India has abstained from a UN General Assembly vote that urges Russia to return Ukrainian children taken during the war. The resolution was passed with 91 nations in favour, 12 against and 57 abstaining. It calls for the “immediate, safe and unconditional” return of all children who were deported or moved from Ukraine. The text warns of deep concern for children separated from families since 2014. Ukraine said more than 6,300 children have been taken, with thousands more under review. Russia rejected the charges and said the claims were false. The UN said the issue cannot be separated from Russia’s invasion. (PC: India Today)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not start the Ukraine war and blamed the West for “igniting” the conflict. In an interview with India Today, he said Moscow was drawn into the war because Kyiv, backed by Western nations, acted against Russian interests. Putin said the operation will end only after Russia meets its goals, including “liberating Donbas.” He accused Ukraine of banning the Russian language and targeting churches and citizens in the region. Putin added, “Either we take back these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops withdraw.” He said Russia will protect its people and interests at any cost.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Friday schedule is the main focus of his 27-hour visit to India. His day will begin with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 11 AM, followed by a visit to Rajghat. From there, he will move to Hyderabad House for key summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The core agenda is economic cooperation, as both leaders aim to deepen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” They are expected to announce a long-term plan for trade and strategic projects, with a goal to push bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Delhi welcomed Putin with posters and flags.

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended India’s right to buy Russian fuel, asking, “If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India?” He made the remark during a two-day visit to Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him at the airport. Putin said the US still buys Russian nuclear fuel, so India should not face pressure for purchasing oil. India’s crude imports from Russia have recently dropped due to US tariffs and tighter sanctions. Putin said the decline is “a minor adjustment” and that oil trade with India is “running smoothly.” Both countries aim to boost and diversify trade. (PC: AFP)

A dangerous website called ProxyEarth is exposing the personal details and even live locations of people in India using only their phone numbers. The site, created by a man named Rakesh, shows names, addresses, father's names, email IDs and more by pulling data from leaked telecom records. Users only need to enter a number to see the information. Experts say this leak is extremely serious because the data can be used for financial scams and privacy violations. ProxyEarth has been live for nearly a week, and the creator remains active online. Authorities are yet to block the website.

IndiGo has cancelled more than 600 flights in the last two days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across India. The airline said the disruption happened because of planning mistakes while changing crew duty rules. On Wednesday, IndiGo’s on-time performance fell to just 19.7 per cent. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports saw the most cancellations. The civil aviation minister reviewed the situation with the airline. IndiGo has asked for time till February 10, 2026, to return to normal operations. More cancellations are expected over the next few days as the airline works to fix its schedule. (PC: HT)

Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned why the US punishes India for purchasing Russian oil while America itself continues buying Russian nuclear fuel. During his India visit, Putin challenged US tariffs imposed on Indian goods over Russian oil purchases, highlighting what he sees as double standards. He reported a minor decline in India-Russia trade but emphasized both nations aim to diversify their commercial relationship beyond energy and defense sectors. Prime Minister Modi personally greeted Putin at the airport with a warm embrace, demonstrating strong bilateral ties. The comments come as India faces Western pressure over its continued Russian oil imports, which Putin maintains are based on legitimate commercial interests predating the Ukraine conflict.

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit focuses on economic recalibration, with leaders announcing a long-term cooperation program targeting $100 billion bilateral trade by 2030. Key priorities include tackling India's trade imbalance from Russian oil imports and expanding Indian exports in pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, and marine products. Defense discussions feature India's proposal for five additional S-400 Triumf squadrons, advanced BrahMos missile variants, and a $2 billion nuclear-powered attack submarine lease. A Free Trade Agreement between India and Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union is advancing. Russia's ratification of the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support agreement strengthens military coordination. The summit demonstrates India's strategic autonomy despite Western pressure and Russia's resistance to isolation over Ukraine.

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol unveiled a bronze statue of their iconic DDLJ characters Raj and Simran at London's Leicester Square, celebrating the film's 30th anniversary. SRK shared the moment on Instagram with his famous dialogue: "Bade Bade Deshon Mein, Aisi Chhoti Chhoti Baatein Hoti Rehti Hain, Senorita!" DDLJ becomes the first Indian film honored with a statue in Leicester Square's "Scenes in the Square" trail, joining characters like Harry Potter and Batman. Kajol's children Nysa and Yug attended, dressed reminiscent of their parents' costumes from the film's "Tujhe Dekha Toh" song. SRK wore a cowbell-inspired brooch, referencing the film's iconic Swiss romance symbol.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin a Bhagavad Gita translated into Russian, symbolizing India's soft-power diplomacy and cultural friendship beyond security deals. Putin emphasized their partnership isn't anti-Western, stating neither leader works "against someone" despite external pressure. He questioned G7's significance, noting India ranks third globally by purchasing power parity. Delhi Traffic Police implemented sweeping restrictions from 9 AM to noon Friday across central Delhi corridors including ITO, Rajghat, and Hanuman Setu due to security protocols. Former diplomat Rajiv Bhatia called this Putin's first visit since Ukraine invasion "very important," highlighting economic dimensions, defense deals, rupee-ruble mechanisms, and India's balancing act between Moscow and Western partnerships.