Mid Day

Iran held annual military drills with Russia as the US deployed additional warships and fighter jets to West Asia amid stalled nuclear talks. President Donald Trump warned that failure to reach a meaningful deal could lead to consequences, raising fears of potential military confrontation in the region

Veteran journalist and author K Govindan Kutty passed away at the age of 81 after a brief illness. He was widely known for breaking the news of the 1977 air crash involving then Prime Minister Morarji Desai at Jorhat in Assam. Kutty had a distinguished career as a reporter and editor in Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi

India is set to formally join Pax Silica, a US-led initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, on the sidelines of the Global AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also unveiled the MANAV vision for ethical and inclusive AI governance

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, was arrested by UK police on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations related to his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest reportedly took place at Sandringham Estate, where he had been residing after leaving Royal Lodge on the Windsor Castle estate

Australian researchers have developed the worlds first underwater 3D concrete printing system using a single-mix formulation that sets underwater without rapid-setting chemicals. The innovation resists washout and maintains structural integrity, potentially transforming marine and coastal construction

The Supreme Court has criticised the growing freebies culture, observing that blanket subsidy schemes could hamper economic development. Hearing a plea related to free electricity in Tamil Nadu, the bench said states must balance welfare measures with fiscal responsibility

The US could launch military strikes on Iran within days, according to reports, as the White House warned Tehran to make a deal. Washington has deployed significant air and naval forces to West Asia, marking its largest regional build-up since the 2003 Iraq invasion

A six-year-old girl died after an e-rickshaw collided with a car and overturned in Janakpuri, Delhi. Police have seized the car and apprehended the accused driver. In a separate incident in Dwarka, 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra was killed in a crash allegedly caused by a juvenile driving without a licence, who was later granted interim bail

A 70-year-old woman was found strangled at her residence in Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru while her wheelchair-bound husband was inside the house. The crime came to light when a doctor arrived for physiotherapy. Police have arrested the accused neighbour, who allegedly murdered the woman and fled with her gold jewellery

Donald Trump hosted a Black History Month reception at the White House, where he highlighted several prominent Black Americans among his supporters. Trump praised boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Nicki Minaj, complimenting Minajs beautiful skin during his remarks. The event comes amid ongoing political controversy involving former president Obama

The road is for getting you to a destination. It is not for inane stunts usually done for thrills.

Influencer Malvika Sitlani posted aesthetic, Insta feed-friendly pictures of her mothers grave with the family mourning beside it. We ask: Did she really have to?

Congress claims nine of its AI videos were deleted by BJP-led governments, calling it misuse of IT Rules and a suppression of political satire. Social media head Supriya Shrinate said the videos were clearly labeled, highlighted Indias AI issues, and accused PM Modi of prioritizing rhetoric over national interest

In January 2026, Pune registered 14,537 properties and collected Rs 609 crore in stamp duty during the month. While registrations declined 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) compared to January 2025, stamp duty collections saw a relatively smaller dip of 5 per cent YoY

The buildup has persisted despite indirect discussions between Washington and Tehran in Geneva on Tuesday. Irans Foreign Minister stated there was agreement on a set of guiding principles, while US officials noted progress but highlighted that significant gaps remain

A 65-year-old retired ISRO employee was taken into custody after allegedly strangling his wife to death with a towel at their home in Avalahalli. The incident was reported around 11 am. Police said the accused, reportedly undergoing treatment for depression

Rumours of child kidnapping have led to multiple mob assaults across Jharkhand, including a fatal attack. Police have urged people not to act on unverified rumours and to report suspicions to authorities

The latest US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine in Switzerland ended without a breakthrough, with both sides calling the discussions difficult. While some progress was reported on military issues, sharp political differences remain, especially over Russian-occupied territories in eastern Ukraine

Preparations for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 have begun, with a Rs 25,000 crore master plan covering roads, airport expansion, sanitation, AI-based crowd management and tent cities. The 21-month festival is expected to attract over 12 crore devotees and generate Rs 30,000 crore in economic activity

Over 16.15 lakh students have registered for the Maharashtra SSC exam 2026, scheduled from February 20 to March 18. The MSBSHSE will conduct exams at 5,119 centres across nine divisions, with CCTV monitoring, 271 flying squads, helplines, counsellors, and strict anti-cheating measures in place

The scheme, expected to be introduced within the next two months, will carry an annual fee ranging between KD 750 (Rs 8600) and KD 1000 (Rs 11,500), to be paid directly to the government

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday directed officials to work on a war footing to achieve a revised target of creating six crore Lakhpati Didis under the rural livelihoods mission

Gisele Pelicots memoir A Hymn to Life, Shame has to Change Sides has been released in 22 languages worldwide. In the book, Pelicot recounts her traumatic experience and delivers a powerful message of hope, resilience and solidarity for survivors of sexual abuse

Mukesh Ambani announced that Reliance and Jio will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over seven years to build sovereign AI infrastructure in India. Speaking at the India AI Summit 2026, he unveiled Jio AI Bharat and outlined plans for gigawatt-scale data centers and green-powered AI systems

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will not deliver the keynote at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the Gates Foundation said. Ankur Vora will represent the foundation in New Delhi. The clarification comes amid speculation over Gates reported mention in the Epstein files

The data shows that the average apartment size in these key urban centres increased from 1,420 square feet (ft) in 2023 to approximately 1,676 sq ft in 2025. The momentum continued over the past year, with an 8 per cent rise from around 1,540 sq ft in 2024

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across parts of southern and coastal Tamil Nadu over the next few days due to a low-pressure area over the equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal. According to the IMD, the system is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify further

A 65-year-old umpire, Manik Gupta, died after a swarm of bees attacked players and officials during a cricket match at Sapru Maidan in Unnao. Several players were injured in the sudden attack. Gupta was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival

our passengers, including three brothers, died after their car plunged into a six-metre-wide canal near the Nahla Deviya bridge while travelling from Mahmoodpur to Deeg. Police suspect the driver failed to negotiate a sharp turn at high speed. Bodies have been sent for post-mortem

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu criticised BJP MLAs for not supporting a resolution seeking restoration of the Revenue Deficit Grant after the 16th Finance Commission recommended its discontinuation. The resolution was passed amid disruptions in the Assembly

Congress leader Pawan Khera attacked the Centre over the Galgotias University robodog controversy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. The university vacated its stall and issued an apology after confusion over the robots origins sparked political criticism and calls for accountability

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit Israel on February 28 to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discuss progress in the Geneva nuclear talks with Iran. The White House says limited progress has been made, but major differences remain as diplomacy continues

The UN Security Council is holding a high-level meeting on the Gaza ceasefire and Israels West Bank expansion plans ahead of President Donald Trumps first Board of Peace gathering in Washington. Global leaders are debating reconstruction

Shiv Jayanti 2026: A stampede-like situation broke out at Shivneri Fort in Pune during Shiv Jayanti celebrations, injuring several devotees. The chaos occurred near narrow entry points as lakhs gathered to pay tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

A fireworks shop explosion in Xiangyang, Hubei province, killed 12 people during Lunar New Year celebrations. Investigators are probing the cause of the blast. Earlier this week, a similar explosion in Jiangsu province claimed eight lives and injured two

The father of the 17-year-old accused in the Dwarka SUV crash has apologised to the family of 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra, who was killed on February 3. The teen was allegedly driving the vehicle during a social media video shoot. The father said he will abide by the judiciarys decision

Award-winning pilot Ron Timmermans and his wife Barbara died in a single-engine Beechcraft A36 crash in East Texas after he radioed an engine emergency. The aircraft struck a power line and crashed near homes. Their pet dog survived and was taken in by a neighbour

Metas CEO was expected to answer questions on Wednesday from attorneys representing a now 20-year-old woman who claims her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts

Mahroof Ahmed Khan and Masroor Ahmed Khan, twin brothers from Bhubaneswar, scored identical 285 out of 300 in JEE Main (Session-I) 2026. The duo also secured the same 99.98 percentile in the BE/BTech paper, reflecting years of shared preparation and dedication

The latter mostly target the elderly, who should be made aware of their modus operandi

All 14 ex-captains played strokes that drew emphatic applause. But the open letter to the Pakistan government about the need to treat jailed Imran Khan well is deserving of kudos from a world audience

Galgotias University faced criticism at the AI Impact Summit for showcasing a Chinese-made robotic dog as its own. The university clarified it was used for student AI learning, not developed in-house, and vacated its stall following government instructions, emphasising academic integrity and hands-on innovation

Under the supervision of Virars Assistant Security Commissioner, divisional staff ensured smooth and safe commuter movement between 6 AM and 11 AM

Nine BJP corporators in Bhiwandi-Nizampur broke away to form the BSF and backed the Congress-led alliance, giving it the numbers to likely elect the mayor and deputy mayor. The move highlights political shifts after last months fractured municipal election

The SC denied anticipatory bail to Bhaskar Yadav in a Rs 640 crore cyber fraud and money laundering case, involving siphoning funds from middle-class investors through 5,000 plus bank accounts and laundering via a UAE-based platform

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery at Mumbai Climate Week highlighted the link between Indias economic growth, womens workforce participation, and renewable energy. He emphasised clean technology, competitive infrastructure, and reliable power as key to development and advanced manufacturing

On January 15, the top court observed that the West Bengal chief ministers alleged obstruction of the EDs probe was very serious and agreed to examine whether a states law enforcement agencies can interfere with a central agencys investigation into a serious offence

The discussions focused on strengthening Indias leadership in artificial intelligence and deepening international partnerships. The summit is being held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20. PM Modi and the Google CEO discussed Indias growing AI ecosystem

An elated Atharva credited his parents, teachers, and friends for his achievement, while emphasising the importance of honesty and regularity in exam preparation. His father, Avinash Chauhan, expressed confidence in his sons abilities, citing his consistent academic performance over the years

The India AI Expo Summit 2026 will remain closed to the public on February 19 due to Prime Minister Narendra Modis inauguration and security arrangements. The event has been extended to February 21 to accommodate strong public interest. Around 20 heads of state are expected to attend