Free Press Journal

The La Liga title race took another dramatic turn as FC Barcelona slipped to a 21 defeat against regional rivals Girona FC in a fiercely contested Catalan derby at the Estadi Montilivi. The result not only dented Barcelonas momentum but also tightened the race at the top of La Liga, intensifying pressure as the season approaches its decisive stretch. Barcelona appeared to seize control after the break when young defender Pau Cubarsi rose highest to power home a header, giving the visitors a dese

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Traders from the Rajwada area stated that strict action must be taken against those who break traffic rules, assuring the administration of their full support. This message came out strongly during a review meeting held by DCP Rajesh Tripathi to further improve traffic management in the busy Rajwada area on Monday. Officials said that the meeting was organized as part of continuous efforts to ensure smooth, safe and well-organized traffic in the heart of the city, especi

New Delhi : Trade agreements with the US and the 27-nation bloc European Union (EU) have opened up an opportunity of USD 400 billion for India's agriculture sector, an official said on Monday. At present, India's agricultural exports to the US stand at USD 2.8 billion, while imports are only USD 1.5 billion. Overall, India's imports of agri goods are worth USD 35 billion, while exports are valued at USD 51-52 billion, and the figures are increasing. Indias Trade Pacts With EU, UK And US Set To R

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Chief minister Mohan Yadav has stressed on importance of counting animals like porcupines in Madhya Pradesh. Highlighting the growing population of wild animals, particularly tigers, he underlined the need to create an atmosphere of co-existence between humans and wildlife. He made these remarks while chairing a meeting of Wildlife Board at Mantralaya on Monday. In view of the increasing elephant population, especially in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, he laid stress on deve

Hollywood actor Robert Duvall passed away on Monday. He was 95 years old, and on his Facebook page, an official statement about his demise was shared by his wife. The statement read, 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, surrounded by love and comfort (sic). It further read, To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. Hi

Mumbai: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Mumbai in the early hours of Tuesday, marking the start of his three-day official visit to India, during which he will hold key discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review and deepen the IndiaFrance strategic partnership. President Macron was received at Mumbai airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were also present to welcome the

Sivakarthikeyan, popularly referred to as SK, is a well-known South Indian actor primarily active in Tamil cinema, recognised for movies such as Amaran, Doctor, and others. He celebrated his 41st birthday on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. In celebration of his special day, check out a selection of the finest films featuring the actor and where to stream them online. Keep on reading to know about Sivakarthikeyan's must-watch films and his upcoming project with Kamal Haasan. Doctor If you want to wat

New Delhi: The Strikers Cup 2026 concluded successfully at the Delhi Police Grounds, bringing together 24 colleges and over 600 student-athletes in one of the most competitive inter-college football tournaments in the region. Organised to promote structured and high-performance collegiate football, the tournament provided a professional platform for university athletes to compete at an elite level. Teams battled over multiple matchdays for a total prize pool of 1.5 lakh, adding further competiti

East Bengal kicked off their ISL campaign in emphatic fashion with a commanding 3-0 victory over NorthEast United at the Salt Lake Stadium, delivering a performance that underlined both intent and attacking quality. While the final scoreline read three, the Red and Gold Brigade could argue it might easily have been more. Oscar Bruzons men controlled proceedings from the outset, dictating tempo and carving out multiple openings in the first half. Their movement in the final third repeatedly unset

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Congress state president Jitu Patwari has demanded that the chief minister either seek the resignation of three ministers or resign himself. We have asked the chief minister to ask three ministers to resign, or quit himself. If he fails to do so, the Congress will lay siege to the Assembly on February 24, said the PCC chief while speaking to media persons on Monday. The Congress is mounting pressure on the government regarding the resignation of three ministers: Kailash

Sendhwa (Madhya Pradesh): On the occasion of birthday of Lok Sabha MP Gajendra Singh Patel, a massive health and awareness camp and nutrition distribution program was organized by Sushiladevi Umraosingh Patel Seva Sansthan, at Bhilat Dev Dham in Nagalwadi village of the district on Monday. State Governor Mangubhai C Patel paid homage to the late Sushila Devi and praised the Seva Sansthan for its four-year-long work providing sickle cell testing, TB patient support, nutritional supplements and fr

The Kharge Committee, set up to probe the controversial 40-acre land deal in Pune, has submitted its report to the state government. Headed by additional chief Secretary (Revenue) Vikas Kharge, the panel handed over the report to revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday, sources said. Panel Probes Land Sale Involving Parth Pawar's MS Amedea Enterprises The report runs into over 1,000 pages and includes supporting documents. The committee was appointed to examine the land sale involv

Mira-Bhayandar: Crime Detection Branch Cell4 of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate has successfully arrested an accused who had been absconding for the past six years in connection with a robbery and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) case registered in Solapur district. Complainant Lured to Buy Tractor Trolley, Robbed of 2.50 Lakh According to police officials, the crime occurred on June 26, 2021, near Saket Mangal Karyalaya in Kurduwadi, Solapur, where th

RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Railways curated and hosted two important panel discussions on Artificial Intelligencedriven healthcare at the AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam. The mega summit was organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the IndiaAI Mission, bringing together policymakers, technology leaders, healthcare professionals, researchers, and innovators from India and across the globe.

Thousands of office-goers and daily commuters heading to South Mumbai on Tuesday, February 17, are likely to endure long delays and last-mile hardship as extensive security restrictions around the Gateway of India for the IndiaFrance Year of Innovation programme disrupt normal movement across Colaba and Fort. With the Prime Minister of India and the President of France visiting the city, police will enforce strict security arrangements. From 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm, regular vehicles will not be allow

A grand celebration of the 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Birth Anniversary - Hindavi Swarajya Mahotsav' is being organised at the birthplace of the founder of Hindavi Swarajya, in Junnar, from 17 to 19 February 2026. Festival Aims to Preserve Legacy, Introduce Vision to Youth Organised by Maharashtra Tourism and the Pune District Administration, the festival will be held at the Shankarrao Butte Patil Vidyalaya grounds near the foothills of Shivneri. It will feature a rich blend of cultural, sport

The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of the third and fourth railway lines between Kasara and Manmad in Maharashtra, a major capacity-augmentation project on the heavily saturated MumbaiHowrah high-density corridor recently. Project to Boost Passenger The 131-km project, estimated to cost Rs 10,154 crore, will be executed over five years across Thane and Nashik districts. Railway officials said the additional lines will significantly improve passenger and freight movement on a route t

Mumbai: Global logistics giant FedEx is set to formalise its footprint in Maharashtra with its first dedicated cargo hub at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The ground breaking ceremony for the facility will be held on Wednesday in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Five Global Freighters Planning Shift as CSMIA Upgrades Operations Amid the plans to temporarily shut down cargo operations at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) later this year

Palghar, Maharashtra, Feb 16: The Crime Detection Team of Naigaon Police Station has successfully traced and arrested an accused who had been absconding for the past one year in connection with a gang rape case registered at the police station. According to police officials, the incident dates back to November 27, 2024, when the complainant had travelled alone to Pune in search of employment. After missing a job interview due to delay, she contacted her husbands friend, identified as Pawan Rajen

Mumbai, Feb 16: For the convenience of passengers and to clear the extra rush of passengers during the upcoming festive season of Holi, Western Railway has extended the trips of special trains between various destinations. According to Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, Vineet Abhishek, details of the trains are as under: 1. Train No. 09085/09086 Mumbai Central Indore Tri-Weekly Special Train No. 09085 Mumbai Central Indore Special has been extended up to 27th March, 2026. Simila

Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that, in line with Indian Railways resolve to undertake 52 reforms in 52 weeks during 2026, two new reforms are approved by the Indian Railways and their implementation will commence immediately. He said that reforms are not one-time events but a continuous process. Vaishnaw stated that the impact is visible today as Indian Railways has become the second largest c

Islamabad, February 16: Pakistani cricketer Imad Wasim shared a post on his social media account, announcing his marriage to Nyla Raja. He said in his post that he went through hardest chapters of his life and that he has taken the decision of his second marriage for peace, stability and calm. However, Imad Wasim's ex-wife Sannia shared a video her social media account of Wasim's marriage with Nyla and demanded justice for her children. She also called Imad's new wife a homewrecker in her social

The Asiatic Tomorrow panel has filed an interim application before the Bombay High Court seeking an urgent directive to the Asiatic Society of Mumbai (ASM) to conduct its long-delayed managing committee elections at the earliest possible date. The panel has urged the high court to direct the society to declare the date of the election and conduct it in a free, fair and proper manner. Elections Originally Slated for November 2025 Remain in Limbo The elections for the 221-year-old heritage body we

Mumbai: A legal notice has been served to the Assistant Commissioner, H-West ward, BMC and Chief Officer of Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) against erection 35 LED advertisement boards on the Carter Road promenade, Bandra West. The notice has been served by activist and member of NCP (SP) Furkan Shaikh stating the installation of commercial LED hoardings is illegal, an attempt of commercialisation of public promenade, and threat to public safety and environment. A seven days time has been given

Guwahati: With the 2026 Assam Legislative Assembly elections on the horizon, a high-level team of the Election Commission of India arrived in Guwahati on Monday to assess poll preparedness across the state. The three-day visit is being led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He was received at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport by Assam Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel. The delegation includes Election Commissioners Dr S S Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, along with seni

A vibrant community celebration centred on nature, sustainability and collective joy, Basantotsav 2026 will be organised on February 22 at the Agro Garden, Sector 9, CBD Belapur. Festival Aims for Relaxed, Immersive Green Experience The open-air event will run from 2 pm to 8.30 pm, transforming the community garden into a lively hub of workshops, creative activities, eco-conscious shopping and cultural performances. Organisers said the festival aims to offer citizens a relaxed, immersive experie

Australia are staring at a Round 1 elimination following a defeat to Sri Lanka on Monday. A Pathum Nissanka century saw the Lankans pulled off a record chase in Pallekele. Sri Lanka sealed a place in Super 8 stage, leaving Australia needing a miracle to qualify. We're in the lap of the Gods now I think. Lot of emotions in the room right now. Haven't been at our best. Disappointed bunch at the moment, Mitchell Marsh said after the SL vs AUS game. Sri Lanka seal their #T20WorldCup Super 8 berth wi

Guwahati: The Kamrup (Metro) District and Sessions Court on Monday heard detailed arguments in multiple petitions linked to the case surrounding the death of Assams cultural icon Zubeen Garg, before reserving its order. The hearing, which stretched for nearly two-and-a-half hours across two sessions, revolved around crucial issues including the seizure of properties linked to one of the key accused, Siddharth Sarma, and a plea to bring documents from Singapore into the trial record. One of the c

Mumbai, Feb 16: A 17-year-old civil engineering student allegedly ended his life at his residence in Wadala East after being subjected to depression following a breakup involving alleged casteist slurs. The Mumbai police have registered a case against the boys minor girlfriend for abetment of suicide and under relevant sections of the BNS and the Atrocities Act. Mother files complaint According to the FIR, the complainant, the 35-year-old mother, is an employee at a civil hospital in Thane and r

Jhabua (Madhya Pradesh): The District Bar Association in Jhabua organised a protest on Monday to condemn the recent killing of an advocate in Shivpuri and demanded immediate implementation of the Advocate Protection Act in the state. According to reports, advocate Sanjay Kumar Saxena was killed while he was heading to court in Shivpuri on Saturday. The protesting lawyers warned that if the government failed to act promptly, they would boycott courts across the state. Expressing their ire, advoca

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Plans are afoot to make the registration process in the state completely faceless and digital. As part of the plan, the first cyber registration office in the state has been set up in Bhopal. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the office on Monday. Yadav said cyber registration started for 75 services, including loans, power of attorney, mining leases, and affidavits. He said cyber registration would be important for the environment and efficiency. The documents of t

Mumbai: Bandra-Worli Sea Link in Mumbai was illuminated on Monday with images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of their visit to the city. The sea bridge was lit up, creating a striking view along the coastline and marking the French leaders arrival in the country. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Mumbai's Bandra-Worli Sea Link lit up to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron are visiting

Mumbai: This seasons race for Champions League qualification in La Liga promises to be a thrilling one, with several clubs in contention. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona sit out in front in first and second, locked in a tense title race, while Villarreal CF and Atltico de Madrid currently occupy third and fourth place on 45 points each. But, both clubs now need to look over their shoulder at Real Betis, who are currently fifth and just behind on 41 points. Real Betis have been continuously inside t

Mumbai, Feb 16: A suburban train was brought to an emergency halt at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on Monday afternoon after a man was spotted lying on the tracks at Platform No. 1, railway officials said. According to railway authorities, the incident occurred around 3 pm when on-duty staff noticed an apparently intoxicated person stretched across the rail line moments before an incoming train was to enter the platform. The motorman applied the brakes in time and stopped the train

Mumbai, February 16: The cricket fans in Mumbai will be slightly disappointed as the iconic Wankhede Stadium ignored for the Super 8 matches of Indian Cricket Team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. However, they have another chance for them to see the Indian cricketers in action at their favourite venue if the team qualifies for the semi-finals. India moved into the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with ease after beating Pakistan in their Group A match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Col

Navi Mumbai: The provision for appointing nominated members in local self-government bodiesmeant to facilitate the participation of subject experts is being increasingly used as a tool for political rehabilitation. The allegation was made by navi mumbai based citizen forum - Sajag Nagrik Manch. In a representation submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the group demanded an immediate suspension of the appointment process for nominated members across all municipal corporations in the stat

In the latest episode of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2 (Monday, February 16), Noina confronts Mihir, asking why he didnt celebrate Valentines Day with her. She also angrily questions why he booked a table at a restaurant to spend time with Tulsi. Instead of answering calmly, Mihir gets angry and asks how she found out about the table booking. He even accuses her of spying on him. Just then, Dev arrives and clarifies that he had booked the table for himself and Saloni using Mihirs card since i

Mumbai, Feb 16: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has flagged pending arrears of more than Rs 2,800 crore from various government institutions, warning that recovery of these funds is crucial for implementing development projects proposed in its upcoming budget. Deposits pending since 19952000 In documents submitted for approval of its Budget Estimates for 202627 and Revised Estimates for 202526, the Authority stated that it had kept deposits with several government in

Navi Mumbai: The Punjabi Cultural & Welfare Association (PCWA) will organise a two-day seminar series focusing on linguistic heritage and spiritual thought later this month at Belapur. Timings from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm at CBD-Belapur Venue According to the organisers, the first seminar, themed Mother Tongue, will be held on Saturday, February 21, followed by a seminar on Bhagat Namdev on Sunday, February 22. Both programmes will take place from 9.30 am to 4.00 pm at Punjab Heritage Bhavan, Sector

Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP-ruled Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday alleged that the opposition parties - Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP had allowed the state to sink into narcotics, while, they claimed, the state AAP government is now mounting a sustained crackdown to reverse the damage. Speaking at the Village Defence Committee (VDC) oath ceremony in Moga district, the AAP leaders delivered a message on Punjabs Yu

Mumbai, Feb 16: In a bid to curb repeated traffic violations and reckless driving by autorickshaw drivers, the Mumbai Traffic Police conducted a special enforcement drive from February 4 to February 15, 2026. The campaign focused on major junctions, railway station areas and high-traffic corridors across the city. It targeted offences such as refusal to ply, overcharging, carrying extra passengers, illegal parking, operating without valid permits or licences, signal jumping and rash driving that

Megastar Chiranjeevi reassured fans about his health after recent photos showing him with his arm in a sling sparked concern online. The veteran actor took to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday (February 16) to clarify the situation and revealed that he had undergone a minor shoulder keyhole surgery. Sharing a picture of himself standing beside his doctor, with his left arm supported in a sling, Chiranjeevi addressed the speculation. In his post, he wrote, Several well-wishers have enquired

Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka almost knocked out Australia out of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing 182 to win, Nissanka stroked a scintillating century in front of a packed stadium in Pallekele. It was the first century of the tournament, sealing Sri Lanka's place in the Super 8 stage. More to follow....

JEE Main 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has withheld the JEE Main 2026 results of 68 candidates who were found indulging in Unfair Means (UFM) practices. The announcement was made alongside the declaration of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results on the official websites, nta.ac.in and jeemain.nta.nic.in. These 68 candidates will not have their scorecards available for download, as per the agencys guidelines. The NTA had clearly stated in its official brochure that any candidate involved

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh): The Madhya Pradesh High Court hearing on a dispute over the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar was deferred to Wednesday due to a lawyers strike on Monday, a litigant said. Hindus consider Bhojshala to be a temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while the Muslim community calls the 11th-century monument Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and a case regarding the site is pending in court. On Ja

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): AIIMS, Bhopal, is facing short fall of faculty as well as non-faculty. There are 312 sanctioned posts for faculty while 241 are filled so there is short fall of 71 posts, according to Central government recent reply in Rajya Sabha. Similarly, in category of non-faculty, 3874 are sanctioned posts while 2920 of them are filled. In this way, there is short fall of 954 posts in non-faculty category in AIIMS, Bhopal. Although the institute's governing body recently directed t

This Anti-Smuggling Day, Philip Morris IndiaTrading Private Limited(Formerly IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited)(PM India) called for sustained collective action and government collaboration, reaffirming its commitment to combating illicit tobacco products. The illicit cigarette trade represents a grave challenge that demands urgent attention and concerted efforts from all stakeholders. Industry leaders must be committed to taking a collaborative approach in the fight against illicit tr

Pallekele, February 16: Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis has become the first player in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 to hit three consecutive half-centuries in the tournament after hitting his third fifty of the T20 World Cup against Australia at Pallekele International Stadium on Monday. With his half-century, Kusal Mendis has also registered his name in the elite list of cricketers hitting three consecutive half-centuries in the history of T20 World Cup. Picked the bones out of that

Karachi: Pakistan is set to drop senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi from their next T20 World Cup match against Namibia after the duo's failure to come good in the high-stakes game against India in Colombo, a reliable source in the team management told PTI on Monday. The source said that Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi conveyed his displeasure over the team's performance in the 61-run loss to India to team manager Naved Akram Cheema. The Chairman left the match early

Mumbai, Feb 16: A 71-year-old woman who had remained almost unresponsive for over 45 days due to a rare neurological condition has regained speech and awareness following specialised treatment in the city. She was diagnosed with non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) a continuous seizure state without visible convulsions a condition that is often difficult to detect and can be life-threatening if left untreated. Initial misdiagnosis and worsening condition Doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals iden