US President Donald Trump suggested Ukraine “may be Russian someday,” hinting at a policy shift toward Moscow. His remarks came before Vice President JD Vance’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference. Trump is pushing for negotiations while emphasizing financial returns on US aid, proposing a trade deal for rare minerals. Kyiv seeks NATO membership and military commitments, fearing a temporary ceasefire would help Russia rearm. Trump also announced his envoy Keith Kellogg will visit Ukraine on February 20. Meanwhile, the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied reports of Trump speaking with Vladimir Putin.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has failed to name a new chief minister for Manipur two days after N Biren Singh’s resignation, sources told CNN-News18. With party MLAs divided, BJP northeast in-charge Sambit Patra met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to discuss the situation. The state has remained tense since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023, killing 250 people. With no consensus, President’s Rule is likely under Article 356, transferring power to the Centre. Singh resigned amid internal dissent and a possible Congress-led no-confidence motion. BJP’s state chief called it a move to protect Manipur’s integrity.

Donald Trump is set for a tense meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah after proposing to relocate Gaza’s population to Jordan and Egypt. Jordan, already hosting millions of Palestinian refugees, strongly opposes forced migration, calling it a “declaration of war.” Trump threatened to cut $1.5 billion in US aid if Jordan refuses. Protests erupted in Amman, with Jordanians fearing economic strain and demographic shifts. “We will not allow it,” said former Jordanian deputy PM Jawad Anani. As regional tensions rise, Jordan’s stability is crucial for the US and Israel, making Trump’s pressure campaign a high-stakes gamble.

An improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector killed 2 soldiers and critically injured another during an army patrol near the Line of Control (LOC) on Tuesday. The explosion occurred at 3:30 pm in Laleali, prompting a large-scale search operation. The injured soldier was airlifted to an Army Hospital and is now stable. The Indian Army's White Knight Corps confirmed the incident, paying tribute to the fallen soldiers. Additional troops have been deployed to secure the area and prevent further attacks. Authorities suspect terrorist involvement in the blast.

Singer Arijit Singh gave Ed Sheeran a tour of his hometown, Jiaganj in West Bengal, on a scooter, ditching heavy security. The British singer, in India for The Mathematics Tour, spent five hours exploring Jiaganj with Arijit, riding through Phulmore and the Bhagirathi riverbank before taking a boat ride at Shibtala ghat. The local DIG confirmed Sheeran had requested no additional security. This follows Sheeran’s surprise street performance in Bengaluru, where police stopped him mid-way. He has already performed in Hyderabad and Chennai and will next take the stage in Shillong on February 12 and Delhi NCR on February 15.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India is developing its own large language model under a public-private partnership (PPP) to support startups and researchers. Speaking at the AI Action Summit in Paris, co-chaired with French President Emmanuel Macron, Modi emphasized India's commitment to AI for public good. "Machines can never overpower humans," he said, stressing responsible AI development. He highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure, including UPI, and its role in AI adoption. Modi will also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project and honor Indian soldiers at Mazargues War Cemetery before heading to the U.S. on a two-day visit.

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to respond within 15 days to a plea seeking verification of EVMs' burnt memory and symbol loading unit. The petition, filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), calls for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure transparency. “Please do not erase the data and reload it. Let someone just examine,” the court told the Election Commission. Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that an independent examination should confirm the integrity of EVM software and hardware. The court clarified that it does not seek interference in counting but aims to ensure no manipulation.

Six U.S. Congressmen have urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to reconsider the indictment of Adani Group executives, criticizing the Department of Justice's (DOJ) decision. In a letter, they wrote, “Instead of deferring the case to the appropriate Indian authorities, the Biden DOJ decided to push forward and indict [Adani Group]’s executives without any real injury to U.S. interests being present.” The DOJ has charged Adani executives with financial misconduct, but the Congressmen argue that India's legal system should handle the matter. The case has sparked diplomatic concerns, with India closely monitoring developments. The DOJ has not responded to the letter.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faced criticism after New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra suffered a head injury while fielding in the 1st ODI in Lahore. Critics blamed poor floodlighting, with some questioning Pakistan’s readiness for the Champions Trophy 2025. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt defended PCB, claiming Ravindra misjudged the ball. Ex-cricketer Tanvir Ahmed, however, slammed PCB’s stadium management, while Shoaib Mohammad suggested lighting issues. The debate intensified after India’s ODI in Cuttack also saw floodlight failures. New Zealand confirmed Ravindra needed stitches but will continue to be monitored.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, co-chairing the AI Summit in Paris, emphasized AI's transformative role in reshaping society, economy, and security. He called for democratizing technology, ensuring accessibility for all, especially in the Global South. Stressing the need for global AI governance, he urged transparency, open-source systems, and bias-free data sets. “AI is the code for humanity in this century,” he said, advocating innovation alongside responsible regulation. Modi highlighted AI’s potential in healthcare, education, and sustainable development, urging international cooperation to harness its benefits while mitigating risks.