Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran dismissed actor‑turned‑politician Vijay and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after Vijay claimed TVK would win a majority in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and form the next government. Nagendran called Vijay “completely inexperienced” and said he should engage more with grassroots politics, predicting TVK would fail to win any seats. TVK previously cited an internal survey showing it close behind the ruling DMK in vote share, while Vijay insisted his party would not join alliances with either the INDIA bloc or the BJP‑led NDA. (PC: India Today)

A 22‑year‑old Indian student from Karnataka, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, enrolled in a postgraduate programme at the University of California, Berkeley, has been missing since February 9, last seen near Lake Anza in the Berkeley Hills. Local authorities and the Berkeley Police Department, which has classified him as “at‑risk,” are conducting extensive search operations, focusing around Tilden Regional Park after his backpack containing personal items was found nearby. The Consulate General of India in San Francisco says it is in contact with his family and U.S. officials to aid the search. Friends and community members are also helping spread information. (PC: LinkedIn)

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."