KOPPAL: A local court here has sentenced three men to death in connection with the gang rape of an Israeli tourist and an Indian woman, and the murder of a tourist from Odisha near Sanapura Lake in Gangavathi taluk on March 6 last year.The crime scene was about 25km from the Unesco World Heritage Site of Hampi. The incident had sparked widespread outrage. Observing that the crime fell under the “rarest of rare” category, the court held that prosecution had proven the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.

Israeli, Homestay Owner Assaulted, Odia Tourist Killed

Pronouncing the quantum of punishment, Judge Sadananda Nagappa Nayaka of the first additional district and sessions court awarded capital punishment to the three convicts – Mallesh alias Handimalla, 22, Sai alias Chaitanya Sai, 21, and Sharanappa alias Sharanabasavaraj, 30, from Sai Nagar, Gangavathi. The court had, on Feb 6, found the three accused guilty and reserved its order on sentencing. The Indian woman, 29, a homestay owner, was brutally assaulted, strangled and then gang-raped. The 27-year-old Israeli woman tourist was also gang-raped.Bibash Nayak, 26, a tour guide from Odisha who was accompanying the women, along with two other male tourists, was killed in the attack. The assailants robbed the survivors, stealing two mobile phones and Rs 9,500 in cash before fleeing the scene. According to police, the victims – two women and three men, who had met at a homestay near Hampi – were stargazing near Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal when the suspects, allegedly intoxicated, attacked them. Superintendent of police Ram L Arasiddi said: “Two of the accused were arrested within 24 hours of the crime. We had gathered 101 witnesses and 84 articles for DNA testing. It was a challenging and sensitive case.” Bibhash’s cousin thanks govt“We hail the court verdict. It was delivered in less than a year,” said Firoz Kumar Pradhan, a cousin of Bibash. “We thank Karnataka govt for taking the case seriously and police for filing the chargesheet and completing the probe quickly,” Firoz said. Bibhash Nayak, 29, was a travel enthusiast.

Alix Earle makes a cryptic post as Tom Brady prioritizes his family for Valentine’s Day.(Image via Phillip Faraone/Getty, Kevin Mazur/Getty)

Tom Brady, the NFL legend, has dominated headlines over the last few years as he has strictly stayed away from any serious relationships in the public eye after his messy divorce in 2022.But now, he has been linked to the 25 year old influencer, Alix Earle, after the two were spotted getting close at two separate parties. Amid all the rumors of a potential romance brewing between the two, Alix Earle has shared a cryptic post.

Alix Earle makes a cryptic post as Tom Brady stays silent

Just a few hours ago, the popular social media influencer and podcast host Alix Earle, took to her social media to post a few stunning pictures of herself in a shimmery gold mini dress from Gucci, which she paired with black stockings.While Alix Earle looks beautiful, the caption of the post reads as, “Cupid told me to just sit and look pretty…” and it has raised eyebrows considering her rumored romance with Tom Brady.Interestingly, the Super Bowl champion Tom Brady shared a post with his children, Bejamin and Vivian, from Switzerland as he credited them and his other son, Jack, for being his Valentine.It is not confirmed if Tom Brady was on a trip to Switzerland with his children or if these are old pictures.The caption of Tom Brady’s heartfelt post reads as, “Jack, Benny and Vivi…My forever valentines!”The NFL legend added, “Love you three so much and the awesome adventures we get to share together. From the court to the slopes to everywhere in between, you make all my days brighter! … Loving these Swiss slopes! Just missing you Jack!”

What happened between Tom Brady and 25 year old popular influencer, Alix Earle, after they were spotted together in December?

As per the U.S. Sun, Tom Brady and 25 year old Alix Earle are “casually” dating even though both of them have stayed away from making any comments about it.Before Tom Brady, Alix Earle was in a pretty serious relationship with popular player, Braxton Berrios, and the two were public about their romance.However, Alix Earle announced their separation in an emotional video in December 2025, just two weeks before she was spotted with Tom Brady at a New Year’s Eve party in St. Barths.

Photo: File photo of oil vessel Asphalt Star

NEW DELHI: Indian coastal authorities reportedly “seized three US-sanctioned tanker ships linked to Iran” earlier this month, a source informed TOI on Monday. The vessel seizures follow the improvement in India-US relations with Washington announcing recently that it would cut import tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%.In a related development, US military forces boarded another sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, in an effort to target illicit oil trade connected to Venezuela, the Pentagon said on Sunday.‘Shadow fleet’ vessels Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia carrying sanctioned Iranian oil were seized on Feb 6. India’s unprecedented enforcement action took place the same day that Washington and New Delhi unveiled a major bilateral trade framework.Indian coastal authorities said in a post on X on Feb 6 that they had intercepted the three vessels about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai after detecting suspicious activity involving a tanker in India’s exclusive economic zone. However, the post was later deleted.Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star and Al Jafzia frequently changed their identities to evade action by coastal states, and their owners were based overseas, it was said.According to Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington DC-based research institute, “All three were previously sanctioned by the US for their ties to Iran. They form part of a 30-tanker fleet managed by Jugwinder Singh Brar, a UAE-based Indian national designated by the Treasury Department in April 2025 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. The Stellar Ruby was still flying an Iranian flag at the time of the seizure”.Importantly, Iran too had seized an oil tanker, MT Valiant Roar, on Dec 8 with 16 Indian crew members on board. Of the 16, eight have been released, but eight are still in Iran’s custody. Their families have been demanding the release of the sailors.As for US forces boarding another sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean, Venezuela has faced US sanctions on its oil for several years and relied on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains. President Donald Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in Dec to pressure then-President Nicolás Maduro — Maduro was apprehended in Jan during an American military operation.Several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast in the wake of the raid, including the ship that was boarded in the Indian Ocean overnight. The Defense Department said in a post on X that US forces had boarded Veronica III, conducting “a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding.” “The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine — hoping to slip away,” the Pentagon said. “We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance and shut it down,” it added.

Attari: As the sun dips over the fields of Amritsar, the road to Attari (India)-Wagah (Pakistan) border — famous for ‘Beating The Retreat’ ceremony — tells a story of decline. There was a time, not long ago, when this stretch of National Highway 3 felt like a pilgrimage. Buses lined the roadside. Vendors waved tricolour flags. Men, women and children painted their cheeks in saffron, white, and green.The buzz is still there, but the crowds have nearly halved after Operation Sindoor, reveals data. According to Attari protocol officer Arun Mahal, the daily footfall was 20,000-25,000 on weekdays and 30,000 on weekends before Operation Sindoor, but this figure has now come down to 10,000-15,000.

After Operation Sindoor, carried out to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, the ceremony had been entirely suspended from May 8 to 20, 2025. When it resumed, the customary handshake between the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers was gone. The gates, too, no longer opened wide enough for visitors to steal a glance of the neighbouring nation.Ashutosh Biswas, who had travelled from Kolkata with his family to see the ceremony, said he had been watching videos of the ceremony, but it was not like what he saw online. “We kept waiting for the moment when the gates would swing open and the jawans would approach each other, but it didn’t happen. We thought the ceremony would have come back to its usual self, but it hasn’t,” said Biswas.Aradhna, a student from Chennai who saw Beating The Retreat with her parents, questioned the rationale behind toning down the ceremony. “They’re playing cricket. Even if they don’t shake hands, they could open the gates for tourists,” she said.Mahal said the footfall might not be like what it was earlier, but had improved over the past few months. “When we restarted after Operation Sindoor, the footfall was mere thousands. The recovery, though slow, has begun,” he said.Ceremony to start at 5pmDue to a change in weather conditions, the timing of ‘Beating The Retreat’ ceremony at the Attari–Wagah border has been revised from 4.30pm-5pm to 5pm-5.30pm. Protocol officer Arun Mahal informed the decision was taken keeping in mind the late sunset during summer.

Veteran Hollywood star Robert Duvall, known for his iconic performances in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, has died at the age of 95. His death on Sunday was confirmed by his wife, Luciana Duvall, on Monday.“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home,” she said in a statement.“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything,” she added, remembering his passion for acting, good food and conversation.

Oscar winner with a six-decade career

Blunt-spoken, prolific and famously averse to Hollywood glitz, Duvall built a career spanning more than six decades. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1983 for his performance in Tender Mercies, where he played a washed-up country singer seeking redemption.He also received six other Oscar nominations over the course of his career and seamlessly transitioned between lead and supporting roles. Later, he also stepped behind the camera as a director.

Iconic roles that defined cinema

Among his most memorable characters was the soft-spoken and loyal mob lawyer Tom Hagen in the first two installments of The Godfather. His portrayal remains one of the defining performances in American cinema.In Apocalypse Now, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Duvall played the flamboyant and surfing-obsessed Lieutenant Colonel William Kilgore — a role that earned him an Oscar nomination and elevated him to global stardom.The film gave audiences one of cinema’s most quoted lines: “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” delivered as his character stood bare-chested in a cowboy hat while helicopters bombed a Vietnamese coastline he hoped to surf on. Interestingly, the character was initially conceived as even more exaggerated — reportedly named Colonel Carnage — but Duvall insisted on toning it down, reflecting his meticulous approach to acting.“I did my homework. I did my research,” he said in a 2015 interview with veteran talk show host Larry King.

A late bloomer who became a legend

Duvall was 31 when he landed his breakthrough role as the reclusive Boo Radley in the 1962 adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee’s novel.He went on to deliver powerful performances in films such as Network (1976), where he played a ruthless corporate executive, and The Great Santini (1979), portraying a domineering Marine officer.However, Duvall often cited his favourite role as Augustus McCrae in the 1989 television mini-series Lonesome Dove, based on the novel by Larry McMurtry. His performance as the grizzled yet witty Texas Ranger-turned-cowboy won widespread acclaim.

Las Vegas tragedy as cheerleader Addi Smith and mother Tawnia McGeehan found dead in suspected Rio Hotel murder suicide (Image Via X/@TMZ_Sports)

Tawnia McGeehan and her 11-year-old daughter, Addi Smith, traveled to Las Vegas for a cheer competition. But the trip ended in heartbreaking tragedy. Police say the Utah mother allegedly shot and killed her young daughter before taking her own life inside a room at the Rio Hotel and Casino. The two were found dead on Sunday after they failed to appear at their scheduled cheer event. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, officers received a request for a welfare check around 10:45 a.m. Sunday. Police and hotel security knocked on the door many times but got no response. At first, there was not enough legal reason to enter the room. Later, as worries from family and friends kept growing, hotel security returned around 2:30 p.m. When they finally entered the room, they found both McGeehan and Addi dead. Police believe the deaths happened late Saturday night. A note was also discovered inside, though officials did not share what it said. The investigation is still ongoing.

Police say Tawnia McGeehan shot daughter Addi Smith before taking her own life at Rio Hotel and Casino

Investigators believe Tawnia McGeehan, reported to be 38 years old, shot her daughter Addi Smith before turning the gun on herself. Authorities are treating the case as a suspected murder suicide, but they continue to review evidence. No other injuries were reported, and police have not shared further details about the note found in the room.The mother and daughter had come from Utah to attend a cheerleading competition. When they did not arrive, their team, Utah Xtreme Cheer, asked for help on social media to locate them. After the devastating discovery, the team shared an emotional message on Facebook. The statement read, “We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”The news has deeply affected the cheer community and people who knew the family. What was meant to be a joyful weekend quickly turned into sorrow. Police say the investigation remains active as they continue to confirm details and timeline. Officials have not released more information about possible reasons behind the tragedy.For now, the focus remains on remembering a young cheerleader whose life ended far too soon and a case that has left many searching for understanding

The “Little Miss Drama” tour living up to its name. In a viral moment that has set social media on fire, Cardi B officially confirmed her split from New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs while also defending him against fellow rapper BIA.The confrontation, which unfolded during Cardi’s sold-out Los Angeles show on Sunday night, marks the first time the Grammy winner has publicly addressed the status of her relationship following a chaotic Super Bowl weekend.

Stefon Diggs and Cardi B Split: Rapper Fires Back at BIA Over Super Bowl Diss

The tension reached a boiling point after BIA took a low blow at Diggs on X.Mocking the wide receiver’s underwhelming performance in Super Bowl LX (3 catches for 37 yards), BIA tweeted: “Can u name someone with more bms [baby mamas] than receiving yards? I can! and I know that ykwnvm [you know who never mind] 😂😂😂”Cardi B, never one to let a slight slide, paused her set mid-concert to issue a direct PSA to the Boston-born rapper.“Let me tell you somethin’,” Cardi told the screaming crowd. “Just ’cause I ain’t fcking with my baby daddy doesn’t mean you get to talk about my baby daddy, btch! This for you!”She immediately transitioned into her diss track, “Pretty & Petty,” leading the crowd in a “mute challenge” during the lyrics mocking BIA’s career. The moment served as a dual-purpose announcement: confirming the breakup while asserting that Diggs is still “family” and off-limits to outsiders.The confirmation of the split follows a week of intense speculation. Following the Patriots’ loss to the Seahawks, fans noticed that Cardi and Diggs, who welcomed a son together in November 2025 had simultaneously unfollowed each other on Instagram.Reports suggest the relationship hit a breaking point during Super Bowl weekend in Denver. Cardi reportedly left the stadium immediately after her Halftime Show appearance with Bad Bunny, skipping the post-game festivities. The digital “wipe” of their photos and Cardi’s cryptic “Done” post on her IG Story fueled rumors that cheating allegations involving an ex-fling of Diggs were the final straw.This “us against the world” mentality is a familiar one for Cardi fans. Much like her past public spats involving Offset, Cardi has consistently maintained that while she may have personal grievances with the fathers of her children, she will not tolerate public disrespect toward them.By defending Diggs despite their split, Cardi is prioritizing the “family unit” over the romantic drama.

NEW DELHI: Opener Pathum Nissanka turned a challenging chase into a masterclass on Monday, smashing a blistering 100 not out off 52 balls to guide Sri Lanka to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.The win not only secured Sri Lanka’s spot in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup but also left Australia’s qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Australia will be eliminated if Zimbabwe beat Ireland on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 182, Sri Lanka’s innings was anchored by Nissanka, who struck 10 fours and five sixes, and Kusal Mendis, who contributed a fluent 51 off 38 balls. The pair stitched together a 97-run partnership for the second wicket, keeping Sri Lanka comfortably ahead. Pavan Rathnayake added a quick 28 off 15 balls as the hosts raced to 184/2 in just 18 overs, maintaining a commanding run rate throughout.Australia, sent in to bat, got off to a flying start with Mitchell Marsh (54 off 27) and Travis Head (56 off 29) adding 104 runs in less than nine overs. Their power-hitting set Australia up for a total beyond 200, with boundaries and sixes flowing freely.However, Sri Lanka clawed their way back in the latter half of the innings. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha emerged as the standout bowler with figures of 3/37 in four overs, while Dushmantha Chameera and Dunith Wellalage picked up crucial wickets. Australia collapsed from 104/0 to 130/4 and eventually folded for 181. Pathum Nissanka also redeemed himself in the field, taking a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Glenn Maxwell.Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Kusal Perera was caught at deep backward point, but Nissanka and Mendis ensured the chase remained under control. Even after Mendis’s dismissal by Marcus Stoinis, there was no stopping Nissanka, who carried the team over the line with 12 balls to spare.The result marks a dramatic turnaround for Sri Lanka, while Australia, who had earlier been humbled by Zimbabwe, now face a precarious path to the Super Eight. The hosts’ combination of explosive batting and clinical bowling proved too much for the Australians, highlighting Sri Lanka’s momentum and Australia’s vulnerability in the tournament.

On 17 February 2026, skywatchers will get a chance to see one of the most striking types of solar eclipses: an annular eclipse, better known as a ‘ring of fire’. Unlike a total solar eclipse, where the Moon completely blocks the Sun, the Moon will leave a slim, glowing ring around its dark silhouette. The Moon doesn’t orbit Earth in a perfect circle. Its path is slightly oval, which means its distance from Earth constantly changes. When the Moon is closer, it can completely cover the Sun’s disc, creating a total eclipse. But tomorrow, the Moon is a bit farther away. Experts say it’s just far enough that it appears slightly smaller than the Sun in the sky. So when it slides in front of the Sun, it can’t cover it fully, as reported by the BBC.

How ‘ring of fire’ appears: Understanding annularity

Annularity is the term astronomers use to describe the moment the Moon is in front of the Sun but doesn’t fully obscure it. It comes from the Latin word annulus, which means ring. The Sun forms a thin, fiery ring around the Moon, giving the event its dramatic nickname, the ‘ring of fire’.During annularity, the Sun is not completely blocked, so the sky never goes fully dark. Experts say the light dims, shadows sharpen, and the atmosphere feels different. Some people describe it as twilight in the middle of the day. But unlike total eclipses, where temperatures drop, and stars can appear briefly, annular eclipses are subtler.The length of annularity depends on several factors:

For tomorrow, the full ring is only visible from a narrow path across Antarctica.

Why only some places see the full eclipse

Every solar eclipse has a path.

It is basically the corridor on Earth where the Moon appears perfectly sized to create the ring. Outside that path, observers will only see a partial eclipse. Experts note that the path is narrow because the Moon’s shadow is cone-shaped. Antarctica happens to be in that perfect spot tomorrow, which is why only a handful of people and research station crews will witness the full effect.

Solar Eclipse 2026: Where and when to catch February’s ‘ring of fire’

Tomorrow, the sun will briefly transform into a stunning “ring of fire” during an annular solar eclipse. This happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, leaving only a slim outer ring of sunlight visible. At the peak of the eclipse, the fiery ring will be visible for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds.Here’s how the eclipse will unfold, according to Time and Date:

The path of annulariy, where the moon will cover nearly all of the sun, is tiny and mostly over Antarctica, stretching roughly 2,661 miles long and 383 miles wide. Only observers within that narrow corridor will see the full “ring of fire.” People elsewhere in Antarctica, as well as parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America, will witness a partial eclipse, with much of the sun still visible.Quick tip: Never look directly at the Sun without proper solar eclipse glasses, even during annularity or partial phases. Ordinary sunglasses are not enough.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Centre over the accuracy of video transcripts submitted against detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and said translations must be precise, especially “in the era of Artificial Intelligence.”A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale asked the government to place on record the actual transcripts of Wangchuk’s speeches after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for his wife Gitanjali Angmo, argued that certain statements attributed to the activist were never made by him.

Addressing Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, the bench said, “Mr Solicitor, we want an actual transcript of the speech. What he relied upon and what you say are different. We will decide. There should be an actual transcript of what he says. You may have your reasons.”The top court further observed, “At least, whatever he stated, the true translation should be there. Your translation goes on for 7 to 8 minutes, but the speech is for 3 minutes. We are in the era of Artificial Intelligence; precision is at least 98 per cent for translation.”Sibal questioned the authenticity of the translated material placed before the court and said, “Wangchuk continued his strike and also continued to provoke youth by taking reference of Nepal. Where is this line coming from? This is a very unique detention order — you rely on something that does not exist and then you say it is based on subjective satisfaction.”In response, Nataraj told the bench that there is a separate department that prepares transcripts and said, “We are not experts in it.”The matter will now be heard again on Thursday.The apex body is hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Wangchuk’s wife, seeking a declaration that his detention under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, is illegal. The NSA allows the Centre and state governments to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to the defence of India.” The maximum period of detention under the law is 12 months, although it can be revoked earlier.Wangchuk, a climate activist known for his work in Ladakh, was detained on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests in Leh over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status left four people dead and around 90 injured. He is currently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.Earlier hearings saw sharp exchanges between the Centre and the court. The government has justified the detention, alleging that Wangchuk made inflammatory speeches, attempted to internationalise the issue of Ladakh and drew comparisons with Chinese and Pakistani provinces. It also claimed that he tried to instigate youth and referred to protests in Nepal and Bangladesh, including “Arab Spring-like agitations.”Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the bench that all procedural safeguards under the NSA were “scrupulously complied with” and that Wangchuk was being treated fairly in jail. “This court is dealing with a person who is instigating people in a border area, adjacent to Pakistan and China, where regional sensitivity is involved,” Mehta had said.On the issue of health, Mehta told the court that Wangchuk had been medically examined 24 times since his detention. “We have examined his health periodically 24 times. He is fit, hale and hearty. He had some digestive issues; he is being treated. There is nothing to worry about, nothing alarming. We can’t make exceptions like this,” he said.He added, “The grounds on which the detention order was passed continue. It will not be possible to release him on health grounds. It may not be desirable either. We have given utmost consideration.”However, Angmo has argued that the violence in Leh on September 24 cannot be attributed to Wangchuk’s actions or statements. She told the court that Wangchuk had himself condemned the violence on social media and had described it as the “saddest day” of his life, saying it would lead to the failure of Ladakh’s peaceful “tapasya” of five years.In earlier proceedings, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre whether there was any possibility of rethinking the detention and had directed authorities to place the original file related to the detention before it. The court had also directed that Wangchuk be examined by a specialised doctor and that the medical report be submitted.