An Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district shortly after taking off from the Jorhat airbase during a routine training sortie. The aircraft reportedly lost radar contact minutes after departure on Thursday evening. Rescue teams from the Indian Air Force, police, and local authorities rushed to the remote hilly area where the crash occurred and launched search operations for the two pilots on board. Local villagers reported hearing a loud blast before spotting smoke rising from the forested region. Officials said investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. (PC: X)

Israel’s military said one of its F-35I fighter jets, known as “Adir”, shot down an Iranian Yak-130 aircraft over Tehran. The Israel Defense Forces said on X that this was the first time an F-35 has destroyed a manned fighter aircraft in combat. The Yak-130 is a two-seat jet trainer and light combat aircraft used by Iran’s air force. The interception came as Israel continued strikes inside Iran on the fifth day of the conflict. Loud explosions were reported in Tehran early Wednesday. Israel said its air defences were also activated to intercept Iranian missiles. The fighting began after US-Israel attacks that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (PC: HT)

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar claimed in the Maharashtra Assembly that government negligence led to the deadly explosion at an explosives manufacturing unit in Raulgaon village, Nagpur district, which killed 19 workers and injured 23 others. He accused both the state and central governments of ignoring repeated requests for safety audits despite 43 deaths in similar blasts over the past 18 months. Wadettiwar demanded a detailed assembly discussion on worker safety and criticised lax actions by regulatory bodies like PESO and the labour department. Assembly Speaker agreed to a discussion by Friday. (PC: PTI)

Bengali actor Subhashree Ganguly and her son are stranded in Dubai after Iranian attacks in the region. Her husband, Raj Chakraborty, said they had travelled for a vacation but are now staying indoors.   “They reached there on Saturday for a vacation. Since then, the situation has become complicated,” he told PTI. He said they are staying at a hotel in Palm Jumeirah. “There was an explosion near their hotel. The authorities there have issued instructions asking people not to step out,” he said. Family and friends in Dubai are helping them. (PC: X)

India’s Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the country’s strategic petroleum reserve — including underground caverns, refinery and floating stocks — can sustain demand for up to 74 days in case of a major global supply disruption, as per his reply in the Rajya Sabha. The International Energy Agency recommends a 90-day buffer, but Puri stated that 74 days is reasonably secure for now, with possible future expansion. He highlighted India’s status as one of the world’s largest crude oil consumers and refiners, and said expanding reserves is vital for national energy security. (PC: PTI)

The Election Commission of India has started the phased publication of post‑Special Intensive Revision (SIR) electoral rolls across West Bengal, releasing district‑wise details in both hard copy and soon online formats ahead of upcoming elections. Officials in Bankura district reported that approximately 1.18 lakh names have been deleted from the rolls due to reasons such as death, migration, duplication and untraceability, reducing the electorate there. The updated lists will classify about 7.08 crore electors as “approved,” “deleted” or “under adjudication,” with the latter awaiting further judicial review. Hard copies are displayed in districts, while online publication on EC portals and apps is expected shortly. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, delivering the keynote address at News18's Rising Bharat Summit, said developed nations worldwide are actively seeking trade agreements with India, reflecting the country's growing economic confidence and global stature. He credited 11 years of governance with helping India shed its colonial mindset and rediscover its inherent strengths. Modi highlighted macroeconomic achievements including controlled inflation, a strengthened banking system and India becoming the world's growth engine. He pointed to the JAM trinity of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile enabling Rs 24 lakh crore in direct benefit transfers. India's transformation from a technology consumer to a global digital leader was also underscored as a key driver of international interest.

Telangana’s monthly expenditure on salaries and pensions has risen sharply to nearly ₹6,000 crore, according to a report by NDTV. The surge follows multiple pay revisions and dearness allowance hikes since the state’s formation in 2014. Senior sanitation workers in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation are reportedly earning up to ₹2 lakh per month, while top engineers in state-run power utilities draw salaries of up to ₹7 lakh monthly. The steep rise in fixed costs has triggered debate over the state’s fiscal sustainability and long-term financial planning. (PC: NDTV)

A Delhi trial court on 27 Feb 2026 discharged Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the CBI’s excise (liquor)-policy case, saying evidence didn’t establish a criminal conspiracy. After the verdict, Kejriwal alleged the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate were “weaponised” against him for political ends, demanding that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah apologise to the nation. The agencies said they will appeal the order in Delhi High Court, intensifying political and legal battle over the high-profile corruption probe.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasised that trust is essential in deploying artificial intelligence (AI) while addressing the Rising Bharat Summit 2026. He argued that India’s ongoing AI transition must be proactive, with trust, talent and innovation working together to ensure adoption in sensitive sectors like banking and finance. Vaishnaw also called for a strong talent pipeline and cooperation between government and industry to build reliable AI systems. He warned that deepfakes and misinformation threaten societal trust and said digital platforms must be accountable for content they host. (PC: Instagram)