top news of the day| February 11, 2026

Interim trade agreement with U.S. one-sided; government sold ‘Bharat Mata’: Rahul in Lok Sabha

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) alleged that the government has “sold Bharat Mata” through the India-U.S. interim trade deal and that it was a “wholesale surrender” with India’s energy security handed over to America and farmers’ interests compromised. Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, he said that had an INDIA Bloc government negotiated the trade agreement with the U.S., it would have told U.S. President Donald Trump that he should treat India as an equal. “You have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, ‘Bharat Mata,’” he said while referring to the trade agreement. The LoP said energy security has gone under the India-U.S. trade deal, and the U.S. will decide “whom we buy oil from”.

Lok Sabha Speaker Birla directs Secretariat to correct removal notice before taking it up next month

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) has asked the Lok Sabha Secretariat to correct the shortcomings in the Opposition’s notice, seeking his removal from his Constitutional office, and proceed with the corrected notice. The revised notice will be listed after the commencement of the second phase of the Budget Session, which will be held from March 9 to April 2. “Shortcomings were found in the notice submitted by Opposition MPs on Tuesday to remove Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla,” a Lok Sabha Secretariat source said. “The notice referred four times to events of February 2025, on the basis of which it could have been rejected under the rules,” he added.

Based on BJP complaints, names of lakhs of ‘doubtful voters’ deleted in Assam: CM Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) claimed that the names of lakhs of “doubtful voters” were deleted during the Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in the State. He said many of the deletions were based on complaints filed by BJP workers. His comment comes a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) had published the final voters’ list for poll-bound Assam with over 2.43 lakh names deleted from the draft rolls. “This is only the beginning. Names of more such people will be deleted when the Special Intensive Revision is conducted,” Mr. Sarma said at a press conference in Guwahati.

With eyes on trade deals and reform in global governance, Lula heads to India with 260 firms

Brazil is getting ready for the Carnival this weekend, when the country literally comes to a halt, but hectic preparations are underway in Brasilia for President Lula da Silva’s upcoming visit to India with a business delegation of 260 companies. The largest-ever Brazilian delegation to India marks the culmination of the highest-level engagement between the two countries over the past few years — in a challenging geopolitical scenario. This could also be the Brazilian leader’s last major foreign engagement before Brazil gets into election mode for the presidential polls in October this year.

Gunman who entered southern Thailand school detained, hostages freed, police official says

A ​gunman who fired ⁠shots at a school in the Hat Yai district in southern ‌Thailand on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) has been detained, and ‌all the people ‌who ⁠were held hostage ⁠have been freed, a police official told Reuters. An 18-year-old man ​entered the ‌Patongprathankiriwat School in Songkhla Province’s Hat Yai earlier on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) with a gun, the ‌provincial administration said ​on social media. “The perpetrator has been ⁠captured,” Deputy Superintendent Wichian Soboon told Reuters.

South Africa pip Afghanistan after two Super Overs in T20 World Cup thriller

In a T20 World Cup game for the ages, South Africa somehow managed to get past a plucky Afghanistan after two wildly oscillating Super Overs on Wednesday (February 11, 2026). Ryan Rickelton (61 off 28) and Quinton de Kock (59 off 41) put together a brilliant century stand with quickfire fifties to power South Africa to 187 for six. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84 off 42) then singlehandedly kept Afghanistan in the run chase before some lusty hitting from the lower-order helped them tie the game in regulation time.

Canada school shooting: ‘India stands in solidarity,’ PM Modi says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) expressed his condolences after a shooting incident at a school in British Columbia left at least eight dead, including the suspect. Two others were found dead at a nearby home, Canadian authorities said. The Prime Minister, in a post on X, said India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada during the “moment of profound grief”. “Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief,” the post read.

8,710 agricultural cooperative societies set up so far, 27% of target achieved: Shah tells Parliament

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) said 8,710 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) have so far been established across the country in 2024-25 and 2025-26, achieving 27% of the set target. The government has set a target of forming 32,752 PACS during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years. “Against the target…, a total of 8,710 PACS have been formed so far, representing an achievement of about 27% at the national level during the said two-year period,” Mr. Shah said in his written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Nothing alarming in Wangchuk’s condition, can’t release him on health grounds: Centre tells Supreme Court

The Centre on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) told the Supreme Court that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been examined medically 24 times since his detention, and he is “fit, hale and hearty,” and nothing is alarming. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale that the grounds on which Mr. Wangchuk’s detention order was passed continue, and it will not be possible to release him on health grounds. “We have examined his health periodically for 24 times. He is fit, hale and hearty. He had some digestive issue, he is being treated. There is nothing to worry, nothing alarming. We can’t make exceptions like this.”

Rahul Gandhi’s speech ‘full of lies’, will seek to expunge them: Kiren Rijiju

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha was “full of lies” and the ruling alliance will seek to expunge from the House records the “lies” he has spoken. Soon after Mr. Gandhi’s speech during a debate on the Union Budget, Mr. Rijiju said that ruling alliance members would serve a notice before the chair seeking authentication of whatever the leader of the Opposition has said. “We will demand expunging of whatever lies Rahul Gandhi has spoken,” he told reporters in Delhi. Even though Mr. Gandhi has promised to authenticate what he has spoken, the Minister said, “I know he cannot authenticate them because he lied.

Vande Bharat AC chair car fares much lower than those in China, Japan, France: Vaishnaw

The fare of the Vande Bharat AC chair car for a 300-400 kilometre journey is around ₹2.19 per kilometre, which is much lower than the fares for similar services in countries such as China, Japan, and France, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written statement in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (February 11, 2026). According to Mr. Vaishnaw, the fares in these countries range from ₹7 to ₹20 per kilometre. “The Ministry of Railways, while deciding the fare structure of various types of passenger services, gives due consideration to aspects like the cost of service, value of service, type of services and facilities offered, affordability, competition from other competing modes and socio-economic considerations,” Mr. Vaishnaw said while responding to questions regarding fare structure of Vande Bharat trains.

BJP’s Ritu Tawde becomes Mumbai Mayor, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Ghadi is her deputy

Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Ritu Tawde took charge as the 78th Mayor of Mumbai on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) with Sanjay Ghadi of the Shiv Sena as her deputy in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in Maharashtra’s Mumbai. Ms. Tawde is the city’s eighth woman Mayor. While taking oath as Mumbai’s ‘first citizen’, Ms. Tawde, the first BJP Mayor in 44 years, said she will work as the city’s “first servant”. “As promised, my goal will be to provide transparent, development-oriented, people-welfare administration. Making our city clean, beautiful, safe and modern will be our priority,” she said.

Rajya Sabha member raises concern over social media impact on mental health of adolescents

A Rajya Sabha member of the Congress party on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) expressed concern over the rising mental health crisis among adolescents due to social media, saying the “youth are not able to identify the reality and the fantasy world”. In recent weeks, there have been instances of young students ending their lives, apparently due to ill-effects, including loneliness and isolation, triggered by excessive use of online platforms. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha during the Zero Hour, Congress MP Jebi Mather Hisham referred to an incident from Chotanikara, near Kochi, where a 16-year-old girl allegedly ended her life as she was under grief following the death of an online friend.

Actor Ranveer Singh receives threat

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh received a threat through WhatsApp from unidentified persons, police said on Tuesday (February 10, 2026). Security around his residence was increased after Singh received a threat through a voice note and approached police, an official said. The threat to the `Dhurandhar’ star came days after an incident of firing outside the residence of filmmaker Rohit Shetty in the city. Police suspect that members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang could be behind the threat to Ranveer with the purpose of extortion, the official said. The crime branch of Mumbai Police has launched a probe, he added.

Sidhu Moosewala’s parents stage protest over delay in FIR against graft

The parents of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala on Wednesday(February 11, 2026) staged a protest against Mansa Senior Superintendent of Police over the non-registration of an FIR on their complaint alleging financial irregularities by a music producer and two others. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab’s Mansa district on May 29, 2022. Charges were framed against jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and 26 other accused in connection with the murder case.

Published – February 11, 2026 06:37 pm IST