A stampede-like situation occurred at Shivneri Fort in Pune district during celebrations for Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary, as an uncontrolled crowd far exceeded the fort’s capacity, causing chaos in narrow pathways. Thousands of devotees, including women and children, gathered at the historic site overnight, leading to overcrowding on constricted routes where upward and downward movement collided. In the ensuing rush, people were pushed and trampled, resulting in multiple injuries—especially among women and children—who were treated at nearby hospitals. Authorities are assessing the incident and crowd management response amid ongoing celebrations.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 opened at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, uniting global policymakers, tech CEOs and innovators to shape the future of artificial intelligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Sundar Pichai (Google), Sam Altman (OpenAI) and Bill Gates are among top speakers addressing the event, aimed at fostering AI governance, innovation and investment. The summit, anchored on themes like People, Planet and Progress, features exhibits, discussions and collaborations with delegates from over 100 nations and major tech firms. It highlights India’s push to lead responsible, inclusive AI on the global stage. (PC: Instagram)

India has officially joined over 100 nations and international organisations in criticising what they describe as unilateral Israeli measures aimed at expanding control over the occupied West Bank, calling them violations of international law that undermine peace and stability. India endorsed a joint United Nations statement condemning these actions and urging their reversal, reinforcing its support for negotiated solutions and international legal norms. The move comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Israel, signalling a diplomatic balancing act between upholding legal principles and maintaining bilateral ties. (PC: The Hindu)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak at the opening ceremony of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi on Thursday morning. The event is being held at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20. Around 20 heads of state are expected to attend. According to the schedule, Modi will join a leaders’ photo session at about 9:15 am and attend the ceremony at 9:40 am. His address is planned for 10:25 am. On Wednesday, he held nine bilateral meetings with global leaders and top technology executives. The summit focuses on global cooperation and responsible use of artificial intelligence for public benefit. (PC: HT)

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.

New CCTV footage shows a 17-year-old driving an SUV at high speed just before a crash that killed 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra in West Delhi. The accident took place near Dwarka on February 3. The video shows the SUV narrowly missing a bus and moving out of its lane before hitting the victim’s bike. Another clip recorded from inside the car also shows the vehicle speeding on a road without a divider. The teen driver is on interim bail due to Class 10 board exams. Police records show the SUV had 13 challans earlier, including nine for speeding. The teen allegedly had no licence. 

The Election Commission of India has announced biennial Rajya Sabha elections for 37 seats across 10 states. Voting will be held on March 16 from 9 am to 4 pm. Counting will take place at 5 pm the same day. The seats are spread across Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, and Himachal Pradesh. Notifications will be issued on February 26. The last date for nominations is March 5. The poll body said, “Only integrated violet colour sketch pen(s)… shall be used for marking preferences.” Observers will monitor the process. The election process will end by March 20. (PC: HT)

New CCTV footage accessed by NDTV has revealed the horrifying moments before 17-year-old teen driver killed 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra on February 3 near Dwarka, West Delhi. The footage shows the unlicensed teen's Mahindra Scorpio overspeeding, losing lane discipline, and narrowly missing a bus before colliding head-on with Sahil's bike. The SUV had accumulated 13 challans previously, nine for speeding. Sahil's mother Inna Maakan says she screamed for 10 minutes before the nearby ambulance responded, and alleged hospital staff ignored them until she shouted. Sahil's room filled with medals, motivational posters reading "Obsession is gonna beat talent" and a ceiling note saying "2025 will be my year" paints a devastating portrait of dreams cut tragically short.

Galgotias University's troubles at the India AI Impact Summit deepened after reports emerged that the government asked them to vacate. "We have not been informed yet that we have to vacate," a Galgotias professor told ANI. The controversy expanded beyond the Chinese Unitree robodog "Orion" when netizens exposed a second misrepresentation in which a drone the university claimed to have built from scratch, later identified as a commercially available Striker V3 ARF retailing at Rs 20,000–30,000. The university had also claimed Rs 350-crore investment in AI infrastructure during its presentation. Social media users accused the institution of deliberate fraud, with one writing: "Who are you trying to hoodwink with this statement?"

An unlicensed 17-year-old Delhi teen's Mahindra Scorpio SUV accident has sparked outrage after viral video shows his sister was filming a reel when the crash occurred. Inna Makan, the single mother of 23-year-old victim Sahil Dhaneshra, killed on February 3 in Delhi's Dwarka, said the "fun reel" has crushed her world. The accused teen's father, who runs a commercial vehicles business and was out of town, told NDTV: "It was a mistake. I am very, very sorry." He confirmed his 17-year-old son had no driving licence and was unaware he had taken the SUV. Though Victim's mother has firmly rejected the teen's father's public apology, "Sorry for not accepting his sorry," she told NDTV. Sahil, who was preparing to leave for the UK for a postgraduate course, died on the spot. His father had passed away in 2018. Inna, who built her entire life around her son, now plans to shut her real estate business to pursue justice. The 17-year-old was sent to a correctional home but later released for his Class 10 board exams. (PC: NDTV)