A fresh gunfight erupted on February 4 between Indian security forces and suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in the snow-bound Chatroo belt of Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir, as part of ongoing Operation Trashi-I. The Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police and CRPF engaged militants in dense mountainous terrain, resulting in one terrorist being neutralised while the search continues amid challenging conditions. The encounter marked the fifth contact in the area over 18 days, highlighting persistent counter-terror efforts in the region. Mobile internet remained suspended to ensure security and curb misinformation. (PC: PTI)

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yumnam Khemchand Singh was sworn in as Chief Minister of Manipur on February 4, 2026, ending nearly a year of President’s Rule in the state. President’s Rule had been in place since February 2025, following the resignation of former CM N. Biren Singh amid prolonged ethnic violence. The Centre revoked the rule with immediate effect, allowing the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form a government. Singh, elected leader of the NDA legislature party, took the oath at Lok Bhavan. Two deputies from Kuki and Naga communities were also sworn in. (PC: FB)

A sharp exchange took place outside Parliament between Rahul Gandhi and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu after Gandhi called his former aide a “traitor.” The incident happened when the two crossed paths near the complex. Gandhi pointed at Bittu and said, “Here is a traitor walking right by,” and added, “Don’t worry, you will come back,” while offering a handshake. Bittu refused. He later said the Congress believes it alone represents patriotism. He also accused the party and the Gandhi family of being “enemies of the country.” BJP leaders later addressed a press meet and criticised Gandhi’s remark as unacceptable. (PC: HT)

Russian drone and missile attacks damaged Ukraine’s energy and residential sites during a period of extreme cold, leaving many areas without heat and power. Ukrainian officials said strikes hit Kyiv and other regions, with over 1,000 buildings in the capital losing heating supply. A key power plant in Kharkiv was reported beyond repair. Authorities opened warming centres and metro shelters for residents. Regional officials reported civilian deaths and injuries in Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia after overnight attacks. Ukraine’s air force said more than 100 drones were launched, with several impact sites confirmed. The energy ministry said the system remains under severe strain and repairs are ongoing. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not deliver his planned reply to the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha after repeated disruptions led to adjournments. Opposition protests continued over Rahul Gandhi’s demand to quote from former Army chief MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir. The situation worsened after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey began referring to books about the Gandhi family despite objections from the Chair. Protesting members raised slogans and the House was adjourned again. Rahul Gandhi later said, “PM Modi won’t come to Parliament because he is scared.” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also claimed the Prime Minister avoided the House. Congress MPs also staged a protest outside Parliament. (PC: NDTV)

A Turkish Airlines flight travelling from Kathmandu to Istanbul made an emergency landing at Kolkata airport on Wednesday afternoon after the pilot suspected a fire in the right engine. The aircraft had 236 passengers and 11 crew members on board.   Airport officials said the pilot contacted air traffic control and requested an emergency landing. All safety procedures were followed. Fire tenders were kept ready. The plane landed safely at around 2.50 pm, despite flying on one engine for over an hour.   Passengers and crew were safely evacuated. The aircraft was later moved to a secure area for inspection. (PC: HT)

The Lok Sabha was adjourned abruptly on Wednesday, just minutes before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to speak, as opposition protests and sloganeering disrupted proceedings during the Budget Session. Opposition MPs voiced strong objections over the suspension of eight members and the denial of speaking rights to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, leading to confrontations in the House. The uproar escalated with allegations between ruling and opposition parties, prompting the Speaker to halt business for the day, delaying the scheduled PM address. The chaos highlights deepening tensions between the government and opposition in Parliament. (PC: India Today)

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally appeared in the Supreme Court of India to challenge the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in her state, alleging it is unfair and “targeting West Bengal.” She told the Chief Justice that she had written six letters to the Election Commission of India without reply and asserted that ordinary voters were being excluded, prompting her emotional appeal that “justice is crying behind closed doors.” The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, allowed her to speak and issued notice to the Election Commission on her petition, with further hearings scheduled. 

In a heartbreaking incident in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, three minor sisters aged 16, 14, and 12 died by suicide early Wednesday after reportedly jumping from the ninth floor of their apartment in Bharat City Society around 2 a.m. Police suspect the tragedy followed a dispute over the girls’ excessive involvement in an online Korean task-based gaming app, which their parents had recently tried to restrict. A handwritten suicide note found at the scene expressed apology and deep emotional distress linked to their gaming obsession; the sisters were said to have even adopted Korean names and increasingly withdrawn from school and family life. Authorities are investigating mobile data, digital evidence, and family dynamics as they probe the circumstances that led to this tragic loss. (PC: The Hindu)

A Turkish Airlines flight THY-727 from Kathmandu (Nepal) to Istanbul (Turkey) made an emergency landing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Wednesday after the pilot reported a possible fire in the right engine mid-air. The Airbus A330, carrying 236 people including crew, diverted safely and touched down at about 14:49 IST. All onboard were unharmed. The aircraft is now being inspected by technical teams, and operations at the airport are continuing normally. (PC: X)