PUNE: Weekend gridlocks have almost become a norm on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, and this Saturday was no exception. A surge of traffic once again brought the corridor to a crawl, with lumbering trailers and heavy vehicles choking the ghat stretch and turning peak-hour movement into a sluggish and exhausting ordeal. Officials said the traffic surge was partly due to local body election-related travel.This bottleneck comes barely days after a 32-hour ordeal caused by the overturning of a propylene tanker near the Adoshi tunnel in the Khandala ghat on Tuesday. The incident had triggered a massive traffic snarl, leaving thousands of commuters stranded as the congestion stretched up to 50km at its peak.

Travellers stuck in Saturday’s congestion reported significant delays, with travel time increasing by over an hour on several sections of the route. “Traffic stayed sluggish throughout the day, and people are still taking unusually long to reach their destinations.

Even today (Saturday), vehicle movement was extremely slow. We had more than 25 cars travelling from Pune to Mumbai, and the trip ended up taking over five hours,” Pradeep Malpote, CEO of KP Travels, said.Malpote blamed heavy vehicles for the expressway’s traffic gridlock. “Trucks and containers are responsible for most of the congestion. Many of them straddle multiple lanes, leaving hardly any space for smaller vehicles to move,” he said.

A highway police official attributed the continued gridlock to election-related travel and the sudden movement of heavy vehicles that had been halted earlier in the week following a tanker accident. “Due to the zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections, many people are travelling between villages and cities. Heavy vehicles that were stalled for the past two to three days have also started moving at once,” the official said. Police officers said intermittent traffic blocks were being enforced to regulate traffic.

During the T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 8, 2026, Sri Lanka’s spin maestro Maheesh Theekshana provided the definitive moment of the Powerplay. Defending a competitive total of 163/6, the co-hosts knew that the wicket of Ireland’s captain and danger-man Paul Stirling was the key to unlocking the chase.

T20 World Cup 2026: Maheesh Theekshana yorks Paul Stirling and unlocks iconic ‘archer’ celebration

The breakthrough arrived in the 4th over (3.2) with a delivery of absolute pinpoint precision. After a sluggish start, Stirling (6 off 13) attempted to charge down the track to unsettle the mystery spinner. Anticipating the move, Theekshana fired in a lightning-fast yorker at the base of the middle stump.

The ball zipped under Stirling’s bat before he could even complete his swing, crashing into the woodwork to leave the Irish captain stunned. Without missing a beat, Theekshana broke into his trademark ‘Archer’ celebration, mimicking the release of an arrow into the night sky as his teammates swarmed him. The gesture, a symbolic ‘bullseye,’ perfectly captured the surgical nature of the dismissal and left Ireland reeling early in their chase of 164.

Here’s the video:

A quick change of pace and Maheesh Theekshana gets the better of Paul Striling! Will Sri Lanka defend the total?⚡

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | #SLvIRE | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/AaKfib9jeV pic.twitter.com/2MPsgGkL97

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 8, 2026

Also WATCH: T20 World Cup 2026: Pavan Rathnayake throws away wicket with reckless shot during SL vs IRE clash

Ireland’s chase of 164 falters against Sri Lanka’s spin trio

Theekshana’s early strike opened the floodgates for a disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack that utilized the ‘dry and slow’ Colombo surface to perfection. Following Stirling’s exit, Wanindu Hasaranga maintained the pressure from the other end, eventually removing Ross Adair for a rapid 34 to leave Ireland struggling at 56/2 after 8 overs. Sri Lanka’s tactical decision to use three different spinners, Theekshana, Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage, within the first nine overs successfully stifled the Irish run rate, making boundary-hitting an arduous task.

Despite a gritty effort from Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker to rebuild, the required run rate has climbed steadily toward 10 runs per over. The R. Premadasa crowd remains in high spirits, sensing a victory as the ‘spin-twins’ continue to dominate the middle phase. With Ireland needing a monumental finish to pull off an upset, the momentum remains firmly with the co-hosts following Theekshana’s opening masterclass.

Also WATCH: Nepal players salute Wankhede crowd with lap of honour after heartbreaking T20 World Cup 2026 loss to England

Navi Mumbai: A case has been registered against a 58-year-old retired assistant commissioner of police (ACP) from Mumbai Police department for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and ramming his car into a tempo on a busy road in Navi Mumbai’s Karave area on Saturday evening. No one was injured in the incident.NRI Coastal police have booked the accused, Nerul resident Arun Pokharkar, under the relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Motor Vehicles Act for rash and negligent driving under the influence of alcohol after his medical test at NMMC hospital in Vashi confirmed that he was driving drunk. Pokharkar was not arrested, but served with a notice under the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita as per the provisions of the law.The video of the inebriated accused being confronted and thrashed by angry bystanders has gone viral on social media.Devendra Pol, senior inspector of NRI Coastal police station, said Pokharkar’s old police identity card as senior inspector of Mumbai Police was found in the MUV, along with the police nameplate near the windscreen. Pokharkar was attached to Yellowgate police station as senior inspector and was promoted to ACP days before his retirement. “Though Pokharkar recently retired as ACP, he was misusing the police nameplate by displaying it in a private vehicle, which is illegal. Accordingly, relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act were invoked against Pokharkar,” said Pol, adding that they did not find any liquor bottles in his vehicle.“Retired cops indulging in drunk driving bring disrepute to the police department,” Pol said.In August last year, a 42-year-old police constable, Ravindra Pawar, was booked for driving his car rashly and at high speed under the influence of alcohol, and hitting a biker in Ghansoli. The biker, Vicky Uchgavkar (39), and a woman riding pillion sustained minor injuries in the collision, which caused damage to the bike. The incident was video-recorded by the dash cam in a car behind the constable’s vehicle and went viral on social media. Passersby intercepted Pawar’s car ahead at a junction and informed Rabale police station. A police team reached the spot and detained Pawar, who was visibly inebriated. Inside his car, they allegedly found a plastic bottle containing liquor.

Niti Aayog member and former DRDO director general VK Saraswat on Sunday said venture capitalists must increase financial support for Indian defence startups, asserting that these firms have come a long way but require stronger funding backing for sustained growth.Speaking with PTI Videos on the sidelines of the Advantage Vidarbha-2026 Business Conclave and Investment Summit, Saraswat said India’s defence approach is driven by national requirements rather than geopolitical balancing.“It is about how we look at our own business requirements. It is not a question of choosing between A and B. It is a question of how do we meet our requirements of security and latest technology in terms of weapons and ensuring it happens,” he said, when asked about balancing defence ties between the US and Russia.He said India will continue to progress on its path irrespective of shifts in the global geopolitical framework.On the defence allocation in the 2026-27 Union Budget, Saraswat said it signals a focus on large-scale production of weapons and equipment required for future warfare requirements.“It is also for indigenisation, for ensuring the private sector gets more participation for bringing down the cost and increasing the rate of production, and ensuring our products become cost effective and competitive,” he said.He said the allocations reflect lessons learnt in Operation Sindoor, particularly in weapon selection and manufacturing priorities.“Whether I should go for long range supersonic missiles or standalone weapons that are needed for attacking from a distance. Because the future of war is non-contact warfare and in non contact warfare the technologies that are going to be used are of different nature. This Budget and the R&D iNitiative which the government has started with the participation of the private sector is totally in that direction,” he said.The defence outlay in the 2026-27 Union Budget stood at Rs 7.85 lakh crore, up from Rs 6.81 lakh crore last year. Of this, Rs 2,19,306 crore has been allocated towards capital expenditure for the armed forces, including procurement of weapons, aircraft, warships and military hardware.On defence research and development and startup participation, Saraswat said government-backed innovation ecosystems created by the defence ministry, department of science and technology and department of biotechnology are helping build a strong startup pipeline.“The ecosystem for all of them is basically to promote startup culture. Startups are coming up in a big way because the policies of the Union government are supporting them in a big way. Venture capitals must support defence startups, which (currently) is not as much as it should be,” he said.He added that Indian defence startups have matured significantly and require stronger financial support to scale up.

Rafael Nadal reacts to Lindsey Vonn’s horrific Winter Olympics crash

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal sent a heartfelt message to American ski star Lindsey Vonn after she suffered a shocking and painful crash at the Winter Olympics. Nadal praised her courage and strength, writing, “Lindsey Vonn, you are a great inspiration and an example of perseverance. Stay strong and get well soon!”Vonn’s crash happened during the downhill event in Cortina d’Ampezzo, just seconds after she started her run. In bright sunny conditions, she lost control, twisted in mid-air, and slammed into the snow. The 41-year-old could be heard crying out in pain as medics rushed to help her. The crowd watching at the bottom of the slope fell completely silent as they saw the accident on big screens. She was later taken away on a stretcher and flown to hospital by helicopter.Despite the shocking incident, Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson went on to win the gold medal. However, her thoughts were with Vonn, saying, “My heart goes out to her. I hope it’s not as bad as it looked.” Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow also reacted emotionally, saying, “That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see.”Vonn’s Olympic comeback story had inspired many. She retired in 2019 but returned in 2024 after knee surgery and was hoping to win another Olympic medal, 16 years after her last gold. Her plans were complicated by a recent crash that left her with a ruptured ACL, but she still chose to compete.She had said, “This is not obviously what I had hoped for…. I know what my chances were before the crash and and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today,” and “But I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance I will try.”

File photo: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammad (Picture credit: AP)

Iran has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi to more than seven additional years in prison, according to her supporters and lawyer. The development comes as Mohammadi has reportedly been on a hunger strike since early February.Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, confirmed the verdict on social media, saying she had received multiple sentences on separate charges Iranian authorities have not publicly acknowledged the ruling so far, as per news agency AP.Mohammadi, a long-time critic of Iran’s human rights record, is already behind bars and has spent much of the past decade in and out of prison for her activism.

Details of the new sentence

According to Nili, Mohammadi has been sentenced to six years in prison for “gathering and collusion to commit crimes” and an additional one-and-a-half years for propaganda-related charges, reported news agency AFP. She has also been handed a two-year travel ban.Separately, Mohammadi has been ordered into internal exile for two years to the city of Khosf in South Khorasan province. Under Iranian law, prison sentences are served concurrently, meaning the longest term applies.Nili said the verdict is not final and can still be appealed. He also expressed hope that, given her health condition, Mohammadi could be temporarily released on bail to receive medical treatment.

Hunger strike and health concerns

Supporters say Mohammadi began a hunger strike on February 2, according to AP. Her health has been a recurring concern. In December 2024, she was briefly released for three weeks on medical grounds following surgery that involved tumour removal and a bone graft, her lawyer had said at the time.Despite her detention, Mohammadi has continued to protest from inside prison, including staging demonstrations in the prison yard and undertaking previous hunger strikes.

Long history of activism and imprisonment

Mohammadi, 53, has been repeatedly arrested over the past 25 years for campaigning against Iran’s use of the death penalty and for opposing the mandatory dress code for women. She has not seen her twin children, who live in Paris, since 2015.She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her human rights work, particularly her opposition to capital punishment. Her children accepted the award on her behalf as she remained imprisoned at the time.Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticised Iran’s record, noting that the country carries out more executions annually than any nation except China, for which no reliable data is available.

PM Modi with Japan PM Sanae Takaichi (Image/PTI)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on her landmark victory in the elections to Japan’s House of Representatives, expressing confidence that bilateral ties between India and Japan would further deepen under her leadership.Congratulating her on the outcome, PM Modi underlined the importance of India–Japan ties, which are anchored in a Special Strategic and Global Partnership and play a key role in regional and global stability.In a post on X, he wrote, “Congratulations Sanae Takaichi on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives. Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights.”Takaichi secured a sweeping mandate in the snap lower house elections, consolidating her position just months after becoming Japan’s first woman prime minister. Her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with coalition partners is expected to command a strong two-thirds majority, giving her government a decisive edge to push its legislative agenda.Takaichi, 64, emerged as Japan’s prime minister in October after winning the leadership of the LDP, becoming the country’s first woman to hold the office.Also Read | Japan snap elections: PM Sanae Takaichi’s LDP secures majority in lower house – top developmentsKnown for her tough stance on defence, economic security and China, she has positioned herself as a strong advocate of closer cooperation with the United States and like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region.Her victory marks a turnaround for the LDP after years of political turbulence marked by inflation, funding scandals and voter discontent. The decisive mandate is expected to give Takaichi greater authority to pursue policy reforms, including increased defence spending, economic stimulus measures and a more assertive foreign policy.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi

NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday escalated his attack on Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, alleging a “deeper connection” between Gogoi, his British wife Elizabeth Colburn and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, and hinting at possible charges of “rashtra-droh” (treason) if the Congress leader failed to clarify his past visit to Pakistan.Addressing a press conference ahead of the assembly elections, Sarma claimed that Gogoi had undertaken a “very confidential visit” to Pakistan in December 2013 and was believed to have undergone “some kind of training” during his 10-day stay.

“He stayed there for 10 days. Strangely, Gogoi was digitally silent and no social media post was made. We suspect he went through some kind of training in that period,” the chief minister said.Sarma further alleged that after returning from Pakistan and later becoming an MP, Gogoi asked questions in the Lok Sabha on military preparedness, security matters, defence hardware, nuclear plants, espionage and the Kashmir conflict. “A first-time MP asking such confidential questions, how can it not be linked to his Pakistan visit?” he asked.“If Gogoi cannot come out clean on his Pakistan stay, then charges of ‘rashtra-droh’ (treason) will have to be imposed on him,” Sarma added.Allegations over foreign linksThe chief minister also alleged that Colburn had worked with LEAD Pakistan, an organisation run by Sheikh, before moving to India, and that her salary continued to be paid by Sheikh even while she was working in the country. “But her salary continued to be paid by Sheikh,” Sarma said.He claimed that LEAD Pakistan sent money to LEAD India, which then paid Colburn “bypassing FCRA regulations”, and suggested that special permission might have been obtained during the UPA government’s tenure. “Pakistani agencies cannot donate to an Indian entity as it’s an enemy nation. Probably special permission was obtained in UPA time to pay Colburn,” he said.Sarma also alleged that Colburn gathered information from Intelligence Bureau sources related to climate action after Narendra Modi came to power and sent a “45-page report” to Sheikh. “Colburn got information from IB sources about climate action after Narendra Modi came to power. She sent a 45-page report to Sheikh,” he claimed.The chief minister asserted that Colburn had travelled to Islamabad six times while working with LEAD India and three more times after joining another NGO. He further alleged that she maintained a Pakistani bank account to receive salary payments and that Gogoi did not mention this in his election affidavit. “Now, I feel his opponent should complain to the EC about giving wrong information in the affidavit,” Sarma said.Sarma said the state government would seek cancellation of Colburn’s Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status, claiming her presence was detrimental to India.“We believe there is a deeper connection between Gogoi, Colburn and Sheikh. We believe that Colburn and Sheikh were part of an international conspiracy,” Sarma said. He added that the Assam Police had recommended a national-level probe by the ministry of home affairs, stating, “So we recommended a national probe by the Ministry of Home Affairs.”Congress hits backGogoi, who is also the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee chief, dismissed the press conference as politically motivated. “I pity the journalists from Delhi and Assam who had to suffer the most flop press conference of the century. This was worse than a C grade cinema,” he wrote on X while the presser was underway.He described the allegations as “Most mindless and bogus points” offered by the “so-called political shrewd” chief minister and termed the episode a “#SuperFlop”“This #SuperFlop is in contrast to our #XomoyParivartanYatra which has been a hit in uncovering the 12,000 bighas of land occupied by the Chief Minister and his family members,” Gogoi said.Earlier in the week, responding to similar allegations linking his wife to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, Gogoi said, “If my wife is an ISI agent of Pakistan, I am a R&AW agent of India. I don’t mind if a family against whom there are various cases and several allegations, makes allegations against me. The (Assam) chief minister is making these allegations only to put away allegations against him.”Dismissing the charges as “lies and rumours”, he said, “Today, BJP doesn’t have any issues to raise. They are dependent on spreading lies. I feel that people of the country are very intelligent and they can see the difference between lies and truth. Let them spread rumours, we will continue to do our work.”Political backdropThe faceoff comes as Assam prepares for assembly elections, with both the BJP and the Congress sharpening their campaigns. Sarma’s remarks mark a significant escalation, introducing allegations of national security, foreign funding violations and possible treason into the electoral discourse.The BJP has framed the issue as one involving potential foreign influence and FCRA violations, while the Congress has characterised the allegations as diversionary tactics aimed at deflecting attention from state-level issues and charges against the chief minister.Sarma also said the Assam Police’s Special Investigation Team did not question Gogoi directly “as he is a sitting MP. We have left it to the Centre, showing some respect to his position”.“If I arrest Gogoi now, I will be accused of doing politics before elections. Arresting is a harsh step. I feel Gogoi is the most vulnerable politician in India now, as all his movements in the 10-day stay must have been photographed and recorded in Pakistan,” he said.With the campaign intensifying, the allegations and counter-allegations have injected a sharp national security dimension into Assam’s electoral battle, setting the stage for a polarised contest in the weeks ahead.