Peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States ended without a breakthrough in Geneva. The meetings lasted two days. Officials described them as “difficult”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the positions of both sides remain far apart. Russia is demanding full control of the Donbas region. Ukraine has rejected this demand. Some progress was reported on military issues and ceasefire monitoring. However, no agreement was reached on territory. Kremlin negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said another meeting will take place soon. The war has continued for four years. Recent Russian strikes killed four people and injured many others. (PC: Reuters)

22-year-old Sikh nurse was injured in an alleged racial attack at a gym in Geelong, Australia. Harmanpreet Singh said three men confronted him at around 11 pm in Corio. “They called me an ‘Indian dog’ and told me to go back,” he told 9News. As he left the gym, the men followed him outside. One man hit his head against Singh’s nose, breaking it. The attackers fled the scene. Locals took him to hospital. He is expected to undergo surgery. Singh said he feels traumatised and unsafe. His family said the incident has deeply shaken them. (PC: X)

Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The action followed a viral video. It showed university staff presenting a Chinese-made robot dog as their own product. The robot was identified as Unitree Go2, made by a Chinese company. It was displayed as “Orion” at the event. Social media users accused the university of misleading claims. The university later said it had only bought the robot for learning. It denied building the machine. A Community Note on X said earlier claims were misleading. Officials have not confirmed further action.

Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply increased. A report by Axios said a US strike could happen within weeks. A White House official put the chances at 90 percent. The report said any action may last for weeks. It may involve joint operations with Israel. Israeli officials said they are preparing for possible conflict within days. US fighter jets have moved toward the Middle East. Iran has started military drills in the region. Despite the threats, nuclear talks continue in Geneva. Both sides say diplomacy is still open. Fears of a wider regional war are growing.

A 65-year-old former ISRO employee was arrested for allegedly killing his wife in Bengaluru. Police said Nageshwar Rao strangled his wife, Sandya Sri, with a towel at their apartment in Bommanahalli on Wednesday. He stayed inside the house after the incident. Later, he called an acquaintance, who informed the police around 11 am. Officers reached the spot and took him into custody. Police said Rao was undergoing treatment for depression. He had reportedly planned to take his own life after the incident. The couple’s daughter lives in the US. She has been informed about the case.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for inclusive and people-focused artificial intelligence at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. They said AI must benefit society and support development. The leaders backed stronger India-EU tech ties and faster implementation of the India-EU free trade agreement. They also discussed defence cooperation, trade, space, and digital technology. European leaders showed strong support for the trade deal. Modi said 2026 will be marked as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. Both sides stressed global cooperation, responsible AI use, and stronger action against terrorism. (X/ @NarendraModi)

Abhishek Sharma’s poor run in the T20 World Cup 2026 continued after he was dismissed for a duck against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The left-hander fell in the first over to off-spinner Aryan Dutt during India’s final Group A match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Abhishek has now scored zero in three matches in the tournament and is yet to open his account after facing eight balls. This was also his fifth T20I duck this year, equalling Sanju Samson’s record for most ducks by an Indian batter in a calendar year. He previously got out for ducks against USA and Pakistan. (PC: India Today)

Actor Alia Bhatt will present an award at the 79th BAFTA Awards in London. The British Academy confirmed her name in the presenter lineup. The ceremony will take place on February 22 at the Royal Festival Hall. The awards recognise excellence in international cinema. Bhatt shared the update on Instagram by reposting BAFTA’s post. She wrote, “100 points if you can spot me.” She will appear alongside presenters such as Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, Bryan Cranston and Alicia Vikander. Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi will also attend, with her film Boong nominated in the children’s and family film category. (PC: NDTV)

A six-month-old macaque named Punch is drawing attention after videos showed him hugging a soft toy for comfort at a zoo in Japan. Keepers said his mother rejected him soon after birth. Staff then stepped in and raised him by hand. They provided blankets and soft toys to calm him. Punch quickly bonded with a plush orangutan and now carries it around his enclosure. He is often seen holding it close and sleeping with it. Keeper Kosuke Shikano said, “The stuffed animal’s fur made it easy to grab and likely provided a sense of security.” Punch is now slowly meeting other macaques again. (PC: X)

The United States has moved more than 50 fighter jets, including F-35, F-22 and F-16 aircraft, to West Asia as tensions with Iran continue. Reports said the deployment took place over the past 24 hours. The military buildup comes even as Washington and Tehran reported progress in recent nuclear talks in Geneva. US officials said the two sides “made progress” but added that “a lot of details” are still pending. Iran’s foreign minister called the talks “constructive.” The US has also sent carrier groups and surveillance aircraft to the region. Iran said it will briefly close part of the Strait of Hormuz for military drills. (PC: NDTV)