The mother of 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra, who was killed in a car crash in Delhi on February 3, said the accident occurred while a minor was speeding in an SUV to shoot reels. The incident happened in Dwarka when the 17-year-old, driving a Scorpio without a licence, collided head-on with Sahil’s motorcycle. The SUV then crashed into a parked car, seriously injuring a nearby resting taxi driver.

In an interview with ANI, Sahil’s mother, Inna Makan, a single parent, alleged the teen was focused on recording reels, driving in the wrong lane, and performing stunts. She said the collision caused severe damage to the bus, parked car, and injured the taxi driver. Makan described the incident as criminal, noting the teen had prior speeding challans and criticized the parents for not restraining him.

Initially, Delhi Police listed the accused’s age as 19 to try him as an adult, but documentation later confirmed he is 17. His father was briefly detained, and will still face charges under the Motor Vehicles Act. The minor was sent to a juvenile observation home and later granted interim bail to appear for his Class 10 board exams.

In a video message, Makan said she raised her son alone and called on Dwarka residents and media to support her fight for justice. The police registered cases under sections for rash driving, causing death by negligence, and endangering lives under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accident occurred near Lal Bahadur Shastri College around noon. All three vehicles were seized and inspected, and CCTV footage collected. The investigation is ongoing.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from India Today.

Mumbai has been transformed into a vibrant display of international diplomacy, with posters and banners welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. The visual tribute coincides with their high-profile visit to India from February 16 to 19, covering both the financial and national capitals.

President Macron arrives in Mumbai today for his fourth visit to India, invited by PM Narendra Modi, reflecting the steady momentum in the India-France strategic partnership, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies. According to the French Embassy, the visit marks another important chapter in the deepening ties between New Delhi and Paris, which span defence, space, civil nuclear energy, climate action, and education.

Macron’s engagement builds on his previous visits, including his first trip in 2018, attendance at the 2023 G20 Summit, and his 2024 State Visit as the Chief Guest for India’s 75th Republic Day. During that milestone, the two leaders declared 2026 as the India-France Year of Innovation, which they will formally inaugurate in Mumbai during this visit.

On February 17, PM Modi and President Macron will hold extensive discussions in Mumbai to advance bilateral cooperation under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap, a long-term vision stemming from India’s first Strategic Partnership with France in 1998. They will also discuss regional and global issues, including Indo-Pacific cooperation, highlighting growing strategic alignment.

After Mumbai, the delegation will travel to Delhi for the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam from February 16 to 20. This is the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. President Macron’s participation underscores the shared emphasis on emerging technologies, building on the AI Action Summit co-chaired by Modi and Macron in Paris in February 2025.

The five-day summit is structured around three pillars—People, Planet, and Progress—and seeks to move discussions on AI governance from rhetoric to actionable outcomes. It will convene global leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore AI’s role in governance and sustainable development. Complementing the summit, the India AI Impact Expo will cover 70,000 square metres with over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries across 10 thematic pavilions, showcasing AI’s transition from research to large-scale application. This initiative aligns with the IndiaAI Mission and the Digital India Initiative, emphasizing a development-focused approach that translates technological discourse into practical, people-centric results.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is gearing up for a high-profile trip to the US capital next week, set to join President Donald Trump's inaugural Board of Peace meeting focused on stabilizing Gaza and beyond. Meanwhile, India is taking a measured approach, carefully reviewing a similar invitation from Washington amid complex regional dynamics.

Sharif, who received a personal invite from Trump, will land in Washington on February 18 alongside Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for the February 19 gathering at the US Institute of Peace. Pakistan's Foreign Office hailed the opportunity as a platform to advocate for Palestinian rights under UN resolutions, marking a swift acceptance that underscores Islamabad's bid to strengthen ties with the Trump administration. This comes after Trump's earlier praise for Pakistan's role in regional de-escalations, including last year's fragile India-Pakistan ceasefire, which he often credits to his direct interventions via tariff pressures.

In contrast, New Delhi confirmed receipt of the US invitation but offered no firm commitment. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated the proposal is under review, reaffirming India's longstanding support for peace in West Asia without specifics on participation. Sources suggest Delhi's hesitation ties into broader US expectations, such as limits on Russian oil purchases, even as trade pacts advance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has voiced general backing for Gaza reconstruction but appears wary of sharing the stage with Pakistan so soon after past tensions.

Launched by Trump at Davos last month, the Board of Peace—chaired by the US President—aims to guide Gaza's post-ceasefire rebuild, demilitarization, and governance following a UN-backed stabilization force. With about 27 nations on board, including key Arab states like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the initiative sidesteps traditional UN channels in favor of Trump's deal-maker style. Western holdouts like the UK and Germany have declined, highlighting divides in global buy-in.

The summit spotlights Trump's leverage over South Asia, where he has positioned himself as a mediator in India-Pakistan flare-ups. For Sharif, attendance could yield diplomatic wins and economic perks; for India, joining might boost its Middle East clout but risks awkward optics—or strained US relations if it opts out. As energy deals and security talks loom, all eyes are on whether New Delhi shifts stance before the meeting.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

Odisha Police are gearing up for a decisive strike against lingering Maoist insurgents in the dense Gandhamardan hills, a notorious hideout spanning Bolangir and Bargarh districts near the Chhattisgarh border. Senior officials, including Anti-Naxal ADG Sanjeeb Panda, have vowed to eradicate the Naxal threat from the area by March 31, aligning with the state's ambitious goal to become completely Naxal-free.

Intelligence reports indicate a small group of Maoists has regrouped in the hills after a period of relative calm, raising alarms about potential cross-border activity. "Gandhamardan has been a Maoist stronghold since 2008, but we're closing in with coordinated operations," Panda stated during a recent meeting with local superintendents. The terrain's rugged forests have long shielded rebels, but intensified patrols aim to change that.

The offensive will deploy additional CRPF battalions alongside Odisha's Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), and precise intel-led teams. Tightened security along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border is also part of the strategy to prevent escapes or reinforcements. Past encounters here, like firefights and camp busts, underscore the risks involved.

Odisha has already neutralized Maoist presence in five districts—Nuapada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Koraput, and Boudh—through surrenders and operations. In the last 70 days, 45 rebels have surrendered under a revamped policy offering rehabilitation benefits, even to Odia Maoists active outside the state. Similar drives target tri-junctions in Kandhamal, Rayagada, and Kalahandi next. Panda urged remaining insurgents to surrender, promising support for reintegration. Success here could pave the way for development in these remote areas, long hampered by violence.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s coalition secured a historic victory in Sunday’s (Feb 8) election, setting the stage for planned tax cuts that have rattled financial markets, as well as increased military spending to counter China. For insights into this outcome, Andrea Heng and Genevieve Woo consulted Dr. Lim Tai Wei, East Asia specialist and Professor at Soka University, Japan.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan on January 13–14 for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The leaders are scheduled to meet in Nara City on January 13, followed by a dinner, where discussions are expected to cover regional and global matters, as well as economic and social issues. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Michiyo Ishida, CNA’s senior correspondent, for more details.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore’s “dead birds” hotline recorded its highest number of reports last year, reflecting a growing toll of birds killed after colliding with glass surfaces on buildings. The museum notes that the problem is expanding beyond sheer numbers, now affecting newer and sometimes rarer species as urban development intensifies. The report explores the causes behind these collisions, the reasons bird-friendly architecture has yet to become common practice, and the practical solutions—such as specially treated glass and façade modifications—that could significantly reduce bird deaths. Andrea Heng and Rani Samtani discuss these issues with Dr Tan Yen Yi, Research Fellow at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party has selected 46-year-old academic Yodchanan Wongsawat, a nephew of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as its leading candidate for the premiership in the February election. The move brings the influential Shinawatra family back into focus as Thailand grapples with deadly border clashes with Cambodia and internal challenges within the party. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss the implications of his candidacy for party cohesion, border security, and the country’s political trajectory with Kevin Hewison, Emeritus Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.