Opposition BJP and JD(S) legislators staged an overnight protest inside Karnataka’s Vidhana Soudha, demanding the resignation of Excise Minister R.B. Timmapur over alleged irregularities in the excise department. They said the dharna would continue until action is taken.

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father were released from a Texas ICE detention center following a judge’s order. They had been held since January 20 and have now safely returned to Minnesota.

In Dudhkaiyya village, Gariaband, of Chhattisgarh, a communal clash broke out after three men, recently released on bail, allegedly assaulted locals. Angered residents set fire to homes and vehicles. Police intervened, arrested the men again, and filed multiple cases.

PM Narendra Modi reiterated India’s support for Palestine and endorsed the Gaza peace plan at the India–Arab Foreign Ministers’ meeting. He emphasized historic ties, cooperation, and praised the Arab League’s role in promoting peace in the region.

Cigarettes, pan masala, and other tobacco products have become more expensive as the government rolls out a revised excise duty and health cess, replacing the earlier GST plus compensation cess system.

A 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck Jammu and Kashmir early on February 2, with tremors felt across the Kashmir Valley, including Srinagar. The quake caused brief panic among residents, but no casualties or damage were reported, officials said.

Bengaluru Lokayukta police caught Inspector Govindaraju of KP Agrahara police station accepting a ₹4 lakh bribe from a builder seeking removal from a cheating case. Authorities registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and investigations are ongoing.

The Baramati plane crash, which killed Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and four others, is being investigated on a timeline-based approach, Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu said. The aircraft’s black box has been recovered for analysis.

The 12th Smile International Film Festival for Children and Youth (SIFFCY) opened in New Delhi, showcasing films promoting inclusion, diversity, and equity, featuring works by children with disabilities, and bringing together filmmakers, educators, and policymakers.

President Trump threatens tariffs on countries, including Mexico, supplying oil to Cuba, aiming to pressure Havana amid fuel shortages. Cuba condemns the move, warning it will worsen citizen hardships, while regional tensions rise over US economic coercion.