New Delhi: A chartered flight disappeared from radar soon after taking off from Ranchi airport on Monday, ANI reported, citing DGCA sources. Meanwhile, airport sources said the plane, a medical flight, took off as planned and established contact with the next control station before being diverted by air traffic control. But then contact was lost and the plane failed to establish contact with Ranchi Airport.Sources added that the authorities have informed the state government and all standard operating procedures have been followed.(More details await)
A massive snowstorm hit the Northeastern United States on Monday, keeping millions of people indoors in New York. As much as 22 inches of snow fell in some areas, with drivers advised to stay off the roads and schools closed.
On February 23, in Manhattan, New York City, a person cleared a snowy street during a winter storm (AFP)
Heavy snow, high winds and low visibility are “expected to make travel hazardous or even impossible,” the National Weather Service said. The weather service warned of “potentially historic/damaging storms” with strong winds that could cause whiteout conditions.
School closures, blizzard warning issues, key points
Up to 22 inches of snow: As of 7 a.m. local time, a large amount of snow had fallen in New York, with the highest amount of snowfall in Islip, reaching 22.5 inches. Newark reported 18.3 inches. Central Park and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) both recorded 15.1 inches of snow, while JFK Airport reported 15.0 inches, the NWS reported.
To impose a travel ban: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a travel ban, allowing only essential vehicles on the road. “New York City has never experienced a storm of this magnitude in the past decade,” he said in explaining the state of emergency. “We are asking New Yorkers to avoid all nonessential travel,” Mamdani was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
A blizzard warning is issued: Blizzard warnings have been issued from Maryland to Maine due to the extreme conditions. New York, Philadelphia and other cities declared states of emergency, as did several states from Delaware to Massachusetts.
More than 5,000 flights canceled: More than 5,000 flights to and from the United States were reportedly canceled on Monday, according to the Associated Press. Most events in New York, New Jersey and Boston were canceled.
Citizens face power outages: The storm plunged more than 400,000 residents along the East Coast into darkness early Monday, including about 146,000 in Massachusetts and 123,000 in New Jersey.
Classic Bomb Cyclone: The National Weather Service described the situation as similar to a “classic bomb cyclone along the Northeast coast.” A bomb cyclone is a storm with a pressure drop of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
Public school cancellations: New York City and Boston canceled public school classes on Monday due to travel bans and emergencies. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called it “the first good old-fashioned snow day since 2019.”
Some landmarks and cultural institutions were closed on Monday, and Broadway shows were canceled.
Trust and credibility will take center stage at DNPA’s 2026 Conclave, where industry leaders will discuss how confidence in news brands will determine the future of journalism over the next decade.As digital platforms saturated with content and misinformation become increasingly sophisticated, discussions at the conclave will revolve around a central premise: trust is no longer a soft value but the operational infrastructure of news organizations.Discussions on this closely related issue will be discussed in detail during the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on February 26. This year’s theme is “The New World News Order: Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future.”Participants are expected to examine what many are calling “post-viral fatigue,” a stage in which, far from becoming more gullible, audiences have become increasingly skeptical and critical of sources. Industry executives argue that scale without credibility is unsustainable, especially amid increasing scrutiny across platforms.Another key theme is the credibility dilemma posed by artificial intelligence. As AI tools make content creation faster and cheaper, verification and editorial rigor are becoming key differentiators. In this context, trust is viewed not just as a brand attribute but as a systemic capability embedded in newsroom processes.The conference will also focus on advertiser coordination, with brands now assessing the quality and safety of the publishing environment rather than chasing raw impressions. Executives are expected to discuss how premium partnership, subscription and reader support models increasingly depend on perceived trustworthiness.Industry leaders are likely to discuss how trust directly impacts a digital platform’s discoverability, audience retention, and long-term revenue resiliency. As global regulatory scrutiny and public expectations increase, transparency and accountability mechanisms are also expected to be at the forefront of discussions. The broader takeaway from this episode: Over the next decade, trust will not only amplify journalism but may determine its survival.DNPA is India’s premier industry body representing the country’s leading digital media organizations. It works to enhance credible journalism, uphold ethical standards and achieve sustainable growth in the digital news ecosystem.DNPA Conclave 2026 is a premier platform for policymakers, media leaders and industry experts to come together to discuss the evolving world of journalism, governance and digital innovation. Through curated panel discussions and expert-led sessions, the conference will highlight the emerging trends, common challenges and future roadmap of the Indian digital media landscape.
California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed a crowd of voters at an event in Atlanta, Georgia, to promote his memoir, “Young People in a Hurry,” in which he discussed his own educational challenges. He addressed black voters directly, saying he shares similar struggles with them.Speaking with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Newsom said he scored a 960 on the SAT, the standardized college admissions test. He also mentioned that he had trouble reading, adding, “You never see me read a speech because I can’t read a speech.” He said: “I’m not trying to impress you – I just want you to know that I’m just like you. I’m no better than you. I am a SAT 960 person. You’ve never seen me read a speech because I can’t read a speech. “He sees the comments as a way to connect with his audience, saying he faced challenges in school and wants voters to understand his personal experiences.
Social media reaction:
He just insulted 100 million black people in this country,
This white liberal just called all black people stupid
This guy is stupid to tell the audience. Great move.
Why do Democrats always call black people stupid or ghetto?
Newsom later responded to the outrage, referring to a video Trump shared in which Obama was depicted as a monkey: “You’re not okay with the president of the United States of America posting a video of President Obama as an ape or calling African countries assholes, but are you going to call me a racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?”The blue-state leader previously acknowledged that he has dyslexia, a learning disability that affects reading and writing. At the event, he said he hoped his story would show voters that he understands how to overcome barriers to education and personal development.The governor’s remarks about his own difficulties went viral. Newsom said he was speaking to Black voters to express empathy, that he was not “better” than anyone else and that he wanted to share his own struggles with connecting to their experiences.Newsom is viewed by many progressives as a Democratic politician and a potential contender in the 2028 presidential election.
new jersey Declared Statewide state of emergency A strong northeasterly wind approached the region at noon on Sunday, causing heavy snow, strong winds in 21 counties and raising concerns about coastal flooding.
New Jersey declares state of emergency: Due to the approaching snowstorm, New Jersey has announced a mandatory travel ban starting at 9 p.m. Sunday night, banning non-exempt vehicles from traveling on all state highways. (AFP Getty Images)
governor Mikey Sherrill An executive order was issued on Saturday to declare a state of emergency in the state, effective at 12 noon on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in response to what officials described as “blizzard conditions with wind gusts up to 55 mph, widespread snowfall, and potential coastal flooding.”
“Beginning tomorrow and continuing through Monday, we expect the winter storm to bring severe blizzard conditions to our state,” Sherrill said in a statement. “We urge all New Jerseyans to remain cautious during the storm, stay off the roadways, and follow all safety protocols.”
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherill issues advisory
During a press conference on Sunday, Sherrill reiterated her advice to residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay informed about the latest situation through Ready.NJ.gov.
State officials and regional forecasts indicate snowfall totals could exceed 10 inches across the state, with coastal amounts ranging from 18 to 24 inches. AccuWeather is forecasting blizzard conditions along the Jersey Shore, which could include wind gusts approaching 50 mph, localized flooding and beach erosion.
New Jersey Blizzard Warning
blizzard warning The order was issued for much of the state as conditions worsened Sunday afternoon and into the evening.
In Atlantic City, WPVI reported wind-blown snow impairing visibility and accumulating quickly on streets and boardwalks.
“I’ve never done this before,” Jonathan Mitchell of Lawnside, New Jersey, told 6ABC. “This is my first time going out to work in a snowstorm.”
“Well, I heard there was a blizzard and I didn’t want to miss it!” said Bud Corey of Springfield, Delaware County.
As the storm intensified, new jersey The State Police Office of Emergency Management announced a mandatory travel ban effective Sunday at 9 p.m.
During this time, all vehicles that do not qualify for the exemption are prohibited from operating on state, county, municipal and interstate highways. The New Jersey Turnpike, however, is not included in the ban.
Exemptions are granted to emergency responders, public works teams, health care professionals, utility workers, members of the news media, essential supply chain operations personnel and individuals in need of emergency medical care.
New Delhi: Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma Several senior Congress leaders have set a “timetable” to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, a day after former Assam Congress president Bhupan Bora defected to the ruling party, it was claimed on Monday.Sarma, himself a former Congress MP, added that the opposition parties in Assam would ultimately “leave no Hindus behind”.During a program in Guwahati, he was asked whether more Congress MPs would join the BJP ahead of the assembly elections expected in April.“Now the BJP has no vacancies. If we bring in MLAs now, how will we give them tickets?” Sarma replied.“There is a schedule according to which they (Congress leaders) will participate. Some will join in 2027, some before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls and others before the 2031 Assembly polls. However, one thing is for sure, no Hindu leader will remain in the party,” he said of the Congress party.The Assam Chief Minister further said that the saffron party has almost finalized the list of candidates and the rest of the list will be discussed with allies. He noted that the final list will be announced after consultation with the central leadership of the BJP in Delhi.Bora served as the Assam unit chief of the Congress party from July 2021 to May 2025, and resigned on February 16. He sought time to “rethink” his decision after speaking to Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the party’s former national president. The Congress leadership also rushed to Bora’s residence and tried to persuade him to withdraw his resignation.However, Sarma met Bora the next day and announced that the former state Congress chief would join the BJP, causing a major setback ahead of the assembly elections.Thereafter, Sarma insisted that “several senior Hindu leaders” of the Assam Congress party would switch to the BJP.(with PTI input)
Immigration attorney Emily Neumann said that due to the new $100,000 fee and the current state of the job market, H-1B registrations may be lower this year when the H-1B cap first registration period begins on March 4. The registration window will be open from noon ET on March 4 to noon ET on March 19. During this time, petitioners must register each beneficiary they wish to hire and pay a registration fee of $215. The selection results will be announced before March 31. If the candidate is located outside the United States, a fee of $100,000 will be charged at the time of candidate selection.Neumann said some companies know they will have to pay $100,000, so they are continuing to register their H-1B candidates. They are prepared to wait and see if these candidates are selected. Some companies are also hoping that courts will block H-1B visa fees, as two cases are currently underway over the fees. If H-1B visa fees remain, these companies may not submit final applications even after selecting candidates. “That means we could potentially have a second lottery because if people are selected in the first round and then companies don’t submit applications to fill the cap, we could see a second lottery happening this year,” Neumann explained.
Issues with the New H-1B Registration Form
For the first time, the selection process will no longer be a random draw. It will prioritize visa allocation to high-skilled and high-wage workers. Neumann said she scanned the new registration form, which asked for the beneficiary’s name, date of birth, country, passport and whether they were submitting as a master’s or bachelor’s degree.While these are general questions that have been present on previous forms, new questions this year will ask applicants about salary levels. In this section, applicants must choose from 1, 2, 3 or 4. Another new question asked about expected areas of employment, but Neumann said no options were given, just a text box. “We don’t know what they want. Do they want a city, a state, a county, an address?.They said nothing,” the attorney explained, adding that surprisingly, the new form did not ask about salary, SOC code or position.
The Indian media industry is quietly changing course, prioritizing long-term relevance over chasing traffic. For years, publishers have prioritized reach and chased traffic spikes. But the volatility of platform-driven distribution has exposed a weak foundation — lots of volume, but little loyalty or ownership. Publishers are now rethinking what they truly stand for and how to stay in direct contact with their audiences. This shift is strategic, not ideological. News organizations are rediscovering the value of identity, consistency and control. Email newsletters, apps, community spaces and subscription models are gaining traction as publishers seek deeper and more meaningful engagement. Internal conversations increasingly measure success by depth of engagement rather than sheer volume. These trends will be discussed in detail at the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026 in New Delhi on February 26. This year’s theme is ‘New World News Order: Rewriting the Playbook for a Resilient Digital Future’, highlighting how Indian media is seeking a balance between impact, purpose and ownership. DNPA is the leading industry body representing digital media organizations across India. It works to enhance trustworthy journalism, uphold ethical standards and support the sustainable growth of the digital news ecosystem. DNPA Conclave 2026 provides a platform for policymakers, media leaders and experts to discuss emerging trends, common challenges and future roadmap for digital media in India. Curated panel discussions and expert sessions will provide insights into building a resilient, purpose-driven media landscape in an era of rapid digital change.
Thousands of customers in the Eastern Region Massachusetts The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported a power outage at 8 a.m. Monday.
Massachusetts power outage map: Workers clear snow around South Station during a snowstorm on February 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo: Joseph Prezioso/AFP) (AFP)
Plymouth was the most affected area, with more than 17,000 customers without power just after 8:30 a.m., according to the MEMA outage database. This is a significant increase from the previous hour.
Dennis ranks second on the outage list behind Plymouth, with 10,640 customers without power, according to MEMA. While Cape Town is not an ideal location right now, Byrne, Brewster, orleansThe database showed more than 3,000 customers were without power in both Eastham and Wareham.
On the South Shore, Quincy was at the forefront, with 3,659 residents experiencing power outages.
On the North Shore, Gloucester, which was recently ranked 2,478th, lacks lights and heat.
The entire town of Hamilton is said to be without power, with reports of more than 3,000 people power failure. The Essex town just inland from Manchester-on-Sea is experiencing the effects of a snowstorm just like the rest of us, which forecasters say is set to last throughout the day.
So far, Boston has been lucky, as the city was notified of the storm later than expected.
Massachusetts power outage map: Which areas are affected?
The following list provided by MASS LIVE details communities where more than 20% of electric customers have experienced outages:
bristol county
Norton: 29%
cape cod
Barnstable: 27% without power
The Bourne Supremacy: 43%
Brewster: 26%
Chatham: 22%
Eastham: 63%
Dennis: 36%
Orleans: 47%
Sandwiches: 27%
Wellfleet: 37% without power
Essex County
Hamilton: 100%
Essex: 72%
Wynnum: 60%
Swamp Scott: 50%
Rockport: 61%
norfolk county
Norfolk: 27%
plymouth county
Wareham: 27%
A blizzard warning is in effect throughout eastern, central and southern Massachusetts until 7 a.m. Tuesday. During this time, residents in the area could expect 18 to 25 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 75 mph.
New Delhi: Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium witnessed a thrilling masterclass Himron Heitmeyer Easily tear apart the opponent’s offense. The left-hander hit a series of towering sixes and completed a half-century in just 19 balls, leaving the crowd stunned by his audacity and timing.With that knock, Hetmyer etched his name in the history of West Indies cricket.
Indian fans in Ahmedabad react to loss to South Africa in T20 World Cup
His 19-ball fifty is now the fastest by a West Indies player in T20 World Cup history, surpassing the legend’s previous record Chris Gayle. Gayle scored 23 half-centuries against Australia at the Oval during the 2009 T20 World Cup. In that match, Gayle smashed 88 off 50 balls to lead West Indies to seven wins and was awarded the Man of the Match award for his brutal match-winning effort.Heitmyer’s latest drive not only broke Gayle’s long-standing record, but also surpassed his mark from earlier in the game. The left-hander had previously scored a 22-ball fifty against Scotland at Eden Gardens, but his Wankhede blitz raised the bar even higher. Nineteen balls – that’s all he needed to score a landmark half-century, underscoring the fearless brand of cricket the Caribbean side is known for.While Hetmyer currently holds the West Indies record, the fastest fifty in T20 World Cup history still belongs to India’s Yuvraj Singh. The swashbuckling left-hander smashed a 12-ball half-century against England in the inaugural edition in 2007, highlighted by six consecutive knocks off Stuart Broad in a single match.
