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Area residents protesting against setting up of abattoirs in Nuh. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Seven slaughterhouses are operational in Haryana’s Nuh, with the maximum five situated in the district’s Nagina block. Another two dozen are likely to be set up soon with the land having been purchased and their buildings under construction, making Nuh the hub of slaugtherhouses.  Though these slaughterhouses have created job opportunities for the youth in this Meo Muslim-dominated district, one of India’s most backward areas, the locals are now gradually turning against these for more than one reasons. Accusing the slaughterhouses of functioning in violation…

The BSE Smallcap Select Index rose 0.49%, and the Midcap Select Index gained 0.26%. File | Photo Credit: PTI Stock markets closed higher for the second straight session on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), driven by gains in bank, IT and capital goods shares. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 173.81 points, or 0.21%, to close at 83,450.96. The index moved between a high of 83,598 and a low of 82,987.43 during the day.The 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 42.65 points, or 0.17%, to settle at 25,725.40. Among the Sensex constituents, ITC, Bharat Electronics Ltd., Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, Asian Paints, Titan, Adani…

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan. | Photo Credit: AP The international cricketing fraternity has rallied around Imran Khan, the former Pakistan Prime Minister and cricket captain. Through a joint-statement issued by legends ranging from Sunil Gavaskar to Greg Chappell, World Cup winning captains like Kapil Dev, Clive Lloyd and Steve Waugh, and champion players like Michael Atherton and Belinda Clark, immediate and adequate medical assistance was sought for the ailing Pakistan legend, who is suffering in prison now.Full statement17 February 2026We, the undersigned former captains of our national cricket teams, write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and…

A dance recital at the courtyard of juSTa Kashi Parampara | Photo Credit: Srinivasa Ramanujam When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When in Varanasi, do as the Gods do. At this historic city, which brings to life many history and spiritual lessons, you can now stay in ancestral homes to soak in the quintessential Banaras experience.What strikes you as you walk in to juSTa Kashi Parampara, located just 800 metres from the iconic Assi Ghat, is not just the handcrafted wooden pillars evoking a sense of strolling into a haveli, the sandstone jaali work and the artwork that…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his third visit to Malaysia (February 7-8) at the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Dato Ibrahim was on a state visit to India in August 2024 when the bilateral relationship was converted from ‘Enhanced Strategic Partnership’ to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’, with the inclusion of the whole spectrum of bilateral and regional dimensions. It is also extremely important within the context of Asean, with which India has continued to shift to higher orbits of cooperation since 1992 in accordance with the ‘Act East Policy’.STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe first visit of…

The linear no-threshold (LNT) model and the ALARA principle have served as the conceptual and operational foundations of the global radiation protection framework for many decades.The LNT model is a risk estimation framework that says any amount of ionising radiation, no matter how small, carries some risk of causing harm, especially cancer. In other words, there is no threshold below which radiation is considered completely risk‑free. And the risk increases linearly with dose.ALARA, short for “as low as reasonably achievable”, is the operational philosophy of radiation protection. ‘Reasonably’ is the most important condition. The philosophy balances safety with feasibility, cost,…

A mango tree. | Photo Credit: K SHIVA SHANKER This year, mango trees in full bloom have caught the attention of many. According to farmers and horticulture officials, this was due to low temperatures during winter nights.However, mango trees in the orchards in some regions are facing a pest threat. Thrip — a tiny insect that feeds on leaves and panicles — in several orchards in Kollapur, Nagarkurnool and many other places in Telangana, is hampering the fruit’s growth.Sri Konda Laxman Telangana Horticulture University faculty suggested measures to protect the orchards from these pests.A farmer, Balraju, said that a major…

Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan told a press conference that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would take the “appropriate decision at the appropriate time. File. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) declined to answer whether Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil, MLA, who faces allegations of sexual misconduct, would attend the Assembly session commencing on September 15.Mr. Satheesan told a press conference that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would take the “appropriate decision at the appropriate time”. He said he would not take questions about a “closed chapter”.His remarks come amid threats by…

The rupee opened at 90.72 against the U.S. dollar and moved in a tight range, touching a high of 90.64 and a low of 90.78 in intraday deals. File | Photo Credit: Reuters The rupee gained 5 paise to settle at 90.69 (provisional) against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), backed by positive domestic equity markets and lower crude prices overseas. Sustained outflow of foreign funds and a firm American currency, however, weighed on the Indian currency and capped its gains, forex traders said. In the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.72 against the U.S.…

Collaboration between Australia and India in life sciences and biotechnology is beginning to yield early results following the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, with Queensland positioning itself as a key partner for Indian companies and institutions across clinical research, translational science and healthcare innovation.This momentum was highlighted during an exclusive media roundtable held on the sidelines of BioAsia 2026 in Hyderabad on Tuesday, where members of a Queensland delegation spoke about expanding cooperation in biosciences, clinical trials, academia and advanced healthcare technologies.Speaking on the clinical research landscape, Ravindra Gandham, principal consultant with Nucleus Network, said Australia offered strong capabilities…