Former Congress leader Anand Sharma challenged Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to revoke older trade pacts from the UPA period in response to the new India-US interim trade framework, claiming deeper scrutiny is needed before finalising deals. Critics argue the agreement could undermine domestic interests and questioned whether past pacts should be reconsidered amid shifting economic terms. The framework includes significant tariff changes and market access—with U.S. tariffs on Indian goods reduced to 18% and reciprocal concessions from India—but opposition voices say transparency and national interests must be weighed carefully before moving forward. (PC: ANI)

A private training aircraft operated by Redbird Aviation crash-landed in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district on Sunday after suffering a mid-air engine glitch. The two-seater light aircraft, flying from Kalaburagi to Belagavi, was forced down near Mangaluru village in Babaleshwar taluk when the technical issue developed. Both the captain and a trainee pilot on board were seriously injured and rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses reported tense moments as the aircraft descended rapidly before touching down in an open field, avoiding populated areas. Police and aviation authorities have begun an investigation into the cause of the crash. (PC: India Today)

India has achieved a major boost in space surveillance after a private company successfully imaged an object in orbit from another satellite. Ahmedabad-based Azista Industries Private Limited used its 80-kg satellite AFR to capture images of the International Space Station on February 3. This is the first such feat by an Indian private firm. The test proved that fully indigenous sensors and software can track fast-moving space objects. Experts say this strengthens India’s space situational awareness and helps protect its satellite assets. India currently operates over 50 satellites used for communication, navigation, Earth observation and defence.

At least two people were killed and over 13 injured after an under-construction building collapsed in Kota on Sunday morning. Officials said the structure collapsed from top to bottom at a construction site in the Indravihar area. Preliminary reports suggest poor construction quality or drilling work may have caused the collapse. Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force, SDRF and the Fire Department at the site. Lok Sabha Speaker and Kota MP Om Birla expressed grief and asked officials to speed up rescue work and ensure proper treatment for the injured. A detailed investigation is underway.

3 people, including a father and his son, were killed after a speeding Audi car hit their motorcycle in Rewa on Friday. The victims were identified as Bhagwat Vishwakarma, his younger son Rahul, and another family member. They were distributing wedding invitation cards when the accident happened near Koshta village. Police said the car was moving at very high speed and crushed the bike on impact. All three died on the spot. The Audi driver has been detained and the vehicle seized. A case has been registered and an investigation is underway. Locals raised concern over reckless driving on highways.

A three-storey building housing a restaurant in Kota’s Talwandi area, Rajasthan, collapsed late Saturday night, killing one person and fearing nearly 15 trapped under rubble after the structure gave way around 9 pm while staff and customers were inside. Rescue teams, including police and the State Disaster Response Force, rushed to the scene immediately, pulling several injured victims from debris and taking them to local hospitals; eight were seriously hurt. Officials suspect that nearby construction vibrations may have weakened the old building, though the exact cause is yet to be confirmed. (PC: HT)

In Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh, three members of the Vishwakarma family were killed when a speeding Audi car struck their motorcycle from behind near Kosta village on the Rewa–Prayagraj highway. The victims — 55-year-old Bhagwat Vishwakarma, his son Shivam Vishwakarma, and a woman relative Sheetal Vishwakarma — were out distributing wedding invitation cards for an upcoming marriage on February 24 when the crash occurred. The impact mangled the bike and threw them off, killing them on the spot. The Audi driver was detained, and the vehicle seized. Their bodies were taken to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Rewa for post-mortem. (PC: X)

During his official two-day visit to Malaysia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India’s firm stance against terrorism — saying there must be “no double standards and no compromise” in combating terror — while expanding cooperation with Malaysia on counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, defence and regional peace in the Indo-Pacific. Modi and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim discussed deepening strategic ties across trade, technology and ASEAN cooperation, and reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the region. India is also expected to raise the extradition of fugitive preacher Zakir Naik with Malaysian authorities as part of bilateral talks. (PC: X)

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has criticised the interim India-U.S. trade agreement framework, calling it a “total surrender” to U.S. agribusiness and a threat to Indian agriculture. SKM alleges the deal contradicts earlier assurances by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal that sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy would remain protected, and demanded his immediate resignation while asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from signing the pact. Farmer leaders warned of mass protests and backed nationwide mobilisations, including support for the February 12 general strike, to oppose the trade deal. (PC: ANI)

Writer and photographer Pepita Seth has become an Indian citizen at the age of 84, formalising her long bond with Kerala. She received the citizenship document from Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandian at a ceremony on February 6. Known for documenting Kerala’s rituals, temples and art, Seth is often called the State’s “adopted daughter.” She said, “I feel immensely proud to become an Indian at the age of 84,” and called India her true home. Born in Britain, she settled in Thrissur and produced major cultural works on Kerala. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012 for her contribution to Indian art and heritage. (PC: The Hindu)