A black SUV ploughed into a carnival crowd in Mannheim, Germany, killing 1 and injuring several others. Police declared a "life-threatening deployment situation," urging residents to stay indoors. Witnesses reported the vehicle speeding from Paradeplatz square towards the city's landmark water tower. Authorities have arrested one suspect but have not disclosed a motive. The attack occurred as thousands gathered for carnival celebrations. Heavily armed police cordoned off the area, with helicopters assisting. Mannheim, a city of 326,000, lies 85 km south of Frankfurt. Investigations are ongoing, and officials have not ruled out any possibilities.

As India prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia, Harbhajan Singh urged the team to focus on stopping Travis Head and restricting Australia's power-hitters. "Shami saab, bahut ho gaya Travis Head ka kaam," he said, advising Mohammed Shami to dismiss Head early. Sourav Ganguly praised Shami’s contributions, calling him a “fine bowler” alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Ganguly also emphasized India's dominance in white-ball cricket, saying, “India can defeat anyone.” The high-stakes clash will decide who advances to the final on March 9.

The documentary No Other Land won Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards. Directed by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor, the film highlights Palestinian resistance to forced displacement in the West Bank. It follows Basel Adra, who documents the struggles of his people and gains support from a Jewish Israeli journalist. Filmed over four years, it premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, winning multiple awards. The documentary has been praised for its powerful storytelling but has yet to secure U.S. distribution.

Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old woman from Uttar Pradesh, was executed in the UAE on February 15, the Indian government told the Delhi High Court. She was sentenced to death for the 2022 death of a four-month-old child under her care. The child died after a vaccination, but no postmortem was conducted. Shahzadi's family claims she was forced to confess under torture and did not get proper legal help. Her father sought government updates but learned of her execution only on February 28. Her last rites are scheduled for March 5.

A state of emergency has been declared in South Carolina as wildfires burn across the state. Dry and windy weather has caused more than 150 fires, forcing evacuations in several areas. Soldiers used helicopters to drop water, and firefighters are working hard to control the flames. Some people have returned home, but others are still waiting. Fires are also burning in North Carolina and Georgia. Officials warn that strong winds and dry conditions are making the situation worse. Rain is expected soon, which may help. No injuries or major damage have been reported so far.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains determined after a challenging diplomatic trip. He met UK leaders and King Charles after tense talks in the US. Critics say he should reset ties with Donald Trump, but Zelensky refuses to apologise. He insists Ukraine will not give up its land to Russia. He is open to a minerals deal with the US but says Ukraine’s freedom is not for sale. French and UK leaders are pushing for peace talks. As Zelensky flew home, he joked about knowing everything, but the future of the war remains uncertain.

India captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed claims that his team has an unfair advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Critics say India benefits from playing all matches in Dubai. But Rohit said the pitches behave differently each time, making it tough for players. He reminded everyone that Dubai is not India's home ground. India has had mixed results here in the past. Ahead of the semi-final against Australia, Rohit said the team does not know what kind of pitch they will get. He stressed the need to adapt and play smart cricket.

The Supreme Court of India criticized YouTuber Samay Raina for his remarks during a stand-up show in Canada about the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy. Justice Surya Kant remarked, “These youngsters think we are outdated… they don’t understand jurisdiction.” Raina had joked about his legal troubles, telling the audience their ticket purchases were paying his legal fees. Multiple FIRs have been filed against Raina and Ranveer Allahbadia, who has now been allowed to resume his podcast with content restrictions. The Court warned Raina but refrained from taking action, citing his young age.

The BAM Awards 2025, held at The Dilly in London on February 27, celebrated excellence in British Asian media. HereandNow365 emerged as the biggest winner of the evening. The agency secured multiple accolades, including ‘Agency of the Year’ and ‘Creative Excellence in Media’, while its founder, Manish Tiwari, received the BAM Choice Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Asian Media.   Tiwari was honored by Fiji’s High Commissioner H.E. Jovilisi Suveinakama and BBC’s Jo Sherlock, who also served as a judge for the event. In his speech, Tiwari reflected on the historical journey of Indians in the diaspora, tracing their migration to Commonwealth nations in the 18th and 19th centuries and how their presence laid the foundation for today’s British Asian media landscape. He highlighted his personal experience of arriving in the UK 25 years ago, emphasizing that he never had to alter his name or accent to succeed. His agency, HereandNow365, founded two decades ago, was built on this inclusive foundation.   The agency’s impact was widely recognized, particularly for its Dabur Vatika Gender Pay Gap campaign supporting ethnic minority women. The ‘Creative Excellence in Media’ award honored its campaigns on Zee, Sony, Sunrise Radio, and Lyca, including TV and radio ads featuring Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and singer Hans Raj Hans.

Japan is battling its worst forest fire in 30 years, with over 2,000 firefighters deployed to control the flames engulfing 5,200 acres near Ofunato. The blaze, fueled by record-low rainfall, has killed one person and forced 4,600 residents to evacuate. More than 80 buildings are damaged as authorities scramble to contain the spread. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba assured Parliament that measures are in place to protect homes. Helicopters are dousing flames, but the fire continues raging. Japan’s 2024 heat records and extreme dryness have worsened conditions, raising concerns about climate change’s role in such disasters. Officials remain on high alert as firefighting efforts intensify.