return, with COO Benedicte Westre Skog saying, “Alireza Firouzja has been part of Norway Chess for several years and has consistently delivered performances at the very highest level. He brings intensity, ambition and world-class quality to the field. We’re very pleased to welcome him back to Oslo in 2026.”India will still be strongly represented at the event. World champion Gukesh Dommaraju and R Praggnanandhaa have already been confirmed, alongside Magnus Carlsen and Vincent Keymer. One more player will be revealed weekly, so there is still a chance for Arjun to make the cut.Gukesh, who became the youngest undisputed world champion after beating Ding Liren in 2024, said, “I am really happy to take part in Norway Chess again, fighting against a very strong field as always, and looking forward to all the exciting games.” He has also enjoyed success at Norway Chess before, including a memorable win over Carlsen in 2025.
NEW DELHI: Team India opener Abhishek Sharma missed the team’s first training session in New Delhi due to illness on Tuesday. According to a report from Cricbuzz, he is also suffering from stomach problems, and his availability for the next match against Namibia remains uncertain.Abhishek had a tough start to the tournament, getting out for a golden duck against the USA.
He also did not take the field while the USA were batting, with Sanju Samson replacing him, which raised questions about his fitness. Ahead of the Namibia match, India coach Gautam Gambhir hosted a team dinner, but Abhishek was seen leaving early, adding to concerns over his health.After the USA match, Mohammed Siraj confirmed Abhishek’s condition, saying, “Abhishek Sharma has an upset tummy, that’s why he didn’t field. He will be back fine.” Jasprit Bumrah also missed the USA game due to illness.India might choose to rest Abhishek to ensure he is fully fit for the high-profile clash against Pakistan on February 15. If that happens, Sanju Samson could be recalled to open the batting and get some match practice.Abhishek is considered a key player for India. The 25-year-old has been in explosive form in T20Is, with a strike rate close to 200, and is known for giving India fast starts at the top of the order. Despite his failure against the USA, the team management values his impact and hopes he returns soon.India still won their opening match against the USA by 29 runs after recovering from a batting collapse. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a brilliant unbeaten 84, while Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh led the bowling effort to secure the win.
Silver prices fell sharply by Rs 7,500, or nearly 3 per cent, to Rs 2.64 lakh per kilogram in the national capital on Tuesday, while gold moved in the opposite direction, rising Rs 2,200 per 10 grams amid a firm US dollar.According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver dropped to Rs 2,64,500 per kg (inclusive of all taxes) from Monday’s close of Rs 2,72,000 per kg. Gold of 99.9 per cent purity, meanwhile, climbed 1.4 per cent to Rs 1,60,700 per 10 grams, compared with Rs 1,58,500 in the previous session. Traders said gold extended gains for the second straight day due to sustained buying interest from jewellers and investors.
“Gold traded with modest gains on Tuesday while traders were awaiting fresh macroeconomic cues,” Saumil Gandhi, senior analyst, commodities at HDFC Securities, said, as quoted by news agency PTI. He added that both gold and silver are currently fluctuating within a broader range as markets enter a near-term consolidation phase.In the overseas market, spot silver slipped $1.13, or 1.37 per cent, to $82.16 per ounce, while gold was trading marginally lower at $5,052.43 per ounce.Jateen Trivedi, VP research analyst – commodity and currency at LKP Securities, said market participants are closely tracking upcoming US economic data. “Key US retail sales data, followed by unemployment and nonfarm payroll numbers later in the week, are likely to inject volatility and shape expectations around the Federal Reserve’s policy stance,” he said, as per PTI.
In the futures segment, precious metals witnessed selling pressure as traders booked profits. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, silver futures for March delivery fell 2.06 per cent to Rs 2,57,198 per kg, while gold futures for April slipped 0.43 per cent to Rs 1,57,389 per 10 grams.Gaurav Garg, research analyst at Lemonn Markets Desk, said profit-taking and a firm dollar weighed on bullion prices, even as overall sentiment remains cautiously constructive with investors awaiting further macro and policy cues.
