Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s remarks at the company’s annual “Company Kickoff” town hall are drawing scrutiny after employees noticed that jokes he made about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were edited out of the official recording. As reported by Business Insider, the internal Slack messages reveal that the employees were told the keynote video was posted, but those looking for the ICEO jokes would find they had been removed. An excerpt of the recording reportedly highlighted a jump cut during Benioff’s introduction, skipping over the controversial moment.For those unaware, Salesforce employees are circulating an internal open letter urging CEO Marc Benioff to publicly denounce US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after he cracked jokes about ICE agents surveilling international workers at a major company event in Las Vegas this week. During his opening keynote at Salesforce’s annual Company Kickoff on Tuesday, Benioff asked employees who had traveled from outside the US to stand up—then quipped that ICE agents were in the building keeping tabs on them, according to reports from Wired, Business Insider, and 404 Media, all of which viewed internal Slack messages.Along with this, Benioff also reportedly complained about Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, adding to the awkwardness of the exchange.

Internal reaction of Salesforce employees

As per the BI report, the Salesforce executives have since addressed the incident internally. Slack general manager Rob Seaman in a message to employees wrote, “I cannot defend or explain them. They do not align with my personal values and I know this to be the case for many of you as well.” Some of the staff members also said that they received emails asking them to explain their absence from the event following Benioff’s remarks, adding to frustration.

An open letter demands Benioff take a public stand against ICE

Beyond the jokes, employees are pushing for something more concrete. The open letter, first reported by Wired, calls on Benioff to issue a public statement condemning what it describes as ICE’s “unconstitutional conduct” and to draw clear “red lines” barring the use of Salesforce’s cloud and AI products for immigration enforcement. It specifically flags leaked documentation showing Salesforce pitched its Agentforce AI technology to help ICE rapidly hire 10,000 new agents and process tip-line reports.The letter also references the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, calling them a “devastating indictment of a system that has discarded human decency.”Salesforce has not responded to multiple requests for comment about Benioff’s jokes or the decision to edit them out of the recording.

NEW DELHI: Over 10 trade and farmers’ unions are participating in the Bharat Bandh today against the Centre’s policies.The bandh is likely to impact public banking, transport and some government sectors. A joint platform of 10 central trade unions has claimed that around 30 crore workers are participating in the general strike across India.Addressing a press conference, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) General Secretary Amarjeet Kaur said the scale of participation is likely to surpass previous mobilisations. “Not less than 30 crore workers will join the strike on February 12. During the July 9, 2025 protest, around 25 crore workers took part,” she said.According to the unions, the strike will impact operations in over 600 districts, up from around 550 districts during last year’s agitation.The strike has been called to protest what the unions describe as the Centre’s “anti-worker, anti-farmer and pro-corporate policies.” The platform said farmers’ groups, agricultural labour unions, students, youth bodies and other federations have extended support.Also Visit: Bharat Bandh Live Updates

February 12 Bharat Bandh: What’s likely to be open and closed

While essential services are expected to function, disruptions are likely across several sectors.Bharat bandh on February 12 – What’s likely to be affected:

Bharat bandh on February 12 – What’s Likely to remain open:

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) too has announced full-fledged backing for the strike, while agricultural workers’ unions are expected to mobilise with a focus on restoring MGNREGA.Kaur claimed that even in BJP-ruled states, the strike will have a major impact. “Odisha and Assam are expected to be completely shut, and other states will see widespread participation,” she said.Strike notices have been served across sectors including government departments, public sector undertakings, industrial clusters and private establishments. Campaigns have been carried out at district and block levels in both rural and urban areas.

Ajinkya Rahane has sparked a massive debate across the cricketing world by unveiling his all-time right-handed T20 XI. Speaking on a special segment for Cricbuzz on February 11, 2026, the veteran Indian batter meticulously constructed a lineup of elite right-handers but made the ‘stunning’ decision to exclude Virat Kohli.

This omission is particularly striking given Kohli’s status as the highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history and his legendary performances in the 2014, 2016 and 2022 editions. Rahane’s selections seem to prioritize high-impact strike rates and specialized T20 roles over career aggregates. His lineup features a blend of modern-day power-hitters and iconic bowlers who dominated the IPL and international circuits. The list serves as a fascinating look into how one of India’s most technically sound batters views the ‘ideal’ structure of a T20 side.

Ajinkya Rahane favours explosive openers and middle-order ‘X-factors’ over Virat Kohli

In his discussion with Cricbuzz, Rahane opted for a terrifying opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Jos Buttler, choosing the two most recent T20 World Cup-winning captains to lead from the front. Rahane explained that Buttler’s ‘proven powerplay enforcement’ and Rohit’s unmatched ability to accelerate made them the perfect pair.

Interestingly, at number three, the spot traditionally occupied by Kohli, Rahane slotted in Suryakumar Yadav, citing his ability to win matches “beyond stats” and his status as the current T20I captain. The middle order is rounded out by the legendary AB de Villiers at four and MS Dhoni, whom Rahane named as the captain and wicketkeeper of his side. By choosing SKY and ABD over Kohli, Rahane appears to have prioritized 360-degree shot-making and raw strike rate, noting that de Villiers’ career strike rate of over 150 makes him indispensable in any all-time XI.

Also READ: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma face Grade B demotion as Shubman Gill enters top bracket of BCCI central contracts for 2025–26

Caribbean power and a lethal multi-nation bowling attack in Rahane’s XI

To provide the necessary balance, Rahane included the iconic West Indian duo of Andre Russell and Dwayne Bravo as his primary all-rounders. Russell’s ability to change a game with both bat and ball, combined with Bravo’s status as one of the greatest death-overs specialists in history, gives the team immense depth. The bowling department is a masterclass in variety, featuring the mystery of Rashid Khan alongside the veteran off-spin of Harbhajan Singh.

For the pace battery, Rahane reunited the legendary Mumbai Indians duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, who together boast nine IPL titles and two T20 World Cups. The final spot went to Yuzvendra Chahal, the IPL’s all-time leading wicket-taker, completing a four-man spin attack if you include Harbhajan and the part-time options. This selection underscores Rahane’s belief in specialized T20 skills, even if it meant leaving out one of his closest former teammates.

Ajinkya Rahane’s All-Time Right-Handed T20 XI

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

Bangladesh votes today—first time since 2024 Hasina ouster

Two Hindu men were killed in separate incidents in Bangladesh’s Moulvibazar and Mymensingh districts ahead of the elections on Thursday.The International Crisis Group has warned of a “real danger” of further attacks on candidates, as well as reprisals against Awami League supporters or Bangladesh’s Hindu minority.The election is Bangladesh’s first since former PM Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 after weeks of mass protests. Hasina fled the country and her party is banned from the pollsIn Moulvibazar, a 28-year-old tea worker, Ratan Shuvo Kar, was found dead with his hands and feet tied in a tea garden in Kamalganj upazila yesterday.The deceased was a worker at Champara Tea Garden under Islampur union, said Kamalganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdul Awal, as Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star reported.Locals spotted the body around 10 am and informed police. Residents said the body bore visible injury marks and was found bloodied. Some suspected that he may have been killed elsewhere and later dumped in the garden.Ratan’s elder brother, Laxman Kar, said the family had been searching for him since the previous night. “This morning, we were informed that his body was lying in the garden. We went there and identified him. We do not know why he was killed,” he said.Police sent the body to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy and said an investigation is underway.In a separate incident in Mymensingh, a 62-year-old rice trader, Susen Chandra Sarkar, was brutally hacked to death inside his shop in Trishal upazila.According to Trishal police station officer-in-charge Muhammad Firoz Hossain, the murder occurred around 11pm on Monday at the Bogar Bazar intersection. Sarkar was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.Police said unidentified assailants attacked Sarkar with a sharp weapon, killing him before locking the shop from outside and fleeing the scene. Family members later found him lying in a pool of blood.“After brutally killing my father, the miscreants looted several lakhs of taka from the shop,” Sarkar’s son, Sujan Sarkar, told the reporters. He also said their family had been running the rice business for many years and had no known disputes or enmity with anyone.Meanwhile, the interim government is providing financial and housing assistance to the family of Dipu Chandra Das (Dipu Das), who was beaten and burnt to death in Square Masterbari area of Bhaluka Upazila in Mymensingh district on December 18.

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NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday backed nationwide protests by workers and farmers demanding protection of their rights. He flagged concerns over labour reforms, trade policies, and potential changes to the rural jobs programme MGNREGA.“Workers fear that the four labour codes will weaken their rights. Farmers are apprehensive that the trade agreement will harm their livelihoods. And weakening or scrapping MGNREGA could snatch away the last lifeline of villages. When decisions affecting their future were taken, their voices were ignored,” he said through a post on X.“Will Modiji listen now? Or is the “grip” on him too strong? I stand firmly with the workers and farmers on their issues and their struggle,” Rahul added.An all-India general strike called by ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) and backed by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday is aimed at opposing a range of government policies, including the four labour codes, privatisation and contractualisation measures, the Electricity Amendment Bill 2025, changes to MGNREGA and the proposed Seed Bill.Large-scale participation from farmers, agricultural workers and industrial unions is expected at protest sites across the country, with power sector employees, PRTC staff and other worker organisations also set to join.In a statement, the SKM said the strike seeks the withdrawal of the four labour codes, the Electricity Bill 2025, the Seed Bill 2025 and the VB-G RAM G Act 2025, among other demands. It also called for the restoration of the old pension scheme and the implementation of minimum wages for all workers, including scheme workers.Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) working president Binoy Viswam expressed full support for the nationwide farmers’ strike, describing it as a movement to defend people’s basic rights.Apple farmers in Himachal Pradesh have also intensified preparations to join the nationwide farmers’ strike on February 12 and announced a march to Delhi, warning that recent import duty reductions under India-US and other free trade agreements could hurt the state’s apple-based economy.They expressed concern that cheaper imports could impact local growers, despite repeated assurances from union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal that the interests of Indian apple farmers will be safeguarded.While several trade unions and farmer organisations have decided to join the strike, the National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU) said it would not participate, describing the protest as “politically motivated.”

NEW DELHI: A new UN Security Council report has blamed Jaish-e-Mohammed for the carrying out series of attacks, linking it to car bombing near the Red Fort in New Delhi in November last year.In a biannual report from the Security Council’s monitoring team for sanctions on al-Qaeda and Islamic State, the security council said that the outfit was “reported to be linked to an attack on the Red Fort in New Delhi on 9 November that killed 15 people”.“One Member State noted that Jaish-i-Mohammed had claimed responsibility for a series of attacks. It was also reported to be linked to an attack on the Red Fort in New Delhi on 9 November that killed 15 people,” the report which was released this week said.The report also noted that UN designated terrorist Masood Azhar has on October 8 last year announced the establishment of women wing which was aimed at supporting terrorist attacks.

“On 8 October, Jaish-i-Mohammed leader Mohammed Masood Azhar Alvi formally announced the establishment of a women-only wing, Jamaat ul-Muminat (not listed), which was aimed at supporting terrorist attacks,” the report said.“Another Member State reported that Jaish-i-Mohammed was defunct. Separately, it was reported that on 28 July, three individuals allegedly involved in the attack perpetrated in Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir, were killed,” it added.On November 10, a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort killed 15 people and injured dozens of others, triggering a high-level investigation that revealed the existence of a sophisticated ‘white-collar’ terror network with ties to Jaish-e-Mohammed.Even before the blast, several arrests had been made across multiple states, and investigators had begun to piece together evidence of an interstate terror module.Following the explosion, the NIA found that the incident was connected to earlier arrests, leading to a series of new revelations as the probe deepened.The 1267 Sanctions Committee monitors sanctions on al-Qaeda, Islamic State and their affiliates. LeT and JeM are included under the purview of the committee because of their links to al-Qaeda dating back to the 1990s.

India cricketers during a practice session in Delhi. (Pic credit: BCCI)

NEW DELHI: India batter Tilak Varma has said the team is fully charged for the high-pressure ICC T20 World Cup clash against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 15, adding that the squad has already entered “match zone” after uncertainty around the fixture finally ended.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pakistan had earlier threatened to boycott the marquee encounter in Colombo before taking a U-turn, clearing the path for one of cricket’s most anticipated contests. Speaking on the eve of India’s Namibia clash, Tilak admitted the confirmation has only heightened excitement within the camp.

“To be honest, we are very excited to play. We got to know that the match is going to take place the day before. We are ready to play. We are watching all the teams. We are watching the bowlers and the batsmen,” Tilak said.“All the players and team members are ready to play. Now, we are in the match zone. The planning will start,” he added, signalling that India’s preparations for the Colombo showdown are already underway.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had earlier highlighted Pakistan’s potential advantage of being based in Sri Lanka for a longer period, but Tilak stressed that India’s approach remains methodical. “We are going one by one in every match… we have video analysis, technology, and we will see how the wicket is behaving. Everyone has different shots, and we will decide which bowlers to target,” he explained.Despite his naturally attacking style, Tilak said he is ready to adapt his role depending on the match situation. Reflecting on India’s opening win over the USA, where wickets fell in a cluster, he revealed that head coach Gautam Gambhir has encouraged flexibility in the batting order.“Gautam bhai has asked us to play cautiously if wickets fall quickly. Suryakumar bhai and I can anchor the innings if needed,” he noted.Tilak, who recently returned from injury, expressed satisfaction at being back on the world stage. “Happy that I am back in the World Cup side. The only aim is to help the team win the cup,” he said.

Attorney General Pam Bondi’s appearance before the House Judiciary Committee was meant to steady the ship after months of controversy over the Justice Department’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Instead, it descended into one of the most combative hearings of her tenure.For more than four hours, Bondi faced furious questioning from Democrats and pointed scrutiny from at least one Republican over redactions, the exposure of victims’ personal details, and accusations of a political cover-up. With Epstein survivors seated directly behind her, the optics were stark. Lawmakers accused the department of failing both transparency and basic care for victims.

Bondi, however, chose confrontation over contrition. She forcefully defended President Donald Trump, dismissed allegations of a cover-up, and repeatedly clashed with members of the committee. Here are five key moments that defined the hearing.

Survivors in the room — and a refusal to apologise

One of the most powerful moments came early, when Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal asked Epstein survivors seated in the hearing room to stand. She then pressed Bondi to apologise not only for the abuse they endured — which Bondi had acknowledged in her opening remarks — but for the Justice Department’s failure to properly redact sensitive information in the released files.Bondi declined to apologise for the redaction failures. Instead, she accused Jayapal of engaging in “theatrics” and said officials had done their “very best in the time frame allotted” under the legislation mandating release of the files. She insisted that any information released inadvertently had been “immediately redacted” once identified.At one point, when urged again to address the survivors behind her, Bondi refused to turn around, saying she would not “get in the gutter”. The moment underscored the central tension of the hearing: whether the department had prioritised speed and politics over victims’ dignity.

The Massie clash: ‘Bigger than Watergate’

While Democrats hammered Bondi, one of the most striking exchanges came from Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who helped push the legislation forcing disclosure of the Epstein files.Massie accused the department of improperly redacting names of individuals who were not legally entitled to protection. He specifically raised the case of billionaire Les Wexner, whose name had initially been blacked out in a section referencing potential criminal conduct.Bondi responded that Wexner’s name had been restored “within 40 minutes”. Massie shot back: “Within 40 minutes of me catching you red-handed.”Calling the issue “bigger than Watergate”, Massie argued the handling of the files reflected a cover-up spanning multiple administrations. Bondi dismissed his line of questioning as a “political joke” and accused him of being a “failed politician” with “Trump derangement syndrome”.The exchange cut through the broader partisan noise. Unlike many Democratic attacks that dissolved into shouting matches, Massie’s questioning directly challenged the department’s credibility on specific redactions — and left Bondi on the defensive.

Trump takes centre stage

Though the hearing was about Epstein, it frequently became a platform for Bondi to defend President Trump.“You sit here and you attack the president and I’m not going to have it,” she told lawmakers. At another point she declared, “There is no evidence that Donald Trump has committed a crime. Everyone knows that.”When Democratic Representative Ted Lieu referenced unsubstantiated tips in the files mentioning Trump, Bondi angrily replied: “Don’t you ever accuse me of committing a crime,” after Lieu suggested she was misleading the committee.Bondi also praised the stock market’s performance under Trump, citing record highs in the Dow and Nasdaq, and suggested lawmakers should focus on that instead. Critics quickly noted that market performance was not the Judiciary Committee’s remit.Her repeated alignment with Trump marked a departure from traditional Justice Department distance from the White House. Rather than positioning herself as an independent law enforcement official, Bondi openly cast herself as the president’s defender.

Misfires and walkouts

Bondi’s aggressive approach did not always land cleanly.In one exchange, she criticised Democratic Representative Becca Balint over a vote related to antisemitism. Balint responded that she was the granddaughter of a Holocaust victim and shouted, “Are you serious?” before storming out of the hearing.Bondi also sparred with Jamie Raskin, the committee’s top Democrat, calling him a “washed-up loser lawyer” during a heated exchange over time limits and questioning tactics.Meanwhile, Democrats repeatedly accused her of running a “massive Epstein cover-up” and siding with perpetrators over victims. They also pointed to the department’s recent attempt — rejected by a grand jury — to indict Democratic lawmakers, fuelling claims of political weaponisation.Bondi insisted the department was focused on reducing violent crime and restoring its “core missions” after what she described as years of politicisation. But by the end of the session, it was clear she had not come to concede ground.

A rare moment of unity over threats

Amid the rancour, there was a brief pause in hostilities.Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell shifted the focus to threats made against him and his family. He asked Bondi whether they were being investigated and appealed for help in protecting lawmakers’ families in an increasingly volatile political climate.Bondi responded: “None of you should be threatened ever. None of your children should be threatened. None of your families should be threatened, and I will work with you.”

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Indian stock market indices, Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, tanked in opening trade on Thursday morning. While Nifty50 went below 25,900, BSE Sensex was down over 200 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,877.80, down 76 points or 0.29%. BSE Sensex was at 83,998.41, down 235 points or 0.28%.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “The latest US jobs data indicating addition of 1,30,000 jobs last month and unemployment falling to 4.3% points to the possibility of no rate cuts by the Fed in the near-term. In India, too, it appears that the rate cutting cycle is over since growth is good and inflation is expected to inch back to the RBI’s long-term target by the end of FY 27. Support to the market has to come from earnings growth, and there are sectors like automobiles, jewellery, hotels, segments of capital goods, telecom and financials that are doing well on the earnings front and have the potential to continue to do well.”“Tech stocks, reeling under the Anthropic shock, are unlikely to recover soon. The sharp dip in the ADRs of top Indian IT companies in the US yesterday, indicates that Indian IT will continue to struggle. The switch from IT to other segments will help performing stocks in performing sectors. The sharp rise in stocks like Eicher, Titan and Apollo Hospital in response to results indicate that the market will reward better-than-expected results. Even with occasional profit booking, the undertone of the market will remain resilient mainly because there is a trend of FIIs turning buyers. The fact that FIIs were buyers in six of the last seven trading sessions, indicates that at least the trend of sustained selling is over. In the near-term the market is likely to consolidate around the current levels with an upward bias.”In the United States, the Nasdaq and the Dow closed marginally lower on Wednesday, while the S&P 500 remained largely flat. A stronger-than-expected employment report helped ease concerns about economic weakness but also strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve may slow the pace of interest rate cuts.Asian markets, however, continued their upward momentum, extending gains for a fifth consecutive session and outperforming US peers so far this year. Investors were attracted by relatively lower valuations and stronger growth prospects across the region. Meanwhile, US Treasury prices declined further after the robust jobs data reinforced expectations of tighter monetary conditions.Oil prices moved higher early Thursday as geopolitical concerns resurfaced. Brent crude futures rose 34 cents, or 0.49%, to $69.74 per barrel at 0126 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 37 cents, or 0.57%, to $65.00.Foreign portfolio investors remained net buyers, purchasing equities worth Rs 944 crore on Wednesday. Domestic institutional investors also added to equities, recording net purchases of Rs 125 crore.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)