News Dabba for 19 February 2026: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from the review of Naxal-affected districts in India, Modi government’s online censorship method, to South Korea's ex-president jailed for life.

Naxal-affected districts in India reduce to 7 in latest review, Hindustan Times

A fresh review of the regions affected by Left Wing Extremism has brought down the number of affected districts in the country to seven from eight, Hindustan Times reports, a development that aligns with the Union government's declaration on ending Naxal menace by March 2026. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued the new categorisation to all Naxal-affected states with effect from February 9. A comprehensive review of the "National Policy and Action Plan to Address LWE" was undertaken recently by the Union government, analysing 38 districts across nine states including Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal, the report says. Read the full report here.

The Wire's special report on Modi government’s online censorship method revealed

The Wire has accessed the User Manual for Sahyog Portal (IT intermediaries) that lays down the union government’s takedown mechanism for content online. The report says that the never-made-public manual makes it clear that orders are unilateral, and a direct correspondence between government agencies and intermediaries like social media platforms and telecom providers. The manual excludes journalists or content creators from its definition of “stakeholders”. It does not detail any independent review process before an item is ordered to be taken down, the report says. Read the full report here.

BBC on South Korea's ex-president jailed for life over martial law attempt

South Korea's ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol has been jailed for life for masterminding an insurrection by trying to impose military rule, BBC reports. Yoon attempted to subvert the constitution by deploying military troops to seal off the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of politicians on 3 December 2024, a Seoul court ruled. His actions fundamentally damaged South Korea's democracy and deserves a harsh punishment, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon told the court. The report says prosecutors had sought the death penalty. Read the full report here.

NDTV on Supriya Sule's security request for nephew after Ajit Pawar's death in plane crash

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Thursday demanded that the Maharashtra government provide security to her party MLA Rohit Pawar, noting that he has been raising concerns and questions in the wake of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's death in an air crash. NDTV reports that in an X post, Sule said the January 28 plane crash in Pune's Baramati town, in which Ajit Pawar and four others were killed, has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, with people still in deep grief and numerous doubts and suspicions being expressed on social media. Rohit Pawar has been placing facts, issues and questions in a well-researched and thoughtful manner reflecting public sentiment, she said. Read the full report here.

Ex-UK Prince Andrew Mountbatten arrested amid Epstein scandal, Al Jazeera reports

Former United Kingdom royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Al Jazeera reports. Police did not name the individual they arrested but confirmed the arrest of “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk”. Andrew, the former British prince, was stripped of his title last year over his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the report says. Read the full report here.