The Pakistan Cricket Board may invoke the Force Majeure clause after pulling out of the T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo, according to sources. PCB is expected to tell the ICC that it acted on government instructions and will attach an official boycott post as proof. The ICC has warned of possible sanctions, including fines and other action. BCCI officials said the Force Majeure claim is a “weak argument.” One official said Pakistan still played India in the Under-19 World Cup the same day. He added that Pakistan’s prime minister is the board’s patron, showing close government links. (PC: The Indian Express)

Senior officials from the United States and Iran are due to begin direct talks in Oman as tensions rise over the risk of military conflict. The US team will be led by special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Iran’s delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The talks aim to reduce tensions and build a path for wider negotiations. Washington wants limits on Iran’s nuclear work, missiles and regional armed groups. Tehran says discussions will focus only on its nuclear programme. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of bombing if no deal is reached, saying its leadership “should be very worried.” Iran has warned it will respond with force. (PC: BBC)

Protests were held in the UK and parts of Europe against Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day events, with demonstrators calling them a propaganda exercise. Rallies took place outside the Pakistan consulate in Bradford and in London and Brussels. Groups linked to the United Kashmir People’s National Party said the day was “fraudulent solidarity” and a “Day of Betrayal.” Protesters raised slogans against land grabbing and state repression. Leaders accused Pakistani authorities of denying rights in Pakistan-administered regions. One statement said, “True solidarity is measured by actions, not slogans.” Speakers also alleged demographic changes and disinformation campaigns linked to the observance. (PC: NDTV)

Bangladesh is set to sign a trade pact with the United States on February 9, just days before national elections on February 12, according to official statements and local reports. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the signing date. Local media said both sides signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement, keeping terms of the deal confidential. The agreement is being finalised under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, whose term ends after the vote. Bangladesh currently faces 20% US tariffs and is seeking a cut to 15%. A garment industry leader said, “This should have been done after the election, because it carries major implications.” (PC: HT)

About half of the aircraft checked by the government for technical issues showed recurring defects, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha. The Civil Aviation Ministry said 377 of 754 planes audited since January last year had repeat snags across six airlines. IndiGo had 148 aircraft with recurring defects out of 405 reviewed. The Air India Group had 191 such aircraft out of 267 checked, including 137 of 166 Air India planes and 54 of 101 Air India Express planes. An Air India spokesperson said checks were done “out of abundance of caution.” An executive said most issues were category D items like seats and screens, not flight safety related. (PC: India Today)

Merchant Navy cadet Sarthak Mahapatra from Odisha's Bhadrak district went missing aboard vessel EA Jersey near Mauritius waters while returning to Singapore from West Africa. Last seen entering his cabin on February 3 morning, the chief officer found it empty at 8:30 am. After vessel-wide search confirmed his absence, Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Mauritius launched coordinated search operations. Sarthak joined Anglo-Eastern Ship Management on July 14, 2025, last communicating with family via video call on February 2. His mother stated he had only two months remaining in his 16-month internship before promotion to Third Officer, maintaining regular contact with no work problems reported. Family seeks thorough investigation into his mysterious disappearance. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of having an "anti-Sikh mindset" after Rahul Gandhi called BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu a "traitor" outside Parliament. Modi stated in Rajya Sabha, "They called him a traitor because he was a Sikh...this was an insult to all Sikhs." The incident occurred when Gandhi confronted Bittu, a former Congress MP who joined BJP in March 2024, offering a handshake Bittu refused while calling Gandhi "enemy of India." Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri condemned the remarks as crossing "all boundaries of civility." Modi also accused Congress of insulting President Droupadi Murmu, Dalits, and Northeastern communities, stating "disrespecting people seems ingrained in Congress party's behavior." 

Smriti Mandhana created history by becoming the first captain from a winning team to win the orange cap in WPL or IPL's 18-year history. The 29-year-old led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second WPL title with a stunning 87 off 41 balls against Delhi Capitals in a record chase of 204. She became the highest run-getter of the 2026 season with 377 runs, the first Indian to win the orange cap, and registered the highest individual score in a WPL final while chasing. Mandhana joined Harmanpreet Kaur as only the second captain to win WPL twice, partnering with Georgia Voll for a crucial 163-run stand. ([PC: BCCI/WPL)

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced India will restart free trade agreement negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain. This follows India's recent trade deals with the EU and US. Goyal emphasized 5,000 years of trade relations and 10 million Indians working in GCC economies. The announcement comes months after Pakistan-Saudi Arabia renewed their Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, following India-Pakistan tensions during Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, UAE-Pakistan ties have soured after UAE scrapped Islamabad International Airport management deal and strengthened relations with India, agreeing to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032 during President Al Nahyan's Delhi visit.

Actress Celina Jaitley has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her brother Major Vikrant Jaitley's release, a former Special Forces officer detained in UAE since September 2024. Breaking down in an interview with India Today TV, she revealed he was taken from Mall of Emirates parking by unidentified individuals without arrest records for nine months. After Delhi High Court intervention, UAE-based law firm Khalid Almarie Partners agreed to provide pro bono legal representation. Celina said her brother has been held over 16 months at Al-Wathba Detention Centre with only vague "national security" references and no formal charges. She drew parallels with former Indian naval officers' Qatar detention, seeking high-level diplomatic intervention.