The United States is sending a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, from the Caribbean to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate, U.S. officials told media. The move will place two carrier strike groups in the region alongside the already‑deployed USS Abraham Lincoln, backed by destroyers and other naval assets. President Donald Trump said the deployment is a precaution in case negotiations with Tehran fail and stressed the need to reach a deal. Israeli leaders support efforts to pressure Iran on its nuclear and missile programs. The carrier is expected to take about a week to arrive. (PC: Reuters)

Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy has pulled out of the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) after jury president Wim Wenders and others said filmmakers should “stay out of politics” regarding the Gaza conflict. Roy, who was set to present her film in the festival’s Classics section, called their remarks “jaw-dropping” and “unconscionable.” She criticised the refusal to address humanitarian atrocities in Gaza and argued that artists have a responsibility to speak out against crimes against humanity. Her withdrawal highlights the growing debate over art, politics, and moral responsibility in global cinema. (PC: AFP)

A decomposed body of a 33‑year‑old woman, identified as Ashrafi alias Siya from Gondia, Maharashtra, was recovered from a septic tank in an empty plot in Bhopal’s Nishatpura area. Police say Siya and her married lover, Sameer, met on Instagram and she moved to Bhopal to live with him. After frequent disputes, Sameer allegedly strangled her to death and, with help from his family, stuffed her body into an iron box and dumped it in the tank to hide the crime. Police have arrested four family members involved, while the main accused remains absconding. (PC: NDTV)

A six-year-old boy, Garv Kasana, died during an MRI scan at a private diagnostic centre in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. His family alleges excessive sedation and medical negligence caused his death. The child’s condition worsened after receiving anaesthesia, and he was declared dead at a nearby hospital. Relatives protested outside the centre demanding action. Police have sealed the facility and ordered a medical investigation. A formal FIR will be filed after the probe. Authorities are examining the staff’s role and the sedation procedure followed during the scan. (PC: HT)

The Bombay High Court has issued an interim order stopping filmmaker Vidnyan Mane, a friend of cricketer Smriti Mandhana, from making defamatory statements about singer Palaash Muchhal and his mother online or in the media. Muchhal filed a ₹10 crore defamation case, saying Mane’s claims about financial disputes and his cancelled wedding with Mandhana harmed his reputation. The court noted these remarks could cause serious damage and barred similar comments until further hearings, giving Muchhal temporary legal protection. (PC: India Today)

Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in New York to charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy, and money laundering. The case is linked to a 2023 plot to kill Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. Prosecutors said Gupta tried to hire a contract killer and paid an advance, but the person was actually an undercover U.S. agent. Gupta was extradited from the Czech Republic and now awaits sentencing. He could face a long prison sentence under U.S. law. (PC: NDTV)

Korean singer Aoora released 'Shiva Shivam,' a devotional tribute to Lord Shiva ahead of Maha Shivratri 2026, which has gone viral on social media. Marking his third anniversary in India, Aoora described the song as "not a song but a prayer" hoping to reach everyone's hearts. He dedicated it to those who supported his Indian journey, recalling his travels from Delhi to Mumbai and various cities where he gained experiences and received immense love. The viral video's caption expressed gratitude to God and desire to learn more. Social media users flooded comments with red hearts and praise, with one calling it "lovely" as Shivratri approaches, demonstrating music's power to unite cultures.

Times Group MD Vineet Jain declared "India does not ask whether it can rise. India declares to the world that it is rising" at ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026, addressing PM Modi. Jain highlighted India's decade of transformation: five major trade agreements in one year (US, EU, UK, New Zealand, Oman), 50,000km new highways, world's third-largest metro network, and 100 billion annual digital transactions. India achieved 50% non-fossil fuel capacity five years early, hosts 1,700 Global Capability Centers, and ranks third globally in startups with 100+ unicorns. He emphasized Atmanirbhar Bharat evolved from economic policy to vital strategy countering weaponization of global trade, calling this "India's moment."

Senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a prominent figure from Bangladesh's minority Hindu community, won his Dhaka constituency in the country's 13th national parliamentary elections on Friday. Roy's victory represents significant minority representation within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's landslide win. His success comes at a crucial time following concerns about minority safety in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024. The election marks Bangladesh's first national vote since the mass uprising that ended Hasina's 15-year rule. Roy's win as a Hindu leader in a Muslim-majority nation underscores the BNP's attempt to project inclusive politics as it prepares to form the government after nearly two decades in opposition.

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir sparked controversy by calling India's World No. 1 T20 batter Abhishek Sharma a "slogger" and questioning his technical ability. During a Pakistani TV discussion, Amir claimed Abhishek has high failure chances, scoring "once in 8 innings" with typical scores of "10, 15, 0, and 20." He suggested bowling on the body to exploit weaknesses and stated he'll consider Abhishek a proper batter only when he tackles swinging deliveries well. Fans reacted angrily on social media to Amir's remarks. Abhishek, currently recovering from a stomach issue that caused him to miss the Namibia game and lose 2kg weight, hasn't been ruled out of the upcoming Pakistan match.