Delhi Police has opened a multi-country investigation into the leak of former Army chief M. M. Naravane’s unpublished memoir Four Stars of Destiny. Police say the book appeared on foreign digital platforms before getting mandatory approval from the Defence Ministry. An FIR has been filed for criminal conspiracy. Investigators believe the leak was organised and not simple piracy. Online listings were found in the US, Canada, Germany and Australia. Police are checking ISBN records linked to publisher Penguin India. The controversy grew after Rahul Gandhi referred to the unpublished book. The publisher said no authorised copies were released. (PC: India Today)

Bangladesh is holding a national election after the 2024 protest movement removed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power. The student-led uprising ended her 15-year rule. Officials say around 1,400 protesters were killed in the crackdown. Hasina denies ordering it. Her party, the Awami League, is banned from contesting this vote. The main contest is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies. Voters are also taking part in a referendum on constitutional changes. An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been in charge since Hasina left the country. (PC: BBC)

India opener Abhishek Sharma is likely to miss the T20 World Cup match against Namibia after being hospitalised with a stomach infection. He missed India’s training session in New Delhi before the game. A Board of Control for Cricket in India source said he has been admitted for two days and medical tests are ongoing. “Match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now,” the source said. He was unwell even during the last match against USA and left the field early. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the team is waiting on his fitness before finalising combinations. (PC: HT)

The Centre told the Supreme Court it does not support the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk on health grounds. He has been in detention since September 2025 and is held in Jodhpur jail. The government said the grounds for his detention still continue and involve “serious allegations.” He was detained under the National Security Act. The NSA allows preventive detention for up to 12 months in certain cases. Under the Constitution, such detention is usually limited to three months unless a review board approves an extension. Wangchuk’s wife has filed a habeas corpus petition. The Supreme Court is hearing the case. (PC: NDTV)

Bangladesh is voting today in a crucial national election after about 18 months of political instability. The crisis period saw the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government and the formation of an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. The transition also pushed India–Bangladesh relations to a low point. Officials in New Delhi are monitoring the vote because of border security, trade links, and regional cooperation. Major players include the Yunus-led interim setup, parties linked to Hasina, and opposition groups seeking power. Election authorities said voting is being held under tight security. The result will decide the next government and future ties with India. (PC: India Today)

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri defended himself against Rahul Gandhi's Epstein Files allegations, stating he met the late sex offender only 3-4 times as part of International Peace Institute delegations. Puri clarified his boss Terje Rod-Larsen knew Epstein, and their interactions were purely professional, unrelated to criminal charges. He referenced three million US Department of Justice documents covering 2009-2017, showing minimal contact during his UN ambassadorship. Puri read email exchanges discussing India's internet economy growth, noting Epstein called him "two-faced" and he wasn't their "right person." Gandhi raised Puri's name during Lok Sabha Budget session discussions. Epstein was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in August 2019, dying in jail one month later. (PC: X)

A deadly shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia killed ten people, with the primary suspect found dead at the scene. Canadian media outlets, including Western Standard and Juno News, identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jesse Strang, confirmed by the suspect's uncle Russell G. Strang. Police haven't officially released the identity pending verification. Early reports suggested a possible second individual, though authorities haven't confirmed additional suspects. Media reports claim a YouTube account linked to Strang displayed a transgender flag and "she/her" pronouns, circulating widely on social media but remaining unconfirmed by law enforcement. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the incident "horrific," expressing condolences. Investigators analyze digital records, witness statements, and physical evidence. (PC: X/@Shorts91)

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif made stark admissions in Parliament, accusing the US of exploiting Pakistan for strategic interests then discarding it "like toilet paper." He termed Islamabad's involvement in two Afghan wars a "mistake," acknowledging current terrorism as blowback from past dictatorial decisions. Asif said realignment with Washington post-1999, especially after 9/11 attacks, proved devastating. Pakistan turned against the Taliban while America eventually withdrew, leaving Pakistan facing violence, radicalization, and economic strain. Challenging official narratives, he rejected claims religious obligation drove Afghan involvement, stating military dictators Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf joined wars "to appease a superpower," not for Islam. He called losses "irreversible" and acknowledged Pakistan's reshaped education system still embeds war-justifying ideology.

An Italian media report claiming India's final Air India Flight 171 crash investigation may point to intentional pilot action sparked intense debate, though no official conclusion exists. Corriere della Sera, citing Western aviation sources, reported investigators believe one pilot moved both engine fuel switches to "cutoff" shortly after June 12, 2025 Ahmedabad takeoff, an "almost certainly intentional" act. The Boeing 787 crashed 32 seconds post-takeoff. Simulator tests allegedly couldn't reproduce mechanical dual-engine shutdown. Cockpit recordings captured pilots asking "Why did you turn off the engines?" Indian authorities including AAIB, DGCA, Civil Aviation Ministry haven't responded. The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association previously condemned speculation as "gross violation." Government confirmed independent AAIB investigation follows ICAO standards, with flight recorders under constant surveillance.

The Supreme Court reduced compensation for a "faulty haircut" at ITC Maurya Hotel salon from Rs 2 crore to Rs 25 lakh. Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan ruled February 6 that while "deficiency in service" was established, consumer dispute compensation requires "material evidence," not complainant's "whims and fancies." Aashna Roy, a management professional, claimed the 2018 incident caused mental trauma and lost modeling opportunities after her hair was cut shorter than requested. The court criticized the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for relying on photocopies without proper verification, stating crore-rupee claims require trustworthy evidence. Even after remand, Roy failed adequately proving claimed losses, justifying the reduced award. (PC: Brut India)