Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that the international conference ‘Mumbai Climate Week’ will be held in Mumbai from February 17 to 19, 2026. The event aims to highlight India’s leadership in climate change and environmental conservation at the global level. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also unveiled the official logo of Mumbai Climate Week.

The ambitious initiative has been conceptualised by Project Mumbai and will be organized in collaboration with the Maharashtra government’s Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The announcement was made during a meeting held at the committee hall in Mantralaya. Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Department Secretary Jayshree Bhoj, and Project Mumbai’s founder and CEO Shishir Joshi were also present.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said that Mumbai Climate Week will play an important role in balancing development and environmental action, especially in the context of challenges faced by developing nations due to climate change, food, and energy shortages. He added that the event will provide a platform for policymakers, experts, and citizens to come together and find sustainable solutions.

The need for such an event has grown stronger as climate change continues to impact urban areas like Mumbai through rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and flooding. Experts say cities must take the lead in climate resilience by adopting cleaner energy sources, protecting coastlines, and promoting sustainable living.

Project Mumbai CEO Shishir Joshi said, “This initiative is more than a conference. It is a step towards a collective movement that will connect citizens, policymakers, and innovators to secure a sustainable future for Mumbai and beyond.”

Kolkata, Oct 28: The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major gold smuggling attempt across the Indo-Bangladesh Border by arresting a smuggler and seizing gold worth more than Rs 2.45 crore from him in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.

A senior BSF official stated that troops of the 145 Bn BSF, South Bengal Frontier, posted at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Petrapole received intelligence inputs indicating an attempt to smuggle gold from Bangladesh into India and were maintaining a close watch on the movement.

“A BSF vehicle checking party intercepted an inbound empty truck entering India from Benapole, Bangladesh. A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of two green packets that contained eight gold pieces,” he said.

The official stated that the packets contained six gold bars and two biscuits, with a total weight of 1,974.540 grams of gold.

“The gold was valued at nearly Rs 2,45,79,073.90. During questioning, the driver of the vehicle confessed that he had agreed to transport the consignment across the border in his truck for money,” he said.

He further pointed out that the smuggler, along with his truck and the gold, has been handed over to the concerned authorities for further legal action.

The official said that the BSF continues its unwavering commitment to preventing cross-border crimes along the India-Bangladesh border.

“This operation once again underscores the alertness and operational excellence of BSF troops deployed at ICP Petrapole. We have strengthened our intelligence network, and there is complete coordination between all branches, hence the successes,” he added.

The official said that the BSF’s South Bengal Frontier has made a series of gold seizures over the last few weeks, adding that several smugglers have been apprehended and vital information gathered regarding the networks operating along the border.

“While applauding the effort of the troops, the official said that they remain committed to protecting the border and stopping all kinds of smuggling,” he said.

He urged residents of border areas once again to report any information regarding gold smuggling or other unlawful activities to the Seema Sathi Helpline Number 14419.

They can also send text or voice messages to the WhatsApp number 9903472227. Those providing credible information would be suitably rewarded and their identity would be kept confidential, he said.

New Delhi, Oct 28: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to a man convicted of killing his father, noting that he has already served nearly five years of his 10-year sentence awarded by the Chhattisgarh High Court.

A Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the order while hearing the petitioner’s special leave petition (SLP) challenging his conviction.

“Having regard to the facts of the case and the period of sentence already undergone, we deem it appropriate to suspend the sentence awarded by the High Court during the pendency of this appeal,” the apex court observed.

The case arose from an incident in which the appellant – Vijay Thakur– allegedly assaulted his father with a wooden stick, leading to his death. The trial court had convicted him under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

However, the Chhattisgarh High Court, in its judgment passed in April last year, modified the conviction to one under Section 304 Part-I IPC, reducing the sentence to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Appearing for the petitioner, senior advocate Sonia Mathur argued that the accused had already served almost four years and eleven months of his sentence and sought suspension of the remaining period pending appeal.

“It is submitted that by now the appellant has already served almost 5 years (4 years 11 months) of the sentence. In such circumstances, it has been prayed that the sentence awarded to the appellant be suspended and the appellant be released on bail during the pendency of the appeal,” the order recorded.

Granting relief, the Justice Misra-led Bench directed that the appellant be released on bail “on such terms and conditions as the trial court may deem fit to impose in the facts and circumstances of the case.”

The apex court also noted that despite its earlier order, directing the lower courts to submit the case records, “as per the Office Report, records are still awaited.”