February 18, 2026

Kerala Extends Bar Hours to Midnight, 5-Star Hotels Allowed Till 3 a.m.

Kerala government extends bar timings by 2 hours till midnight; 5-star hotels can serve till 3 a.m. The move to boost tourism sparks criticism from Kerala Catholic Bishops Council.

February 18, 2026

DGP Alok Kumar Probes Mobile Phone Use in Hindalga Jail, Calls for Tighter Security

Karnataka's DGP Alok Kumar inspects Hindalga Central prison after reports of inmates using mobile phones despite signal jammers. He demands strict action and stronger jail security.

February 18, 2026

Punjab Man Jailed for Assaulting Wife and Mother-in-law in Domestic Abuse Case

A court in Lahore sentenced a man to three months in jail for assaulting his wife and mother-in-law. The court ruled despite missing medical reports, citing victims’ testimony and police delays.

February 18, 2026

Centre to Widen Salem-Chengapalli NH 544 to Six Lanes After MP’s Persistent Push

The government will widen the 102.5-km Salem-Chengapalli stretch of NH 544 from 4 to 6 lanes due to heavy traffic. A Detailed Project Report is underway. MP K. Subbarayan's repeated appeals helped move the project forward.

February 18, 2026

Indian Professor Falsely Claims Chinese Robot Dog as University Creation, Sparks Outcry

A professor at Galgotias University in India wrongly claimed a Chinese-made robot dog was developed by her university at the AI Impact Summit. The claim led to political criticism and protests online, with Galgotias clarifying the robot was bought from a Chinese startup and used for student experiments.