Mani Shankar Mukherjee, celebrated Bengali writer known by his pen name Sankar, passed away on Friday at a private hospital in Calcutta at the age of 92. Born in Howrah on December 7, 1933, Sankar began his career as a clerk to British barrister Noel Frederick Barwell at the Calcutta High Court, an experience that inspired his debut novel Koto Ajanare. His literary works inspired several acclaimed films, including Satyajit Ray's Seemabaddha and Jana Aranya, and the 1968 blockbuster Chowringhee. He also authored several books on Ramakrishna Paramhamsa and Swami Vivekananda. Sankar was conferred the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2021. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called his passing an irreplaceable loss to Bengali literature. (PC: The Telegraph)

In zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers worldwide, caretakers are using a surprisingly simple tool, a soft plush toy to help orphaned baby animals cope. Punch, a Japanese macaque born at Ichikawa City Zoo in July 2025, was abandoned by his mother and given a small orange plush orangutan, which he carries while sleeping, eating, and interacting with other monkeys. Henry, a fairy penguin at Weymouth's SeaLife Centre, was similarly given a stuffed penguin companion during hand-rearing. These cases aren't isolated but orphaned orangutans, wombats, and kangaroo joeys across rehabilitation centers regularly receive plush toys. While not replacing mothers, these soft companions significantly ease stress and encourage natural behaviors during animals' most vulnerable early days. (PC: X)

French President Emmanuel Macron concluded his high-profile three-day India visit with a cinematic farewell, sharing a 43-second video montage on X set to "Na De Dil Pardesi Nu" from the Hindi film Dhurandhar. The clip captured highlights from his packed itinerary including his ceremonial welcome, bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, temple visits, cultural interactions, Indian cuisine experiences, a meeting with actor Manoj Bajpayee, a podcast recording with Raj Shamani, and a casual street jog in Mumbai. Macron's visit was marked by high-level engagements including attendance at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 and detailed discussions with Modi in New Delhi. "Thank you, India," Macron wrote, signing off warmly.

India has joined over 100 countries and international organisations in condemning Israel's expansion of unlawful settlements in the West Bank, reaffirming its long-standing support for a two-state solution and Palestinian rights. India initially wasn't included when Palestine's UN envoy issued the statement on Tuesday but signed on Wednesday alongside roughly 20 other nations. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified India's position aligns with the India-Arab League ministerial joint statement of January 31, which called for a sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders. The development comes days before PM Modi's planned visit to Israel on February 24–25. India also attended Trump's Board of Peace meeting in Washington as an observer on February 19. (PC: Reuters)

US Ambassador Sergio Gor confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India "very soon," with the trip encompassing Quad initiatives alongside Japan and Australia. The announcement follows External Affairs Minister Jaishankar's pushback at the Munich Security Conference against perceptions of Quad losing momentum. Ambassador Gor also revealed President Trump "would love to visit India soon," noting Prime Minister Modi has already extended an invitation. On trade, Gor expressed optimism that a long-anticipated bilateral trade agreement is nearing finalisation, with tariff reductions and broader market access expected. India has also joined the US-led Pax Silica initiative on semiconductors and AI. Separately, Gor reiterated US concerns over India's continued purchases of Russian crude oil.

India's first AI-powered air taxi, an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (e-VTOL) aircraft, was showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. Developed by The E Plane Company in collaboration with IIT Madras, the aircraft requires no runway, runs entirely on battery, and can cover 36 km in just eight minutes at an estimated fare of Rs 1,700. It supports multi-stop capability on a single charge and operates below 120 decibels. The airframe and body are fully manufactured in India, with DGCA Design Organisation Approval already secured. Air ambulance services are planned for Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad by September–October 2027, ahead of commercial air taxi operations. (PC: NDTV)

At Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, a baby Japanese macaque named Punch has become an unlikely viral sensation after being abandoned by his mother at birth seven months ago. Alerted by a visitor, zookeepers swiftly intervened and provided Punch with a stuffed orangutan for comfort and companionship. The bond proved immediate and extraordinary as Punch has rarely been seen without the toy since, dragging it everywhere despite it being larger than himself. Videos of the heartwarming duo went viral, drawing floods of visitors to the monkey enclosure, which has now become the zoo's most popular attraction. Punch's story has captured hearts worldwide, turning a moment of abandonment into a tale of unexpected comfort and resilience.

India's Coast Guard seized three Iran-linked, US-sanctioned oil tankers named MT Asphalt Star, MT Al Jafzia, and MT Stellar Ruby off Mumbai on February 4–5. An FIR revealed MT Asphalt Star operated suspiciously inside Pakistan's EEZ for eight days, going completely "dark" for 11 hours on January 28 by disabling AIS, VHF radio, and onboard sensors. The vessels conducted illegal ship-to-ship fuel transfers in India's EEZ using forged documents, fake insurance certificates, and AIS spoofing. Approximately 30 metric tonnes of heavy fuel oil and 5,473 metric tonnes of bitumen were illegally transferred. The FIR names ship masters, engineers, and a shipping firm owner for criminal conspiracy, smuggling, and document forgery. (PC: India Today)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addressed the state Assembly, expressing strong confidence that his Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will return to power in the upcoming Assembly elections expected within two months. Stalin said he aims to launch development initiatives with renewed vigour and promised a “Dravidian Model 2.0” government that would surpass past achievements once re-elected. He thanked the people for their support and reaffirmed his commitment to governance with greater speed and dedication. The confidence follows political developments including Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) joining the DMK-led alliance ahead of the polls. (PC: NDTV)

India is working to broaden its crude oil supply sources, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, signalling negotiations on potential Venezuelan oil purchases as New Delhi seeks alternatives to Russian crude. Gor noted that India has already begun diversifying away from Russian oil, a shift Washington supports as part of broader efforts to reduce global dependence on Moscow’s energy amid geopolitical tensions. He also said an interim India-U.S. trade deal is expected to be signed soon, strengthening economic and energy ties. (PC: HT)