NEW DELHI: With nine of the 12 states covered in Phase 2 of special intensive revision (SIR) having published their final electoral roll – including six on Saturday – their combined electorate is down 7.9% to 19.7 crore, as compared to 21.4 crore at the time of announcement of SIR exercise on October 27, 2025.Over 1.7 crore electors have been struck off the electoral rolls of the nine states/UTs – Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Lakshadweep, Puducherry, Goa and Andaman & Nicobar Islands – on account of SIR. While the final electoral rolls of Gujarat, Puducherry and Lakshadweep were published earlier, those for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Goa and Andaman & Nicobar were published on Saturday.Interestingly, the range of net decline in electors at the end of SIR varies from a steep 16.9% in Andaman & Nicobar and 13.4% in Gujarat to just 0.3% in Lakshadweep and 3.2% in Kerala. While four of the nine states/UTs recorded net deletions above the 7.9% overall average, it was the opposite in five states/UTs.Three states – West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu – are yet to publish their final electoral roll as part of SIR phase 2. While Tamil Nadu’s roll will be out on Feb 23, the timeline for West Bengal is Feb 28 and for UP, April 10.Among the six states where SIR stands concluded, Gujarat saw the highest net decline in its electorate since the start of SIR, at around 68 lakh or 13.4%. Chhattisgarh’s electorate shrunk by 11.8% and Goa’s by 10.7%. The remaining three states saw a modest decline: with Kerala’s final electorate down by 3.2%, Madhya Pradesh’s by 5.9% and Rajasthan’s by 5.7%.Among the UTs, only Andaman and Nicobar saw a sharp net decline of 16.9% in its electors. Puducherry electorate was 7.6% less than what it was on Oct 27, 2025; the decline in Lakshadweep was just over 0.3%.While Phase 1 of SIR completed last year was exclusive to Bihar, Assam witnessed only a special summary revision. Another 22 states and UTs are yet to conduct SIR. EC recently indicated that it may start the next phase of SIR in April.

Suryakumar Yadav (R) interacts with Tilak Varma during a net session at Narendra Modi Stadium on February 17, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo/Getty Images)

India captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday defended Tilak Varma despite his modest returns in the T20 World Cup league stage, saying the batter is following instructions given by the team management.Tilak’s strike rate, which is above 141 in his career, has dropped to the 120s in this tournament. He has struggled against slow bowlers on surfaces where the ball has gripped more. Across four matches, he has managed only 11 boundaries and three sixes and has not been able to shift gears after settling in.The India captain said Tilak’s approach is part of a defined role.“I mean I have told him, the team management has told him that he has to bat that way. If one wicket is down, then he is definitely, he can go and have his own game in the powerplay,” Surya said.“But as soon as two wickets are down, then he has to take a little bit of backseat, get a partnership again, get to the 10th over and then we have enough firepower to continue and take on the bowling,” the Indian skipper explained the rationale behind the approach although it wasn’t exactly convincing.He added that Tilak himself would expect more from his performances.“Definitely, I am sure he must not be happy with how he is batting right now, I am sure. He must be and he has practiced a lot as well in the last 2-3 practice sessions. But I don’t have any concern regarding him. He has been delivering for India at No. 3 really well and I am very confident that he will do it better.”Suryakumar dismissed talk of replacing Tilak with Sanju Samson.“You mean, I should make him (Samson) play for Tilak?” he laughed.He said India’s scoring in the powerplay has been normal but expectations remain high.“It’s going well in powerplay. We’re making 40-50 runs. That’s normal cricket. Now we’ve played so well in bilaterals. It happens. We also have expectations of ourselves. Expectation to make 220, 240, 250,” he said.“But wickets are a little different here (in the World Cup). The four wickets we have played on so far were a little different and challenging. Off-spinners were not bowling earlier but are bowling now. So we have started preparation for that and hopefully we will tackle it as we start our Super 8 journey.”The captain said he is confident in the bowling unit, especially when defending totals around 175 to 180.“I do take a lot of pride in my bowling unit. I know that on a given day, if we ever make 170, 175, or 180 because of the high risk, high reward game we are trying to play, then we have a good bowling attack which can save the match, it can win that game,” he said.“Look, I never thought that this team will make scores like 250, 270, 220, 230. But the way we’re playing cricket now, you’ll see in the future, if you see a start, then after that, everyone bats with the same template. But the day you don’t get a start, that day you have to think about what the team needs.”

Representative image (File photo)

Pakistan said early Sunday it carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, targeting hideouts of Pakistani militants it blames for a recent surge in deadly attacks inside the country. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military conducted “intelligence-based, selective operations” against seven camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, and its affiliates. He added that an affiliate of the Islamic State group was also targeted in the border region. Islamabad did not specify the exact locations of the strikes. There was no immediate comment from Kabul. However, reports on social media suggested the strikes were carried out inside Afghanistan. Pakistani media outlets, citing the ministry of information, said the targets included camps of Fitna al Khwarij and Daesh Khorasan Province. According to Tolo News, Pakistani Air Force jets targeted a religious seminary in Bermal district of Afghanistan’s Paktika province and conducted multiple airstrikes in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province. Strikes were also reported in Argun in Paktika, and in Bahsod and Ghani Khel districts in Nangarhar. Geo News reported that the action was conducted “with precision and accuracy” in response to recent suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu during Ramzan. The latest strikes came days after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security post in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 11 soldiers and a child. Authorities later said the attacker was an Afghan national. Hours before the border operation, another suicide bomber targeted a security convoy in Bannu district, killing two soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel. After Saturday’s violence, Pakistan’s military warned it would not “exercise any restraint” and that operations against those responsible would continue “irrespective of their location.” Tarar said Pakistan “has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the region,” but maintained that the safety and security of Pakistani citizens remained a top priority. He said Pakistan had “conclusive evidence” that recent attacks, including a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque in Islamabad that killed 31 worshippers earlier this month, were carried out by militants acting on the “behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.” He said Pakistan had repeatedly urged Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to take verifiable steps to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks in Pakistan, alleging that no substantive action had been taken. He added that Pakistan urges the international community to press Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to uphold their commitments under the Doha agreement not to allow their soil to be used against other countries. Pakistan’s Foreign Office also signalled a tougher stance. “Pakistan very legitimately demands that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism inside Pakistan. So, as long as this demand is not met, whilst exercising patience, all options would obviously remain on the table,” spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a weekly briefing, according to Dawn. Pakistan has seen a rise in militant violence in recent years, much of it blamed on the TTP and outlawed Baloch separatist groups. The TTP is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban, who returned to power in 2021. Islamabad accuses the TTP of operating from inside Afghanistan, a charge denied by both the group and Kabul. Relations between the two countries have remained tense since October, when deadly border clashes killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. A Qatar-mediated ceasefire has largely held, but talks in Istanbul failed to produce a formal agreement, leaving ties strained.

Amit Shah and CRPF personnel during the felicitation ceremony at the 87th CRPF Raising Day Parade, in Guwahati on Saturday. (ANI Photo)

GUWAHATI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the opposition of turning infiltrators into a vote bank and said if BJP returns to power in Assam in the upcoming assembly elections, infiltrators will be removed from the electoral rolls and deported from the country within five years.He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi possesses the “courage, determination, and firm resolve to free the country from infiltrators”.“The support of the state govt is essential to remove infiltrators, which would never be possible if the opposition party comes to power,” he said.He further said the Election Commission is conducting the Summary Revision (SIR) to help identify infiltrators, but “the Leader of the Opposition has launched an agitation against it.” Shah said, “The country will certainly be freed from infiltrators. Under our govt, the country is becoming free from Naxalism, and in the same way, Assam and the entire nation will also become free from infiltrators.”Shah was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Assam Police 10th Battalion headquarters at Kachutoli near the city on the land that was freed from encroachers in 2024.“During the rule of the opposition party’s govt, infiltrators had encroached upon 174 bighas of land, which has now been freed from their possession by the present chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and today’s programme is being held on that very land,” he said.“At the very place from where security challenges had once emerged, the 10th Battalion of the Assam Police — which will eliminate those challenges — is now being established,” he said.He added that the land occupied by infiltrators had posed a major threat to Guwahati, Assam, and the entire country and the “presence of these infiltrators was a serious challenge to the development of Assam.”Shah said,“During the tenure of the previous govt, infiltrators had entered the region and pushed Assam’s demographic situation to a dangerous level.The opposition party bears direct responsibility for several areas of Assam — such as Dhubri, Barpeta, Morigaon, Darrang, Bongaigaon, and Nagaon — becoming infiltrator-dominated.”He highlighted that chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has freed nearly 1.45 lakh bighas of land from infiltrators and provided govt jobs to more than 1.4 lakh people in Assam without corruption and issued a firm pledge, “If our govt is formed again in the next five years, we will identify and deport every infiltrator from the country.”Shah alleged that infiltrators had become a vote bank for the opposition and declared, “Once our party’s govt is formed, within the next five years we will remove infiltrators not only from the electoral rolls but also from the country.”Accusing the opposition of endangering Assam’s identity, Shah said, “By allowing infiltrators to enter, the opposition party handed over Assam’s fertile land to them, which harmed the identity of the Assamese community and also put its cultural heritage at risk.”

NEW DELHI: An agreement for cooperation on rare earths and critical minerals, bilateral trade target of $30 billion by 2030 and Global South solidarity in technology that, according to PM Narendra Modi, must be inclusive and act as a bridge for shared progress were among the highlights of Modi’s bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday.Modi said the critical minerals agreement, which could potentially lower dependence on China, was a major step towards building resilient supply chains. Significantly, the leaders discussed the US Supreme Court judgment striking down President Donald Trump’s global tariffs and agreed that both sides needed to study its implications.“So, we will essentially be in wait-and-watch mode to see how the administration responds to this judgment, whether any further steps are taken and to study the implications for our trade,” said MEA secretary (east) P Kumaran at a media briefing.Lula mentioned trade unilateralism in his remarks and also said that in a turbulent world, both sides were required to strengthen and deepen their strategic dialogue. “India and Brazil are crucial voices at the UN, at the WTO and G20,” he said, while also underlining the significance of cooperation under BRICS.Modi and Lula focused on energy transition and defence and security cooperation that the PM said was a perfect example of mutual trust and strategic harmony. “We will continue to strengthen this win-win partnership further,” the PM said. In all, India and Brazil signed nine agreements, including one in the field of mining for steel supply chain, and also announced that Brazil would extend business visas for ordinary Indian passport holders to 10 years.Modi said that the expansion of India’s trade agreement with Mercosur, a South American trading bloc, will further strengthen economic cooperation and that bilateral cooperation in the field of te-chnology and innovation was important for both countries as well as the Global South.“We are also prioritising our cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, supercomputers, semiconductors and blockchain,” he said, adding that energy cooperation too had been a strong pillar of the relationship and there was now increasing cooperation in renewable energy, ethanol blending and sustainable aviation fuel.“As democratic countries, we will continue to advance the priorities and aspirations of the Global South. When India and Brazil work together, the voice of the Global South becomes stronger and more confident,” said the PM.Lula said that the meeting was one between a digital superpower and a renewable energy superpower.Brazil joined India in strongly condemning cross-border terrorism, along with the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Red Fort blast. According to a joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed defence as an integral pillar of the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership and underscored the potential for co-design and co-production by linking India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat with Brazil’s defence industrial base.As expected, there was a strong focus on UN reforms, particularly in the Security Council, including its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent membership categories, for which both countries have been working under the G4 framework that also includes Japan and Germany. The joint statement said that the leaders reaffirmed their commitment for mutual support for permanent membership of the two countries in an expanded UNSC and India welcomed Brazil’s support for India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat for the 2028-29 term.Kumaran said Lula gave a detailed presentation on Brazil’s substantial critical minerals and rare earth reserves. “He said only 30% of their reserves have been explored and there is substantial scope for exploration, processing minerals and also using them. He said Brazil would value India’s partnership,” said the official.

TOI correspondent from Washington: US President Donald Trump on Saturday raised to 15 per cent the worldwide tariff (which he had earlier set at 10 per cent) in a continued display of anger and petulance after the US Supreme Court repudiated his authority in the matter. After lashing out intemperately at the six supreme court justices who rebuked him, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce that he is raising tariff “to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level” under Section 122 of the Trade Act which allows the US President impose tariffs to address “large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits.”

“During the next short number of months, the Trump Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue our extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again,” Trump wrote, after calling the SCOTUS’ 6-3 opinion “ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs.” He said his decision to increase the tariff rate was the result of a “thorough, detailed, and complete review” of the SCOTUS ruling. The latest announcement, clearly born out of pique and petulance over the SCOTUS snub, is certain to throw the global trading systems out of kilter, with countries and corporations across the world, including in America, unable to plan their exports or imports. Trade experts said the move is certain to face more legal challenges since the US trade balance is not uniform with all countries.For instance, Washington has a trade SURPLUS of $14 billion with Brazil, but Trump still imposed a politically-motivated 50 per cent tariff on the country to punish the ruling Lula government for prosecuting its opponent Jair Bolsonaro, whom Trump supports. In several other instances, including with India, he spoke transparently of wielding the tariff threat to achieve objectives beyond addressing trade deficit issues, a legitimate US concern.While Section 122 of the Trade Act empowers the US President to impose tariffs of up to 15% for 150 days, Trump indicated that after that period, the levies will be replaced with a longer-lasting tariff authority, likely under Section 301 of the Trade Act which deals with “unfair” foreign trade practices. While 301 would allow for more permanent duties, imposing it calls for detailed investigation and notification, with each country and each product meriting separate scrutiny from the US Trade Representative to determine if there has been “unjustifiable” or “discriminatory” acts that burden US commerce.Most notably, the U.S used Section 301 against New Delhi in a 2020 investigation into its Digital Services Tax (DST), alleging that India’s 2% tax on foreign e-commerce companies unfairly targeted American tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Meta.Under the “Framework of an Interim Agreement” reached in earlier this month, India agreed to fully phase out these levies to avoid the snap-back of Section 301 tariffs.

Polish speed skater Kamila Sellier shares hospital update after terrifying Olympic blade incident with Kristen Santos Griswold (Image via Getty)

Kamila Sellier is smiling again, and the Polish speed skater shared a hospital photo on Saturday morning and told fans she is “doing quite okay” after a frightening crash at the Winter Olympics. Kamila Sellier, 25, needed surgery after a rival’s skate blade cut her face during the women’s 1500 meters quarterfinal on Friday. She was carried off the ice on a stretcher, her face covered in blood, in a moment that stunned the arena. Sellier posted her update on Instagram less than a day later. Along with a picture from her hospital bed, she wrote, “i know that one day i’ll look at this picture and remember that i’m stronger than i ever believed. thank you for all your words of support, just wanted to let you know that i’m doing quite okay 🫣 #thankyou.”According to BBC, she underwent surgery Friday night. Polsat Sports reported that a CT scan showed a minor fracture. A Team Poland official told BBC, “Kamila had surgery last night. She’s in good condition. We’re waiting for further tests today, to check her eye for any signs of damage.” It was a scary scene, but now, the focus has shifted from shock to recovery.Kamila Sellier injured after clash with Kristen Santos-Griswold and Ariana Fontana in women’s 1500 meters at Milano Ice Skating ArenaThe crash happened during the sixth quarterfinal heat of the women’s 1500 meters. Kamila Sellier got tangled with Italy’s Ariana Fontana as they fought for position. In that split second, American skater Kristen Santos-Griswold’s blade struck Sellier’s face when Sellier slipped and fell.Blood appeared on the ice right away. Officials stopped the race as medical staff rushed in. A large white sheet was held up to block the view while doctors treated her. The delay lasted several minutes as the crowd watched in silence.Kristen Santos-Griswold was later given a penalty for an illegal lane pass during the sequence.Sellier received stitches at the Milano Ice Skating Arena before being taken to a hospital for more tests. Konrad Niedźwiedzki, sports director of the Polish Speed Skating Association, said Friday that the accident may have injured her zygomatic bone, also known as the cheekbone.As she was taken off the ice, Sellier lifted her thumb to signal she was okay. That small gesture brought loud applause from fans inside the arena.Now, doctors are checking her eye to make sure there is no lasting damage. For the moment, the biggest news is simple and clear, Kamila Sellier is stable, recovering, and staying positive.

Nasa’s Artemis II mission, which recently completed a wet dress rehearsal and was targeting an early March launch window, may now face delays after engineers detected an interruption in helium flow in the rocket. A day after announcing that its ambitious moon mission successfully completed the wet dress rehearsal, Nasa shared overnight observations on Saturday that revealed an interruption in the flow of helium into the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage – a critical system required for launch. Nasa is now evaluating whether the issue will require rolling the rocket and its Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.In a post on X, Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said, “After overnight data showed an interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage, teams are troubleshooting and preparing for a likely rollback of Artemis II to the VAB at @NASAKennedy. This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window. @NASA will continue to provide updates as they become available.”The announcement came just a day after the four astronauts assigned to the mission entered quarantine in Houston in preparation for the early March launch. The rocket had recently undergone a wet dress rehearsal, simulating launch day operations and fueling up to T-29 seconds, with no evidence of leaks reported during the test. This followed a previous hydrogen leak that had forced Nasa to repeat the prelaunch test earlier this month, USA Today reported.According to Nasa, “Teams are actively reviewing data, and taking steps to enable rollback positions for Nasa to address the issue as soon as possible while engineers determine the best path forward.”To maintain troubleshooting options at both Pad 39B and the VAB, Nasa teams are preparing to remove the pad access platforms installed on February 20. The platforms cannot be removed during periods of high winds, which are forecast for February 22 near the Cape. The space agency further emphasised that while the rollback preparations are underway, engineers are still assessing the best course of action to resolve the helium flow interruption and safeguard the Artemis II launch schedule.

Groundsmen cover the field in Colombo (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

NEW DELHI: Rain became the biggest talking point around the Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8 match in Colombo on Saturday, and a complete washout means it will shake up the race for the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals. With both teams seen as strong contenders, fans are wondering who benefits and who could be in trouble if no ball is bowled.

As the match is washed out, Pakistan and New Zealand will get one point each. On paper, that sounds fair, but it actually makes the group more complicated. Both teams would then have only two matches left to secure a top-two finish.For Pakistan, the equation is simple but tough. They still have to play England and Sri Lanka. If they win both games, they will reach five points, which should almost guarantee a semi-final spot. But if they lose even one match, things get risky. One win and one loss would leave them on three points, and then they would need other results to go their way. If they lose both games, Pakistan will be out of the tournament.New Zealand face a similar situation. A washout gives them a point, but they will also need wins in their remaining matches to stay in control. If they slip up, they too could be dragged into a tight points race.So who benefits from a washout? Teams like England and Sri Lanka could quietly benefit because it keeps the group open. If Pakistan and New Zealand drop points due to rain, other teams can catch up with wins and put pressure on the favourites.Who is in danger? Both Pakistan and New Zealand lose a chance to get ahead early. In short tournaments like the Super 8s, every point matters, and rain can change everything.

Colombo under covers (Photo by Pratyush Raj/TimesofIndia.com)

Rain has become a big worry for the Pakistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup Super 8 match in Colombo, and fans are wondering what happens if the game is completely washed out. This match is important because both teams want a strong start to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

If rain washes out the match, both Pakistan and New Zealand will share one point each. For Pakistan, this means they will have two matches left in the Super 8 stage, against England and Sri Lanka. If Pakistan manage to win both of those matches, they will finish with five points, which should be enough to qualify for the semi-finals.However, things can get tricky if Pakistan lose even one of those remaining matches. If they lose one and win one, they will only have three points, and their fate will depend on other teams’ results. In that case, they would need other teams to lose matches to keep their semi-final hopes alive. If Pakistan lose both remaining games, they will be knocked out of the tournament.The same situation applies to New Zealand as well. A washout gives them a point, but they will also need wins in their other matches to secure a semi-final spot.Since this is the first match of the Super 8 stage, the full picture will only become clear after all teams have played at least one game. Both Pakistan and New Zealand are seen as strong contenders from this group, but a rain washout could make their road to the semi-finals more complicated.