Mumbai, Feb 7 (IANS) One of the first picks for the Hyderabad Superstars, Seone Mendez has completed her unbeaten streak during the league stage of the World Pickleball League.

Beating Katerina Stewart of the Bengaluru Jawans, Seone stamped her authority in the womens singles category for the season.

“The WPBL league has been an incredible experience so far. Staying undefeated through the league stage has been really rewarding and a testament to the preparation and consistency I’ve been focused on bringing each match. I’ve put a lot of emphasis on staying sharp physically and mentally, treating every match with the same level of intensity regardless of the opponent. Most importantly, being part of the Hyderabad Superstars has made the journey even more special the energy, support, and professionalism around the group has been amazing.” said Seone Mendez, Hyderabad Superstars.

Seone Mendez was touted as one of the players to watch out for at the start of the league and she has proven to be the only player to beat through her 6 league games. Her formidable ground strokes and incredible court coverage have resulted in her dominating that event. Throughout her games, she never looked under the pump at any point and held a steady lead from the first minute of the game. Her strong tennis foundation has been key for Seone’s smooth transition into pickleball where she has steadily climbed up international ranks over the last six to eight months. Touted to be one of the top ranked players in the world by the end of this year, Seone has been instrumental for Hyderabad Superstars’ rise to the top 4 on the leaderboard of the World Pickleball League.

Hyderabad Superstars are currently in the 4th position on the leader board with just two games remaining in the league stages.

Starting strong, the Superstars won their first two games on the trot and have been on the losing side of some extremely close matches giving them a fair chance for a spot in the finals. The squad for Hyderabad Superstars boasts of international stars like Marcello Jardim, Talia Saunders, Kaitlynn Hart, Pep Canyadell, Lauren Mercado, Louis Laville and Indian Superstar, Mayur Patil along with Seone Mendez.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) India strongly condemned the deadly suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Friday, expressing condolences for the loss of lives while rejecting Pakistan's allegations as “baseless” and a deflection from its internal issues.

Pakistani authorities quickly pointed fingers at external forces. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi suggested the bomber had links to Afghanistan, without providing evidence.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office echoed similar claims, labelling it part of a series of attacks designed by external forces.

In response, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement: "The bombing at an Islamabad mosque earlier on Friday is condemnable and India condoles the loss of life it has caused. It is unfortunate that, instead of seriously addressing the problems plaguing its social fabric, Pakistan should choose to delude itself by blaming others for its home-grown ills. India rejects any and every such allegation, which is as baseless as it is pointless."

The blast at the Khadija Tul Kubra mosque in Islamabad's Tarlai Kalan area killed at least 31 people and injured 169 others during Friday prayers, according to Pakistani officials.

Witnesses reported gunfire before the explosion, with a suicide bomber detonating explosives amid a congregation of worshippers.

Hospitals in the capital declared emergencies as rescue teams transported the wounded, some in critical condition.

Officials, including Pakistan's parliamentary affairs minister Tariq Fazal, visited injured patients at Polyclinic Hospital to assure families of full medical support and facilities.

Health authorities emphasized that several victims remained in critical condition, with the possibility of the death toll rising.

The coordinated response involved police, rescue services, and security forces sealing the blast site while prioritizing rapid medical aid to minimize further loss of life. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but the attack marks one of the deadliest in Islamabad in recent years, reminiscent of past sectarian violence targeting Shia Muslims.

The incident has drawn international condemnation, with calls for thorough investigations. Diplomatic sources indicate no immediate escalation, but it underscores fragile relations in South Asia.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Feb 6 (IANS) The Special Operations Group (SOG), on Friday, arrested two doctors holding MBBS degrees from abroad for allegedly providing fake Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) pass certificates, enabling unqualified candidates to obtain medical internships and registrations in Rajasthan.

The main accused, Bhanaram Mali alias Bhanu (30), a resident of Jhalawar district and currently residing in Jaipur, was apprehended at Delhi airport on February 2.

According to the SOG, Bhanaram had been absconding for months, moving across Thailand, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Kazakhstan and Nepal to evade arrest.

Another accused, Indraraj Singh Gurjar (27), a resident of Karauli and currently staying in Dausa, has also been arrested.

The arrests were confirmed by ADG (SOG) Vishal Bansal, who said that investigations are ongoing into the role of 73 other doctors, who obtained MBBS degrees from abroad.

ADG SOG Bansal said that the SOG had earlier arrested three persons -- Abhayyut Piyush Kumar Dwivedi, Devendra Singh Gurjar, and Shubham Gurjar -- for procuring and using forged FMGE passing certificates.

The mastermind, Bhanaram Mali alias Bhanu, had fled abroad soon after, travelling through Thailand, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Kazakhstan, and Nepal to evade arrest.

Under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Paris Deshmukh, a team led by Investigating Officer (IO), Harpal Singh, relentlessly tracked the absconding accused.

The SOG received intelligence that Bhanaram was returning to India on February 2, 2026.

Acting swiftly, the team apprehended Bhanaram at Delhi Airport the same day.

He was formally arrested on February 3 and is currently in police custody till February 7.

Investigations said that Bhanaram, himself an MBBS graduate from abroad, charged money from several candidates and arranged forged FMGE qualifying certificates to help them secure internship eligibility with the Rajasthan Medical Council (RMC).

It has now emerged that around 73 foreign-educated MBBS graduates, who had not cleared the FMGE, were provided similar forged certificates and had applied for internship based on these fake documents.

A fresh case was registered on February 4 to probe this wider network.

Further inquiry led by IO Jitendra Navariya exposed the role of another accused, Imraj Singh Gurjar, who had obtained a fake FMGE certificate for himself after completing MBBS from Kazakhstan.

On the basis of the forged certificate, Imraj Singh Gurjar secured internship at Rajiv Gandhi Medical College in Alwar, and later received provisional registration from RMC.

Imraj Singh Gurjar is also accused of helping other candidates obtain fake documents through his links with Bhanaram.

He was detained from Dausa and arrested on February 5, and has been remanded to police custody till February 10.

The SOG is continuing the investigation into the involvement of all 73 foreign-educated doctors who allegedly benefitted from the fraudulent scheme.

The probe into the fake FMGE certification racket is ongoing, and more arrests are likely.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 6 (IANS) The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, has explained why it is recommending a single-phase poll for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state scheduled later this year.

According to insiders, the CEO’s office will soon send its recommendation for a single-phase poll to the Election Commission of India (ECI), while maintaining that the final decision will rest with the Commission’s top leadership in New Delhi.

In the recommendation, the CEO’s office will detail why a single-phase poll is considered necessary to ensure free and fair elections in West Bengal.

CEO’s office insiders said the main argument in favour of a single-phase poll would be Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s criticism of the ECI’s decision to conduct the 2021 Assembly elections in eight phases, when the country was grappling with the second wave of COVID-19.

At that time, the Chief Minister had observed that if a single-phase election was possible in Tamil Nadu, which has 234 Assembly constituencies, there was no reason for an eight-phase poll in West Bengal, which has 294 constituencies.

“In the past, too, there have been instances of single-phase polls in West Bengal. So that will be the recommendation from the CEO’s office. Now, the final decision will rest with the Commission,” a CEO’s office insider said.

The insider also pointed out that a single-phase poll in 2026 would have both advantages and disadvantages.

“The advantage is that political parties will not be able to mobilise their supporters from one area to another, thereby addressing the traditional complaint of outsider mobilisation on polling day or on the eve of polling, which intimidates voters,” the insider said.

However, a single-phase election would require a larger deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), especially on polling day.

“If the Commission can ensure that arrangement, the idea of a single-phase poll is quite feasible,” the insider added.

--IANS

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Colombo, Feb 6 (IANS) The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday approved Pramod Madushan as a replacement for Eshan Malinga in the Sri Lanka squad.

"Madushan, a medium-fast bowler who has played 13 ODIs and eight T20Is, was named as a replacement after Malinga was ruled out following a shoulder injury sustained during the bilateral T20I against England on 1 February," ICC said in a statement.

The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee (ETC) before the player can be officially added to the squad.

Medhuasan, 24 years old and previously played for the Sri Lanka national cricket team in eight T20Is, taking 12 wickets at an average of 8.63 runs per over. Medhuasan also played against England in 2021 but was not included in the final 2020 ICC World Cup squad on 2 February 2023; curiously, he last played in an international T20I on 28April 2023.

With the pace bowling attack of Madushan, together with his team mates Matheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka will compete against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on February 8.

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.

--IANS

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Shillong, Feb 6 (IANS) At least eight people were admitted to two hospitals in Shillong after sustaining burn injuries in a dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, officials said on Friday.

According to health officials, seven of the injured are undergoing treatment at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), while one person has been admitted to Nazareth Hospital here.

The seven victims which have been identified as Shanki Shylla, Deb Malakar, Korna, Bom Magar, Lalit Magar, Jamil Ahmed and Nor Bahadur.

Doctors attending to the injured victims said that all of them have suffered second-degree burn injuries and are currently under medical observation.

Their condition is reported to be stable, though they continue to receive specialised care.

Earlier on Friday, police have arrested two persons believed to be the owners of the illegal coal mine where a powerful explosion claimed at least 25 lives.

Confirming the arrests, East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said the accused were taken into custody in connection with the blast that occurred on Wednesday morning at Thangsko area.

However, the police declined to reveal the identities of the arrested persons, saying that details would be made public after they are produced before a court.

The explosion at the illegal coal mine has so far resulted in the death of 25 workers.

The incident has once again highlighted the continued operation of banned rat-hole coal mining activities in the district despite repeated directives from the courts.

Meanwhile, taking a stern view of the continued operation of illegal coal mines in Meghalaya, the High Court has ordered immediate arrests in connection with the deadly explosion at an alleged illegal mining site in East Jaintia Hills district that claimed at least 25 lives.

A division bench comprising Justice H.S. Thangkhiew and Justice W. Diengdoh took suo motu cognisance of media reports relating to the blast that occurred in the Thangsku area.

The court expressed serious concern that illegal coal mining activities were still being carried out in the district despite an earlier fatal incident reported on January 14 this year, indicating persistent violations of mining ban and court directions.

Saying that repeated tragedies point to grave administrative lapses, the bench directed the district administration and police to act without delay.

The court ordered the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to identify and arrest the mine owners, operators and all those involved in the alleged illegal mining operations.

It also instructed authorities to seize all equipment, documents and other incriminating materials connected with the mining activity.

The court also sought an explanation from the officials on how such prohibited activities were allowed to persist despite previous incidents and existing legal restrictions.

It cautioned that stringent directions would follow if the authorities failed to demonstrate concrete and effective action.

In one of the deadliest mining accidents in recent years, the bodies of at least 25 labourers have been recovered following a massive explosion at a suspected illegal coal mine in the Thangsku area of Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district on Thursday.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 6 (IANS) Mumbai Suburban District Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar on Friday called for a robust and future-ready emergency management framework for the Bandra–Worli Sea Link, Versova–Bandra Sea Link and the Coastal Road, stressing the need for aerial evacuation facilities.

Referring to the recent gas tanker accident on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, which stranded passengers for more than 36 hours, Shelar said the incident had underscored serious gaps in emergency response mechanisms.

In a representation submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the minister stated that in the event of accidents, fires or natural disasters on these critical corridors, providing an immediate and effective response could pose major challenges.

He pointed out that as the Coastal Road includes underground tunnels and over-sea stretches, rapid evacuation of the injured, swift movement of security forces and timely access for emergency services could become extremely difficult.

Against this backdrop, Shelar called for the urgent construction of a helipad at Bandra Reclamation, close to the Sea Link. He noted that adequate space is available at the site and urged the Chief Minister to take an immediate decision and issue necessary directions to the concerned agencies.

“The construction of a helipad would enable the swift evacuation of the injured through air ambulances during emergencies on the Coastal Road and Sea Link. It would also facilitate rapid access to Lilavati Hospital and other major hospitals in the vicinity.

“This initiative would significantly improve coordination among disaster management agencies, police, fire services, NDRF and other departments, thereby strengthening the long-term emergency preparedness plan for Mumbai, the country’s densely populated financial capital,” Shelar said in his representation.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Feb 6 (IANS) Jana Sena Party led by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is contesting 336 seats in next week’s municipal elections in Telangana.

Jana Sena on Friday said in a statement that it has fielded 336 candidates and their nominations have been accepted by returning officers.

Jana Sena candidates are contesting the polls on the party’s symbol glass tumbler.

The party is contesting 336 wards in 11 districts. The maximum number of candidates fielded by it is 48 in Nizamabad district, followed by 46 in Nalgonda, 44 in Mahabubnagar and 39 in Adilabad.

Elections for 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations in Telangana are scheduled on February 11. These urban local bodies have a total of 2,996 wards.

Though Jana Sena is a part of the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, it has no alliance with the BJP for the Telangana municipal polls.

The Telangana BJP had already announced that the party will contest the polls on its own.

Jana Sena announced two days ago that Pawan Kalyan will campaign for Jana Sena and BJP candidates on February 7 and 8.

The party said that the Jana Sena and BJP have fielded their candidates in a friendly environment, keeping in view the interests of Telangana and to strengthen themselves at the grassroots level.

The Jana Sena chief will be campaigning in the polls on behalf of the NDA, the party said in a statement.

Pawan Kalyan’s detailed schedule was to be announced later.

However, uncertainty prevails over his visit as there has been no further update from Jana Sena.

A total of 12,944 candidates are in fray for the municipal elections. According to the State Election Commission, 14 candidates have been elected unanimously. Twelve candidates from the ruling Congress and two from the main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have been elected without a contest.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 6 (IANS) Global couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas never fail to show their admiration for one another.

Through her latest social media post, PeeCee called husband Nick "the best decision I ever made".

The 'Barfi' actress called the American actor and singer the most honest and sincere person she has ever come across.

As Nick's latest album "Sunday Best" reached the audience today, Priyanka penned a heartfelt note on social media, lauding her talented husband.

PeeCee penned on her IG, "There aren’t enough words to express myself but I’ll try..You are what dreams are made of…Find yourself someone who not only loves and respects you but cherishes you like treasure and isn’t afraid to show it. I’m so grateful that the universe led me to you. You’re the best decision I ever made. I’m so in awe of your endless talent. (sic)"

"You’re the most honest and sincere person I’ve ever known.. and the most beautiful part of it is.. it’s just who you are. You don’t even try. You are the reason I smile everyday. Thank you for being mine. These pictures are from our early days but it still feels like yesterday", she went on to add.

Expressing excitement about Nick's latest release, Priyanka shared, "I’m so proud of this album. You bared your soul in every note and every lyric . It takes a really secure person to be able to reach down so deep and share it with the world. I love you endlessly. Do yourself a favor. Grab the one you love and listen from the beginning. This is how love should be."

For the unaware, back in 2016, Nick contacted PeeCee on Twitter; however, the two met in person only in 2017 at the Vanity Fair Oscars party.

After being in a relationship for some time, Priyanka and Nick finally tied the knot in 2018 in a grand ceremony with both Christian and Hindu traditions. Now, both are proud parents of a baby girl, Malti Marie.

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 6 (IANS) Padma Shri awardee Ektaa Kapoor is asking if she is the ‘Naagin’. On Friday, the producer took to her Instagram, and shared a clip from the ‘Nagin’.

In the clip, her father, Jeetendra can be seen transforming into a snake. She wrote in the caption, “My dad was the original NAAG (icchadari) does that make me a nagin?”.

Incidentally, Ektaa Kapoor is also the producer of the superhit television show ‘Naagin’. The show is currently in its 7th season.

Earlier, Ektaa celebrated 20 years of her show ‘Kasamh Se’ starring Prachi Desai, Roshni Chopra, Arunima Sharma, and Ram Kapoor. The show first aired on Zee TV on January 16, 2006.

Commemorating the occasion, Ektaa took to her official Instagram handle and posted a video compilation of some iconic scenes from ‘Kasamh Se’. Produced by Ekta Kapoor under her home banner, Balaji Telefilms, the show revolves around the lives of three sisters: Bani (Prachi Desai), Piya (Roshni Chopra/ Manasi Varma), and Rano (Arunima Sharma/Pallavi Purohit). Revisiting some fond old memories, Ektaa penned the caption, "20 years million memories ! Kasam Se (sic)".

Featuring Jaya Bhattacharya, Gurdeep Kohli, Manasi Varma, Pallavi Purohit, Ashwini Kalsekar, and Vivian Dsena as the supporting cast, ‘Kasamh Se’ was on air till 12 March 2009. In the meantime, Ektaa kicked off the year 2026 by going on a trip to Darjeeling with popular television actress Urvashi Dholakia. Urvashi took to her Instagram account and posted a video capturing a glimpse of her picturesque mountain getaway.

The clip showed Urvashi and Ektaa posing with their close friends, creating memories for a lifetime against a serene, mountainous backdrop. “Pure Hearts..Open skies..Quiet joy love love love @ektarkapoor @4umehra”, Urvashi captioned the post. In another post, Urvashi shared some more photos and videos on social media from her time off with the producer.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 6 (IANS) Actor Jiiva on Friday released a gripping teaser of director Narendran Murthy's crime thriller '4 Windows', featuring actors Vetri and Sathyaraj in the lead, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.

Taking to his X timeline to release the teaser, Jiiva wrote, "Happy to release the teaser of #4Windows. Looks very intriguing and intense. My best wishes to the entire team!"

The teaser has a line that reads, 'Night of madness' which gives the impression that the story predominantly revolves around developments that happen in one night. Although the teaser doesn't give away much, one gets to understand that the film revolves around a crime that has happened and how people who learn of it react to it on the given night.

Produced by Illayaraja Sekar, the film has been directed by Narendran Murthy. Apart from Vetri and Sathyaraj in the lead roles, the film also stars actors Chinni Jayanth, MS Bhaskar, Kovai Sarala and Prathana in pivotal roles. The film will also feature actors Sachu, Sethu, Cool Suresh Maran, Sharan, Naveen, Vibin, Guru Lakshman, Arul Das, Lizzi Antony, Vaiyapoori, TSR Sethupathy, Seshu, Parking Suresh, T M Karthick, Sri Niktha and Ayra Krishnan among others.

On the technical front, music for the film has been scored by Jerard Felix. Cinematography for the film is by N S Uthaya Kumar and editing is by R Ramar. The film has two art directors in Gopi Karunanithi and Maaran. Lyrics for the songs in the film have been penned by Ku Karthik.

Costumes for the film have been designed by Veera Babu and the CG portions of the film have been handled by Jeya Prasath. Sources close to the unit of the film say that the makers are planning to have the film released in the summer of 2026.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 6 (IANS) The makers of director Samjad's eagerly awaited vampire thriller thriller, 'Half - The Chronicles of Two Half-Blooded Vampires', on Friday released another brand new poster from the film, much to the delight of fans and

The new poster offers a striking glimpse into the dark and intense world of the film.

'Half' is being produced by Anne Sajeev and Sajeev PK under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations, known for 'Pranayam', 'Pariwar', and 'Golam'. The film has been directed by Samjad, who made a strong and impressive debut with 'Golam'.

Rooted in vampire mythology, 'Half' explores themes of identity, duality, survival, and vengeance, with the tagline “The Chronicles of Two Half-Blooded Vampires” capturing the essence of the story.

The newly released poster is marked by bold colours and striking imagery, visually reflecting the film’s themes of transformation and inner conflict, while firmly establishing its dark, atmospheric tone.

The poster prominently features Amala Paul, Ranjith Sajeev, and Aiswarya Raj, while also highlighting the presence of renowned South Indian actor Abbas, marking his much-anticipated return to cinema after a long hiatus.

Widely known for his work across South Indian cinema, Abbas is also familiar to Malayalam audiences through films such as 'Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu', 'Kadha', and 'Greetings'. His return adds a strong emotional and dramatic layer to the ensemble, sparking curiosity around his role in the narrative.

Another key highlight of the project is its international collaboration, with action choreography by Very Tri Yulisman, whose work spans major Hollywood productions, lending the film a distinctive global edge.

The film also features award-winning Indian technicians, including National Award-winning editor Mahesh Bhuvanend, known for 'Aattam', 'Vela', and 'Madhuram', and production designer Mohandas, whose work in '2018', 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum', and 'Lucifer' has been widely recognised.

Cinematography is handled by Pappinu, known for films such as 'Matinee' and 'Konthayum Poonoolum'. Music is being composed by Midhun Mukundan, whose work in 'Rorschach' and 'Abraham Ozler' received wide acclaim. The screenplay for the film has been co-written by director Samjad and Praveen Viswanath.

Ranjith Sajeev reunites with Samjad as one of the half-blooded protagonists, while Aiswarya Raj essays the other central role. Amala Paul appears in a pivotal role, adding further depth and intrigue to the story. Abbas’s return further strengthens the cast, bringing added weight and anticipation to the film’s ensemble.

Conceived as a large-scale pan-Indian cinematic spectacle, Half is designed for a wide theatrical experience across multiple languages and regions. Shot extensively across varied locations, the film blends scale and visual grandeur to create an immersive world rooted in vampire mythology.

The film is set to be released in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada.

The team also has National Award-winning sound designer Vishnu Govind, known for Malik, Unda, and Ishq, handling the film's audiography.

--IANS

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