The Economic Times

A new fossil discovery in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, is changing scientific views on early plant-eating animals. Named Tyrannoroter heberti, this creature lived about 315 million years ago. It possessed unique teeth for grinding tough vegetation. This finding suggests that four-legged animals started eating plants earlier than previously thought.

The BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claims that JUP founder Humayun Kabir received 50% funding for mosque modelled on Babri Masjid from Bangladesh. In response, Adhikari hit back saying Adhikari has lost his sanity and added that his visit was personal in nature.

Quote of the day by Pablo Picasso: Pablo Picassos quote, I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it, embodies the spirit of growth and creative exploration. This mindset encourages us to embrace challenges and step into the unknown, as genuine learning arises from pushing beyond our present capabilities.

Galgotias University has been asked to vacate its stall at the AI Summit in Delhi after it reportedly displayed a Chinese robotic dog labeled Orion as their own innovation. The users were quick to point out the clip online after the video of the AI-powered Chinese robodog surfaced. The University has now issued a clarification saying that Galgotias has not built this robodog, nor have we ever claimed to.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called the AI Summit a disorganized PR spectacle. He alleged that Chinese products were displayed at the event. This comes amid controversy over a robotic dog at the summit. Critics claim it was a Chinese-made product, not an Indian innovation.

Borah had resigned from the Congress on Monday, but the party's top leadership did not accept his resignation, making attempts to persuade him to take it back. Following this, he sought time to reconsider his decision.

In West Bengal, the newly launched Yuva Sathi initiative is making waves, promising unemployed youth a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500. Registration centers are buzzing with activity as eager applicants line up to grab this opportunity.

Amidst an escalating electoral crisis, West Bengal officials have taken significant action by filing FIRs against five government employees linked to irregularities in the voter registration process. This comes in response to an ultimatum from the Election Commission demanding immediate revisions. The accused face serious allegations of negligence and potential data security risks.

The farmers' organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha has expressed strong opposition to the India-US trade deal, deeming it harmful to the agricultural community. They are calling for an urgent cancellation of the agreement. As the Budget session approaches, a series of public gatherings will take place across the country to rally support.

Day 12 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has been dubbed Teams Day, featuring a packed schedule of nine medal events across six sports. Despite early disruptions caused by heavy snowfall in northern Italy, which forced the rescheduling of several snowboarding events, the stage is now set for the Men's and Women's Snowboarding Slopestyle Finals at Livigno Snow Park.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of having links with anti-India forces, calling him a threat to national security and alleging he met Naxalites, extremists and figures such as George Soros during visits in India and abroad.

A senior U.S. official said new data suggests China may have conducted an underground nuclear test in June 2020 at the Lop Nor site, based on a seismic event recorded in Kazakhstan that he described as consistent with an explosion and not mining activity or an earthquake.

Big Bash League: Cricket Australia is exploring hosting a Big Bash League match in India, with Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium a top contender. This strategic move aims to tap into the Indian market, with discussions already underway with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The final decision rests with the BCCI, potentially paving the way for a historic BBL fixture abroad.

Partap Singh Bajwa, leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly, has raised concerns. He stated that a proposed Indo-US trade agreement could negatively impact Punjab's farmers. Bajwa also warned that replacing MGNREGA with a new scheme might weaken rural employment guarantees. He urged both the central and state governments to protect farmers and laborers in policy decisions.

Biennial elections for 37 Rajya Sabha seats in 10 states are scheduled for March 16, 2026. The Election Commission of India has set the dates for nominations, scrutiny, and withdrawals. Polling will occur on March 16, with vote counting the same day. The entire process concludes before March 20, 2026. These elections fill seats as terms expire in April 2026.

Anupama Parameswaran celebrates her birthday as one of South Indian cinemas most admired actresses. Her journey began with Premam and soon expanded across Telugu, Tamil and Kannada cinema. She has delivered memorable performances in films such as A Aa and Karthikeya 2. Beyond acting, Parameswaran also explored filmmaking by working as an assistant director, reflecting her deeper interest in the craft of cinema. Her career continues to be defined by consistency, versatility and a steady artistic

Princess Diana was a cherished member of the British royal family. Her grace and empathy made her a global icon. She championed humanitarian causes, drawing attention to critical issues. Diana's direct connection with people earned her the title 'the People's Princess'. Her life and legacy continue to inspire compassion worldwide.

Actor Rajpal Yadav has been temporarily released from Tihar Jail after submitting 1.5 crore in cheque bounce cases. Businessman Madhav Gopal Agrawal loaned 5 crore to Yadav for his 2012 film, leading to a 14-year legal dispute over repayment. Agrawal seeks to recover his money after multiple agreements and dishonoured cheques.

Ash Wednesday 2026 Quotes: Ash Wednesday, observed on February 18, 2026, initiates the Christian season of Lent. This day involves church services where ashes are applied to foreheads as a symbol of repentance and spiritual renewal. The ashes, made from burnt palm branches, serve as a reminder of mortality and the call for forgiveness and faith.

A passenger's ordeal on a Qantas flight, where projectile vomiting contaminated the cabin during taxi, has led to a full refund after initial rejection. The airline cited an internal routing error for the initial denial, emphasizing it doesn't reflect a policy against compensating for such biohazard incidents. This case highlights evolving airline accountability for passenger welfare.

Three new cheetah cubs have been born at Kuno National Park. The mother, Gamini, is a cheetah from South Africa. This event marks a significant milestone for Project Cheetah. The birth brings the total number of cheetahs in India to 38.

Spain's President Pedro Sanchez is in India for the AI Impact Summit 2026. He was welcomed by Minister Jayant Singh. This visit strengthens India-Spain relations. The summit brings global leaders together to discuss artificial intelligence. It focuses on people, planet, and progress. The event highlights India's commitment to AI for global welfare.

Delhi AI Summit Traffic Advisory: If you are in Delhi today, then you must avoid Sardar Patel Marg, Janpath, Rajesh Pilot Marg and other roads located in Central Delhi, specifically in the Lutyens Delhi area. Commuters are advised to take APJ Abdul Kalam Marg, Rafi Marg, and others as they would be heavy traffic due to the AI Summit. Entry into the venue will be restricted after 4 pm as part of security arrangements, and vehicle movement around the convention complex is likely to be regulated.

A 13-minute flight from Allahabad to Naini 115 years ago marked India as the birthplace of global airmail. This historic event is celebrated as World Airmail Day. Collector Piyush Khaitan has dedicated years to studying materials from this pioneering flight, including rare Black Cachet markings.

Mendacious means deliberately lying. It is a precise word for intentional deception. The term highlights conscious dishonesty, not simple mistakes. It is used in journalism and legal writing. Mendacious carries a negative tone, suggesting a breach of trust. The word comes from Latin and means deceitful. It helps distinguish error from intentional falsehood.

Weather update today: The IMD has forecast light rain for Delhi, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for Wednesday. Snowfall has been predicted for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The weather department has issued a fog alert for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. For Delhi, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for today.

The father of Dwarka accident accused has spoken out after his son was accused in a fatal Dwarka crash. He denied the claims that his children were making reels. He also stated that the Scorpio involved is part of his commercial vehicle business, and the challans issued against the car were not because of his son but by the driver.

YouTube experienced a global disruption affecting its video platform. An issue with the recommendation system prevented videos from appearing. YouTube confirmed the problem is resolved. Platforms including YouTube.com, the app, Music, Kids, and TV are back to normal. Millions of users reported issues, particularly in the US and India. The mobile app saw the most complaints in India.

The Maharashtra government has rescinded its resolution. This resolution had previously granted a 5% reservation for the Muslim community. The quota applied to admissions in educational institutions. It also covered recruitment in government and semi-government jobs. This withdrawal marks a significant policy shift by the state administration.

Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of V D Savarkar, has taken legal action in Pune, targeting Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for his recent comments. In a defamation suit, Savarkar is seeking voice recordings from Gandhi, who purportedly accused his granduncle of advocating violence against a Muslim man.

YouTube outage memes: As YouTube suffered a global outage today, with users getting 'something is wrong' error message, many users rushed to social media to share memes and hilarious GIFs. One user wrote that YouTube is partially down and its my bedtime. While YouTube services gradually resumed, the internets reaction showed no signs of slowing down

Delhi Weather today: The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Delhi today and has warned of light rain and thunderstorms. On Tuesday, the capital remained unseasonably warm, with the maximum temperature settling at 30.9C, about 6.5 degrees above the seasonal average, according to the IMD. Similar weather conditions have been predicted for Noida and Gurugram too.

A widespread YouTube outage left hundreds of thousands of users globally unable to watch videos, sparking significant frustration. Reports of issues began Tuesday evening in the US and rapidly escalated, with over 355,000 users reporting problems by 7:18 pm CT. The disruption, tracked by Downdetector, saw videos stopping mid-playback and the platform failing to load, with #YouTubeDOWN trending on X.

US forces struck three boats in Latin American waters, targeting alleged drug smugglers. Eleven people died in the attacks. This campaign has resulted in at least 145 deaths since September. The US military released videos of the destroyed vessels. Critics question the legality and effectiveness of these strikes, especially as fentanyl often travels overland.

Youtube something went wrong: Many users are facing an outage with YouTube and they are getting 'Something is Wrong' error message when they are trying to access the app. You should try to refresh the page, restart your device and check your internet connection to try and fix 'something is wrong' error message on YouTube.

Millions are experiencing a major YouTube outage, with reports of disruptions starting around 7:45 PM ET and escalating quickly. DownDetector shows nearly 300,000 users reporting issues, primarily affecting the core YouTube service. While YouTube TV also saw spikes, the exact cause remains unknown, leaving viewers waiting for an official update on service restoration.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has proposed a significant property tax increase. This measure is a last resort if Governor Kathy Hochul does not agree to raise income taxes on wealthy individuals. The proposed hike could impact millions of homes and businesses. Mamdani aims to address a substantial budget deficit. Negotiations with the City Council are ongoing.

Japan will invest $36 billion in three U.S. projects, including a $33 billion natural gas power plant in Ohio and a $2.1 billion oil export terminal in Texas. A synthetic industrial diamond factory in Georgia, valued at $600 million, will also be established. These investments are the first under Japan's $550 billion U.S. pledge.

In 2026, Americans lose 239 hours annually to traffic. A 90-minute commute steals 700 hours yearly. This ime tax slashes your effective hourly wage. Switching to a 10-minute commute boosts mental health and work-life balance. Even a $2,000 pay cut saves money on fuel and vehicle wear. Shorter trips reduce burnout risk and increase productivity. Prioritize career growth by reclaiming your time. Small moves yield massive lifestyle gains.

Word of the Day: Quiddity meaning is the essential nature of something. It answers the question, what makes a thing what it is. Quiddity pronunciation is KWID-ih-tee. The word comes from Latin quidditas, meaning whatness. Used in philosophy and law, it signals depth and clarity. Learning rare English vocabulary boosts writing skills, exam scores, and professional credibility in todays competitive knowledge economy.

More than 71 million Americans receive Social Security benefits each month. The Social Security SSDI payment for February 2026 goes out on Wednesday, February 18. This payday covers beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th. The Social Security Administration follows a three-Wednesday schedule. SSI recipients will also get an early March payment on February 27 because March 1 falls on a Sunday. This is not a bonus.

Quote of the day by Theophrastus: Theophrastus, Aristotle's successor, emphasized time as life's most valuable asset, surpassing material wealth. His philosophy highlights that how we spend our finite hours reveals our values and character. This ancient insight encourages mindful living, urging individuals to invest time in meaningful pursuits for a more fulfilling existence.

40 MPH wind gusts and 15% relative humidity have triggered a Fire Weather Watch in Lansing for Wednesday, according to NWS Chicago. The alert runs from morning through evening. Southwest winds will range from 15 to 25 MPH, increasing wildfire risk. Dry air and dormant grass create critical fire weather conditions. Officials warn rapid fire spread is possible. Outdoor burning is strongly discouraged across the Chicago area.

China's ambitious tree-planting program has transformed the Taklamakan Desert, once known as The Place of No Return, into a functioning carbon sink. Satellite data reveals measurable photosynthesis and carbon absorption, demonstrating a remarkable environmental shift. While water availability and heat absorption pose challenges, the project offers hope for desertification reversal.

Shrinking Season 3 Episode 4 release time, what to expect and how to watch worldwide is now confirmed. The episode streams February 18, 2026, on Apple TV Plus. Jimmy speaks at Gaby class, Paul faces Parkinson changes, and Gerry returns. Viewers worldwide can stream the episode using an Apple TV Plus subscription.

The U.S. government is backing prediction market platforms in a major legal fight with several states. The dispute is about who should control these online betting-style markets federal regulators or state gambling authorities. The outcome could change how sports betting, online prediction trading, and digital event contracts are regulated across the country in the future.