An Indian student, Saketh Sreenivasaiah, has been missing in California since February 9. He is a master’s student at University of California, Berkeley. He was last seen near the campus.   His backpack with his passport and laptop was later found near Tilden Regional Park. Police have launched a citywide search. Teams are checking Lake Anza and nearby hills.   The Indian Consulate in San Francisco said it is in touch with the family and authorities. Community volunteers are also helping in the search efforts.

The FBI said Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was a “target of transnational repression” after Indian national Nikhil Gupta pleaded guilty in a murder-for-hire case. Gupta admitted in a New York court that he paid $15,000 to a man he believed was a hitman to kill Pannun in 2023. The FBI said, “He thought he could kill someone without consequence.” US officials said the plot was stopped by law enforcement. Gupta was extradited from the Czech Republic. He may face up to 24 years in prison. The Indian government has denied any role in the case.

Indian national Nikhil Gupta, 54, has pleaded guilty in a Manhattan federal court to a failed plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US‑based pro‑Khalistani activist and dual US‑Canadian citizen. Gupta admitted to charges including murder‑for‑hire, conspiracy to commit murder‑for‑hire, and money laundering, admitting he paid an undercover law‑enforcement officer he believed was a hitman to kill Pannun. Prosecutors allege Gupta acted at the direction of a former Indian government official, Vikash Yadav, and negotiated a $100,000 contract, handing over $15,000 as advance. Gupta, extradited from the Czech Republic in 2024, faces up to 40 years in prison when sentenced on May 29. India has denied government involvement. (PC: X)

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)

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)

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.

Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will visit India February 17-20 to attend the AI Impact Summit and hold bilateral talks with PM Modi on February 18. Orpo, accompanied by representatives from 22 Finnish companies, will deliver Finland's address at the summit hosted February 19 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit, running February 16-20, unites governments, industry leaders, researchers, and startups globally around three pillars: People, Planet, and Progress. Discussions will focus on AI governance, employment, skilling, sustainability, and economic development. Orpo emphasized Finland's AI expertise and importance of safe, responsible AI use. The recently concluded EU-India Free Trade Agreement opens significant opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations. (PC: The Tribune)

Dubai-based Indian businessman and film producer Rajan Lall won $1 million (₹8-9 crore) in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire raffle, days after turning 79. The cancer survivor who endured three heart attacks called it the "finest birthday present." Lall won with ticket number 3099 in Series 535, purchased January 30 at Concourse D. The victory ended a 25-year wait as he said, he'd bought one ticket annually without success. Living on Palm Jumeirah, Lall moved to Dubai in his fifties after facing income tax raids and alleged threats in 1990s Mumbai. He rebuilt his career from scratch through garment trading, initially living frugally while depending on friends. (PC: Instagram@rajan_lall)

Indian-origin climate scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan, 82, won the prestigious 2026 Crafoord Prize in Geosciences, often called the "Nobel of Geosciences." The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized his groundbreaking research on super-pollutants and atmospheric brown clouds. In 1975, while at NASA, Ramanathan discovered chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) trap heat 10,000 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Born in Madurai, raised in Chennai, he began his career at a Secunderabad refrigerator factory handling CFCs. His Indian Ocean Experiment identified atmospheric brown clouds over South Asia, linking air pollution to weakened monsoons and accelerated Himalayan glacier melting. Now Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Scripps Institution, his work underpins the Montreal Protocol. The prize includes $900,000 and a gold medal. (PC: PTI)

While Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured victory nationally, Jamaat-e-Islami swept regions bordering West Bengal like Satkhira, Kushtia, Khulna belt, and Rangpur raising security concerns for India. Intelligence assessments view this as threat escalation, noting these rural areas have deep mosque and madrassa networks. Jamaat questioned election integrity, citing "serious questions about the results process." Indian agencies warn Hindu minorities in border districts may face pressure through land disputes and intimidation. The concern extends beyond immediate violence to "permissive ecosystems" enabling radicalization through Friday sermons, madrassa curricula, and selective infiltration of trained ideologues. Intelligence suggests Jamaat's political legitimacy in border districts could shift operations from covert to semi-open, complicating detection efforts. (PC: AP)