What began as a routine under-13 cricket league match on a quiet Wednesday morning in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao turned into a tragedy after a swarm of bees attacked players and officials, leaving a veteran umpire dead.

The incident occurred at Rahul Sapru ground in the Gangaghat Kotwali area, where around 40 to 45 people — including young players from Kanpur and Lucknow, umpires and ground staff — had gathered for what was meant to be a friendly competitive fixture. Within minutes, panic replaced play as a massive swarm of bees descended upon the field.

Veteran filmmaker MM Baig, father of popular yesteryear child artist Baby Guddu and associated with films such as Razia Sultan, and director of Chhoti Bahu, was found dead at his residence, his publicist Hanif Zaveri said.

He was in his 70s.

"He was unwell for quite some time. Since he did not come out of the house for four to five days, the neighbours complained to the police about a foul smell coming from his house. The police opened the door, found Baig sahab's body, and informed his daughter about it. They later took his body to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem at around 1:30-2:00 am. He was a loving man. I pray for his departed soul," Zaveri told PTI.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday successfully carried out a qualification-level load test of the drogue parachute for India’s human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, at its Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility in Chandigarh.

According to a government statement issued on Thursday, the dynamic test simulated qualification-level loads higher than the maximum loads expected during flight, thereby validating the structural strength and safety margins of the parachute system.

“The test proves India’s expertise in designing and manufacturing of high strength ribbon parachutes,” read the statement.

Gaganyaan, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), aims to send a crew of three astronauts to a low-Earth orbit of about 400 km for a three-day mission and bring them back safely to Earth.

Robert Duvall’s passing on February 15, 2026, at the age of 95, marked the end of an era in American cinema. Over a career spanning over six decades, Duvall became one of Hollywood’s most versatile and respected actors, known for his ability to embody characters with quiet intensity, raw authenticity, and a deep humanity. From his earliest roles to his Oscar-winning performance, Duvall left behind a body of work that remains essential viewing for anyone who loves film. Here’s a look at some of his must-watch films that define his legacy.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), a leading public sector bank, has launched Online Death Claim Settlement Portal, providing a simplified and time-bound solution through digital mode for families and legal heirs.

The new portal is designed as a secure, one-stop digital platform where claimants can initiate and complete the settlement process from the comfort of their homes. Claimant can conveniently enter their own details along with the deceased customer’s account information and upload all required documents directly through the portal. To ensure transparency the portal features a real-time tracking system, allowing claimants to monitor the progress of their application at every stage.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday unveiled a 21-foot-tall equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Gandhinagar, describing the Maratha warrior king as a timeless symbol of courage, self-rule and cultural pride.

The statue, constructed by Maharashtra Samaj Gandhinagar, was inaugurated in the presence of Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other dignitaries in the state capital Gandhinagar.

Addressing the gathering, Shah said the grand statue would inspire generations, particularly the youth, and will reaffirm Shivaji Maharaj’s enduring relevance in India’s national consciousness. He recalled that at the age of 16, Shivaji Maharaj took a solemn pledge at Raireshwar Temple in Raigad to establish ‘Hindavi Swaraj’ at a time when much of the country was under Mughal rule.

“In the deep darkness of slavery, when the idea of self-rule had nearly faded, Shivaji Maharaj resolved to fight for Swaraj, Swadharma and Swabhasha,” Shah said. He noted that despite having limited resources, no large army and facing formidable opposition, Shivaji Maharaj succeeded in laying the foundation of self-rule and was later coronated as Chhatrapati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) virtually inaugurated the Tata Advanced Systems’ Final Assembly Line for the Airbus H125 helicopter.

The facility in Vemagal in Kolar district of Karnataka, is India’s first private-sector helicopter Final Assembly Line for the Airbus H125. This is the first time the Indian private sector will undertake the manufacturing, integration, testing and maintenance of a sophisticated rotary-wing platform in India.

To start off with, the civil H125 will be built at this facility and in future the military variant of the helicopter could also be built.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's government has launched a transformative 'Bhu Aadhaar' scheme, assigning a unique 14-digit identification number- known as the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN)- to every piece of land in the national capital. This digital 'Aadhaar card for land' will secure and organise property records electronically, drastically reducing boundary disputes, enhancing transparency and curbing corruption. Gupta hailed it as a powerful digital weapon against land mafias and fraudulent transactions, fulfilling a long-overdue need in Delhi.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday directed authorities to ensure full and strict compliance with environmental clearance (EC) conditions while disposing of multiple applications challenging the Great Nicobar Island development project, holding that adequate safeguards are in place and found no grounds to interfere with the project at this stage.

In a detailed order dated February 16, a bench led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava observed that a balanced approach is necessary, considering the project's strategic importance and environmental sensitivities.

The Tribunal concluded that concerns raised in the second round of litigation had already been addressed through safeguards and review by a High-Powered Committee (HPC), and therefore the project could proceed subject to strict adherence to EC conditions.

The Polish army has banned Chinese cars from entering military facilities, hoping to prevent the collection of sensitive data by technologically advanced automobiles.

Modern vehicles equipped with cutting-edge sensors and communication systems are capable of “uncontrolled acquisition and use of data,” the Polish army wrote in a statement justifying the ban.

Vehicles are now able to collect video, sound and location, and there is a fear that Chinese producers might share some of this potentially sensitive data with their authorities.