NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday extended the deadline for scrutiny of claims and objections under the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and sought a personal affidavit from the state’s director general of police over allegations of threats, violence and obstruction faced by election officials during the exercise. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N V Anjaria directed that the scrutiny of documents and objections be extended by at least one week beyond February 14, the scheduled date for publication of the final electoral roll, citing the time required to examine claims.

The court also made it clear that it would not allow any disruption of the SIR process. “We will not allow anyone to create any impediment in the SIR exercise. It must be clear to the states,” the CJI said, while hearing a batch of petitions, including one filed by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

Final authority rests with EROs, micro-observers only to assist

Clarifying a key point of contention, the bench reiterated that final decisions on claims and objections can be taken only by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and that micro-observers appointed by the Election Commission (EC) have only an assisting role.“The responsibility already assigned to micro-observers shall be only to assist the DEO/EROs. In other words, the final decision will be taken by the EROs only,” the court said. The bench also clarified that EROs are duty-bound to consider objections as per the statutory scheme, whether or not the objector appears for a personal hearing, and that the genuineness of documents may be verified independently.

State to deploy Group B officers, ECI to decide suitability

To streamline the process, the court directed the West Bengal government to ensure that all 8,550 Group B officers, whose list was submitted during the hearing, report to district collectors or EROs by Tuesday evening.From this pool, the ECI may shortlist officers equivalent to the number of micro-observers already engaged, after assessing their bio-data and work experience, and provide them brief training. The court said the manner of their deployment and work profile would be decided by the poll panel, which would also be free to replace officers found not performing their duties.

Notice to DGP over violence, burning of notices

Taking note of the ECI’s affidavit alleging intimidation, hostility and burning of notices by miscreants, the bench issued notice to the West Bengal DGP, directing him to file a personal affidavit.The court noted the ECI’s submission that despite repeated complaints, no FIRs had been registered in connection with alleged violence and mass burning of Form 7 objections. It also recalled its January 19 order directing the DGP to ensure maintenance of law and order during the SIR exercise.“A message must go that the Constitution of India applies to all states,” solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, submitted.

‘No mass exclusion’, says court during Banerjee hearing

During the hearing, senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Banerjee, raised apprehensions about the appointment of micro-observers from outside the state and the possibility of “mass exclusion” of eligible voters.“We don’t want any mass exclusion,” Divan told the bench.The court took note of these concerns while clarifying that the statutory authority to decide claims vests only with EROs.The bench was hearing a clutch of petitions filed by Trinamool Congress leaders and others challenging the conduct of the SIR in West Bengal, along with petitions by Sanatani Sangsad, poet Joy Goswami and others. While Banerjee’s plea questions the ECI’s categorisation of voters under a “logical discrepancy” category, Sanatani Sangsad has sought protection for election officials and deployment of state police under ECI control.Last week, Banerjee appeared in person before the Supreme Court, alleging that West Bengal was being targeted ahead of the assembly elections and raising concerns over minor name mismatches arising from translation from Bengali and local dialects.(With inputs from PTI and Live Law)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the central contract list for the 2025–26 season, ushering in a clear shift in hierarchy within Indian cricket. The updated retainer list has placed senior stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Grade B, while Shubman Gill has been elevated to the top Grade A bracket, signalling the board’s growing focus on the next generation.

A+ category scrapped as BCCI reshapes contract structure

In a major structural change, the BCCI has discontinued the A+ category for the upcoming season. With only three brackets now in place — Grade A, B, and C — the revised system reflects a more streamlined evaluation based on recent performances, workload, and long-term planning.

The highest Grade A contract has been awarded to Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja, underlining their importance across formats and their consistent influence in high-pressure situations.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma demoted to Grade B

The placement of Rohit and Kohli in Grade B has naturally drawn attention, considering their stature and long-standing legacy in Indian cricket. However, the decision was largely expected, with both stalwarts now active primarily in the ODI format after stepping away from other international commitments. While they continue to be influential figures within the setup, the move reflects the BCCI’s intent to align contract grades with format availability, workload management, and the team’s evolving long-term vision.

They are joined in Grade B by the likes of  KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, and other stars, who have earned a promotion after a solid run.

Also READ: Are Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir in conflict mode? BCCI secretary gives direct clarification

Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan miss out

One of the biggest shocks from the list was the omission of Mohammed Shami, who was part of Grade A last season but now finds himself without a central contract. Injuries and limited appearances appear to have played a role in the decision. Meanwhile, Axar Patel has been pushed down from Grade B to Grade C after an inconsistent year. Further, the likes of Ishan Kishan, Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, and Mukesh Kumar have also missed out entirely.

BCCI central contract list 2025–26

• Grade A: Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja
• Grade B: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer
• Grade C: Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Dhruv Jurel, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhishek Sharma, Sai Sudharsan, Ravi Bishnoi, Ruturaj Gaikwad

Also READ: ICC confirms whether Pakistan will play against India in T20 World Cup 2026

Google parent Alphabet is selling a rare 100-year bond in British pounds as part of a massive multi-currency debt raise, making it the first tech company to attempt a century bond since IBM did it back in 1996.The so-called century bond will be part of Alphabet’s debut sterling issuance, according to the Financial Times. Alongside it, the company is raising $20 billion through a US dollar bond sale—upsized from the originally planned $15 billion after orders crossed $100 billion, Bloomberg reported. A Swiss franc bond sale is also in the works.The dollar portion of the deal spans up to seven tranches. Its longest slice—a 40-year bond maturing in 2066—is expected to price at around 0.95 percentage points above US Treasuries, tighter than the initial talk of 1.2 percentage points. Demand was strongest at the short end, with a three-year tranche pricing at just 0.27 percentage points over Treasuries.

Why Alphabet is borrowing across currencies and continents

A banker close to the deal told FT that issuing across multiple currencies helps Alphabet diversify its investor base, especially as Big Tech’s capital needs keep ballooning. Sticking to dollar markets alone could create a supply-demand imbalance, the banker noted. Sterling markets also offer a lower interest rate compared to dollar bonds, making the century bond more cost-effective.The borrowing spree comes just days after Alphabet said it could spend up to $185 billion on capex this year—roughly double last year’s total—to fuel its AI ambitions around Gemini and cloud infrastructure. The company’s long-term debt has already quadrupled to $46.5 billion in 2025, though it still sits on $126.8 billion in cash.

A record year for Big Tech debt is just getting started

Alphabet isn’t alone. Oracle raised $25 billion from a bond sale last week that pulled in a record $129 billion in orders. Morgan Stanley expects hyperscalers to borrow $400 billion this year, up from $165 billion in 2025, according to Bloomberg—a surge that could push overall high-grade US corporate bond issuance to a record $2.25 trillion.Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are managing Alphabet’s bond sales across all three currencies.

File photo of Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reacted to the FIR filed by Delhi Police over the alleged circulation of former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s “unpublished memoir” and to the clarification issued by its publisher, Penguin Random House India.Speaking to reporters, Rahul questioned Penguin’s claim that the book had not been published and suggested there were contradictions between the publisher’s stand and statements made earlier by General Naravane.“Here is a tweet from Mr Naravane which says – ‘Just follow the link to my book’,” Gandhi said.“The point I am making is – either Mr Naravane is lying or it is Penguin which is lying. I don’t think the former Army chief will lie,” he added.Gandhi argued that despite Penguin’s assertion that the memoir had not been released, it appeared to have been publicly promoted in the past.“Penguin says the book has not been published. But the book is available on Amazon. Gen. Naravane has tweeted, ‘Please buy my book in 2023.’ I believe Naravane ji over Penguin. Do you believe Penguin over Naravane ji?” he asked.The Congress leader alleged that the contents of the memoir might be the reason behind the current row.“I believe Naravane ji has made certain statements in his book which are inconvenient for the government of India and the Prime Minister of India. Obviously, you have to decide if Penguin or the former Army chief is telling the truth,” Gandhi said.His remarks came a day after Penguin Random House India (PRHI) issued a statement asserting that it holds exclusive publishing rights to the memoir Four Stars of Destiny and that the book has not yet been officially released.“Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication,” the publisher said.The company further stated that no copies of the book had been made available in any format. Penguin warned that any version of the memoir currently in circulation would amount to copyright infringement.“Any copies of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, constitutes an infringement of PRHI’s copyright and must immediately be ceased,” it said, adding that legal action would be pursued against unauthorised dissemination.Earlier, Delhi Police registered an FIR and tasked its Special Cell with investigating the alleged leak or circulation of the manuscript in digital and other formats.The issue first surfaced last week when Gandhi was seen holding up what he claimed was a copy of the memoir in the Parliament complex. He sought to cite excerpts from the book in the Lok Sabha from February 2 onward but was prevented from doing so on the grounds that it had not yet been officially published.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has accused the United States of trying to prevent India and other countries from buying Russian oil, describing Washington’s policies as coercive and aimed at achieving global economic domination.In an interview with TV BRICS, reported by Sputnik, Lavrov alleged that the US was using sanctions, tariffs and other restrictive measures to pressure nations into abandoning Russian energy resources in favour of more expensive American supplies.“They (US) tell us that the Ukraine problem should be resolved. In Anchorage, we accepted the US Proposal… The US position was important to us. By accepting their proposal, we seem to have completed the task of resolving the Ukrainian issue and moving on to a dull-scale, broad-based and mutually beneficial cooperation. So far, the reality is quite the opposite,” Lavrov said.“New sanctions are imposed, a ‘war’ against tankers in the open sea is being waged in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They are trying to ban India and our other partners from buying cheap, affordable Russian energy resources (Europe has long been banned), and are forcing them to buy US LNG at exorbitant prices,” he said.Lavrov claimed that the United States had set itself the goal of controlling global energy markets and supply routes.He described American measures as “coercive” and incompatible with fair competition, adding that tariffs, sanctions and outright prohibitions were being used as tools to meet these objectives.“We have to take all of this into account while remaining open just like India, China, Indonesia and Brazil to cooperation with all countries, including major powers such as the United States. We are in a situation where the Americans themselves are creating artificial obstacles along the way,” he said.Lavrov’s remarks come amid growing speculation about India’s future oil purchases from Russia following recent developments in US-India trade relations.On Monday, foreign secretary Vikram Misri reiterated that India’s energy policy would continue to be guided by national interest, stressing that the country’s priorities were “adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply.”India has neither confirmed nor denied reports that it plans to reduce or halt imports of Russian crude after the United States rolled back a 25 per cent tariff imposed on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian crude.US President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order removing the additional tariff. The decision followed the announcement of a trade deal between the two countries, under which Washington agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.When asked about Trump’s assertion, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s long-standing position on energy security.“So far as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, the government has stated publicly on several occasions that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government,” Jaiswal had said last week.“Diversifying our energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s actions are taken and will be taken with this in mind,” he added.India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude has been a sensitive issue in its relations with the United States, with several American officials alleging that such imports help finance Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/key-terms-of-historic-india-us-trade-deal-inside-trumps-zero-tariff-claim-10979361” on this server.

Reference #18.c7f5d217.1770704157.23c8acd8

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.c7f5d217.1770704157.23c8acd8

Rupee opened weaker on Tuesday, falling 11 paise to 90.77 against the US dollar in early trade. The currency continued in red as traders opted a cautious stance after the announcement of the interim trade framework between New Delhi and Washington. At the interbank forex market, the currency at was at 90.63 levels against the greenback. As trade progressed, the unit gave up ground and slid to 90.77, reflecting an 11-paise drop compared with the previous finish.The decline comes after a volatile Monday, when rupee moved in and out of positive territory before closing almost flat, ending 1 paisa lower at 90.66.

Dealers said that pact between the two countries initially appeared supportive because it prevented any immediate disturbance, mapped out the next stage of talks and offered exporters comfort that there would be no sudden shocks. A closer reading, however, prompted participants to reassess that optimism.“The agreement places India under ongoing US oversight, particularly around energy imports from Russia — a sensitive issue that leaves room for penalties to be reimposed at any time,” CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said.Pabari indicated that near-term price action would hinge on whether key support levels remain intact. He identified the 90.00–90.20 region as an important cushion and said that if it holds, the pair could slowly move towards 91.00–91.20 over the next few sessions.He also underlined the role of the central bank. “On rupee dips, the RBI is expected to step in with dollar purchases, absorbing inflows rather than allowing sharp appreciation,” he said.Foreign portfolio flows have turned somewhat favourable, with about $2 billion entering Indian markets so far this month, lending some stability to overall sentiment.Yet reservations persist, Pabari added. “While this has helped stabilise sentiment, the market remains unconvinced about the durability of these flows. With global policy signals shifting almost daily, the currency market continues to price in caution rather than celebration,” he said.Data from the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors were net buyers of shares worth Rs 2,254.64 crore on Monday.In the wider market, the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, edged down 0.02% to 97.79. Brent crude futures were also softer, slipping 0.28% to $68.85 a barrel.Indian equities, meanwhile, began the day in the green. The Sensex climbed 149 points to 84,214.75, and the Nifty rose 44.45 points to 25,911.75 in early trade.

After the massive success of ‘Dhurandhar’, it was reported that Ranveer Singh has left ‘Don 3’. Though, there has not been any official confirmation on the actor’s side regarding this. It was reported that the actor left the Farhan Akhtar directorial due to creative differences. After he left the film, Akhtar was said to be concentrating on ‘Jee Le Zara’ and now a latest report says that Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment is seeking a compensation of Rs 40 crore from Ranveer after his exit from the project. A report by Variety India claims that Excel Entertainment has already begun downsizing, letting go of several heads of departments and asking them to seek work elsewhere. This decision, the report suggests, stems from an alleged financial setback of Rs 40 crore attributed to Ranveer’s departure from the film. However, the actor has reportedly contested the claim, maintaining that he is not obligated to pay any compensation.

An unnamed source told the publication, “Ranveer claims he left the project because he wasn’t happy with the script. He kept asking for changes to be made and didn’t like what the final draft read. Excel, on the other hand, claims that they went ahead with pre-production only after Singh gave his go ahead.”The report further states that both parties held a prolonged meeting to resolve the dispute, but no conclusion was reached. It is now being reported that the Producers Guild of India (PGI) has stepped in to mediate the matter, with the aim of finding common ground and preventing further escalation.For those not in the know, in 2025, a similar issue had happened between Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal when the latter exited ‘Hera Pheri 3’. Akshay’s production house took legal action against Rawal and filed a suit seeking Rs 25 crore compensation. Meanwhile, Ranveer is now gearing up for the release of ‘Dhurandhar: Part 2’. The film will delve deeper into his character, Jaskrit Singh Rangi, who lives under the identity of Hamza Ali Mazari in Pakistan. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026.