A newlywed techie couple from Bhubaneswar was forced to attend their own wedding reception online after IndiGo cancelled their flight to Hubballi. The couple had planned to fly to Karnataka on Friday morning. But their flight was cancelled at the last moment due to the ongoing nationwide disruption in IndiGo’s operations. With no alternative flights available, they joined the reception through a video call while their families managed the event in person. Many passengers across India faced similar problems, with long queues, delays, and confusion at airports. The couple said they felt sad but tried to stay positive. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their bilateral talks at Hyderabad House on Friday. During the meeting, PM Modi said he believes Russia and Ukraine will “soon be on the path to peace”. He added that India is not neutral, but stands firmly on the side of peace. Earlier in the day, Putin received a grand ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before beginning his packed schedule. His meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House is expected to focus on India-Russia trade, defence ties, and global security issues. Both leaders will issue joint statements after the talks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin began his busy Friday with a grand ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted him as he received a 21-gun salute. After the ceremony, Putin left for Rajghat, where he signed the visitors’ book and paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He then travelled to Hyderabad House for his bilateral meeting with PM Modi. The two leaders will address a joint press conference later in the day. President Murmu will host a state dinner for Putin at 7 pm, rounding off his official engagements in Delhi.

Pakistan has appointed Field Marshal Asim Munir as its first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF). President Asif Ali Zardari approved the five-year appointment after a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The new post was created under the 27th Constitutional Amendment passed last month to bring all military branches under one command and improve decision-making. With this change, the post of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee has been removed. Munir already serves as Army Chief and received a five-year extension in 2024. The government also extended Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu’s tenure by two years.

India has abstained from a UN General Assembly vote that urges Russia to return Ukrainian children taken during the war. The resolution was passed with 91 nations in favour, 12 against and 57 abstaining. It calls for the “immediate, safe and unconditional” return of all children who were deported or moved from Ukraine. The text warns of deep concern for children separated from families since 2014. Ukraine said more than 6,300 children have been taken, with thousands more under review. Russia rejected the charges and said the claims were false. The UN said the issue cannot be separated from Russia’s invasion. (PC: India Today)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia did not start the Ukraine war and blamed the West for “igniting” the conflict. In an interview with India Today, he said Moscow was drawn into the war because Kyiv, backed by Western nations, acted against Russian interests. Putin said the operation will end only after Russia meets its goals, including “liberating Donbas.” He accused Ukraine of banning the Russian language and targeting churches and citizens in the region. Putin added, “Either we take back these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops withdraw.” He said Russia will protect its people and interests at any cost.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Friday schedule is the main focus of his 27-hour visit to India. His day will begin with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 11 AM, followed by a visit to Rajghat. From there, he will move to Hyderabad House for key summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The core agenda is economic cooperation, as both leaders aim to deepen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” They are expected to announce a long-term plan for trade and strategic projects, with a goal to push bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. Delhi welcomed Putin with posters and flags.

Russian President Vladimir Putin defended India’s right to buy Russian fuel, asking, “If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn’t India?” He made the remark during a two-day visit to Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed him at the airport. Putin said the US still buys Russian nuclear fuel, so India should not face pressure for purchasing oil. India’s crude imports from Russia have recently dropped due to US tariffs and tighter sanctions. Putin said the decline is “a minor adjustment” and that oil trade with India is “running smoothly.” Both countries aim to boost and diversify trade. (PC: AFP)

A dangerous website called ProxyEarth is exposing the personal details and even live locations of people in India using only their phone numbers. The site, created by a man named Rakesh, shows names, addresses, father's names, email IDs and more by pulling data from leaked telecom records. Users only need to enter a number to see the information. Experts say this leak is extremely serious because the data can be used for financial scams and privacy violations. ProxyEarth has been live for nearly a week, and the creator remains active online. Authorities are yet to block the website.

IndiGo has cancelled more than 600 flights in the last two days, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across India. The airline said the disruption happened because of planning mistakes while changing crew duty rules. On Wednesday, IndiGo’s on-time performance fell to just 19.7 per cent. Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports saw the most cancellations. The civil aviation minister reviewed the situation with the airline. IndiGo has asked for time till February 10, 2026, to return to normal operations. More cancellations are expected over the next few days as the airline works to fix its schedule. (PC: HT)