Four Indian students were injured in a knife attack at a medical university hostel in Ufa, capital of Russia’s Bashkortostan Republic, local media reported. The Interior Ministry said a teenager entered the dormitory sports hall with a knife and stabbed several students. Two police officers were also injured while trying to stop him. Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said, “The attacker resisted arrest,” and also hurt himself during the struggle. Authorities have detained the suspect and started an investigation. Injury details are not yet clear. The Indian Embassy said it is monitoring the case. Consulate officials from Kazan are travelling to Ufa to support the students. (PC: India Today)

New documents released by the United States Department of Justice show exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and Indian businessman Anil Ambani, according to a Bloomberg News report. The messages, sent between 2017 and 2019, include discussions on meetings, world events and women. In one exchange, Epstein suggested arranging a “Swedish blonde”, to which Ambani replied, “Arrange that”. The documents show the two planned meetings in Paris and New York. A representative for Ambani declined to comment. The messages surfaced years after Epstein was charged with sex trafficking.

A British tourist’s video praising the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has gone viral on social media. Rory Porter shared his first ride on the Blue Line on Instagram. He was surprised by the low fare of ₹43 for a half-hour journey. He called it one of the cheapest metro rides in the world. Porter also praised the clean stations, airport-style security checks and modern coaches. Inside the train, he noted enough seating and less crowding. He said the metro was efficient, air-conditioned and well maintained. Comparing it to the London Underground, he said the Delhi Metro was better.

India has not confirmed whether it will stop buying oil from Russia, even as the United States claimed so in a new tariff order. Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said the Ministry of External Affairs would respond on the issue. A US order under President Donald Trump said India had committed to halting Russian oil imports, leading to removal of a 25% penal tariff. However, the India-US joint statement does not mention Russia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the trade framework, calling it a step towards stronger ties. (PC: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo)

In a notable diplomatic moment, the United States Trade Representative’s office released a map of India alongside details of a new India-US interim trade agreement that depicted the entire Jammu and Kashmir region — including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — and Aksai Chin as integral parts of India. This marks a departure from previous U.S. maps that typically showed those areas as disputed, and is being seen as a symbolic signal aligned with India’s long-standing territorial claims. The map’s timing, coinciding with tariff reductions under the trade framework, drew strong reactions online and diplomatic attention. (PC: India Today)

India and the United States finalised an interim trade framework that cuts U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from about 50%, easing earlier penalties tied to Russian oil purchases. India will reduce or remove tariffs on a wide range of U.S. industrial, food and agricultural products. The deal includes India’s plan to purchase up to $500 billion of U.S. energy, aircraft, technology and other products over five years and expands cooperation in technology trade. Both sides agreed to address non-tariff barriers and negotiate a broader bilateral trade pact, potentially lowering more tariffs. (PC: PTI)

India strongly condemned the Islamabad mosque suicide bombing that killed 31 and injured 169, while firmly rejecting Pakistani allegations of Indian involvement as "baseless and pointless." The Ministry of External Affairs stated Pakistan should address its "home-grown ills" instead of blaming others. Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claimed the terrorist traveled from Afghanistan, alleging "collusion between India and Afghanistan." PM Shehbaz Sharif's spokesperson called it the "latest in murderous terrorist attacks orchestrated by India." The suicide bomber struck during Friday prayers at Tarlai's Khadijatul Kubra Imambargah, detonating at the gate. This marks Islamabad's deadliest attack since the 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing that killed 60 people.

A white paper released in London on February 5, 2026, documents how Indian migrants decisively shaped the UK's economy, public services, and global standing across 70 years. Produced by Here & Now 365 and Aston University's Aston India Centre, it traces four migration phases: post-WWII recovery workers who stabilized the economy and NHS; 1970s East African Asian refugees who revived local economies; skilled professionals in medicine, finance, and engineering; and post-Brexit tech workers now comprising 15% of UK's technology workforce. Launched at House of Lords by Lord Loomba and Lord Bilimoria, the report emphasizes Indian diaspora contributions from rebuilding post-war Britain to powering its digital transformation, highlighting future economic cooperation lessons. (PC: X)

Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Syed Abdul Rehman Naqvi openly threatened to "disintegrate India" at a public event in Lahore attended by politicians, vowing to "set Agra on fire" and "shake Delhi." Speaking on Pakistan's "Kashmir Solidarity Day," Naqvi, who heads LeT's political front Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, declared they would "break united India into pieces." The brazen threats were delivered publicly in Pakistan's cultural capital, not from hiding, exposing continued state patronage of anti-India terrorism. This follows India's Operation Sindoor, which destroyed nine terror camps including LeT's Muridke headquarters after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26. LeT is reportedly rebuilding with clandestine government financial support.

The US Department of Homeland Security launched a public database called "Arrested: Worst of Worst" listing 25,000 immigrants arrested by ICE, including 89 Indians. The searchable website publishes names, mugshots, arrest locations, and alleged crimes. Among Indian individuals, 22 face financial crime convictions including larceny, tax fraud, and wire fraud; 21 for violent crimes like assault and burglary; 17 for sexual offenses; and one for homicide. Critics warn the database risks reinforcing stereotypes linking immigration and crime, calling it a communications tactic to justify large-scale enforcement operations and increased immigration spending. DHS officials maintain the database demonstrates enforcement priorities and targets individuals accused of serious offenses. (PC: India Today)