Hamas has named six Israeli hostages who will be released on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal. In return, Israel will free 602 Palestinian prisoners. The hostages include Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengisto. This marks the final phase of the current ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, tensions remain high after Israel claimed that Hamas handed over the wrong body in a previous exchange. Talks for a second phase of the ceasefire are expected soon. The war has caused heavy losses on both sides since it began in October 2023.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Australian and French counterparts, Penny Wong and Jean-Noel Barrot, in Johannesburg during the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. They discussed shared interests in the Indo-Pacific and ways to strengthen cooperation. Jaishankar also met EU Vice President Kaja Kallas to talk about India-EU trade, security, and the Ukraine conflict. He held talks with China’s Wang Yi on border issues and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Other meetings included discussions with Angola, Algeria, and Ireland. Jaishankar highlighted the G20’s role in tackling global challenges like economic pressures, climate change, and food security.

India strongly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s comments on Kashmir. The external affairs ministry said a protest was lodged with Turkey’s envoy in Delhi. Erdogan, during his visit to Pakistan, called for Kashmir’s resolution through UN resolutions and dialogue. India called his remarks "unacceptable" and said Kashmir is an internal matter. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Pakistan should focus on stopping cross-border terrorism. India also dismissed Pakistan’s call for a plebiscite in Kashmir. The government reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no other country has the right to comment on it.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes India will defeat Pakistan in their Champions Trophy 2025 match on February 23 in Dubai. He said India's strong spin attack will trouble Pakistan, who struggle against spin bowling. India recently beat Bangladesh with help from spinners and a solid batting performance. Meanwhile, Pakistan lost badly to New Zealand. Ganguly also predicted that Pakistan might be knocked out early. He backed Virat Kohli to overcome his recent struggles against spin. With India and New Zealand in strong form, Ganguly sees them as favourites to progress in the tournament.

Mount Etna, Europe’s highest and most active volcano, erupted with lava flowing down its snow-covered slopes. The eruption began on February 10 from the Bocca Nuova crater. Videos of molten lava meeting snow quickly went viral. The lava reached 1,950 meters in elevation, destroying trees near a service road. Catania’s airport briefly diverted flights due to ash clouds but later resumed operations. Scientists say Etna erupts frequently, sometimes causing airport closures. In 2023, a massive ash cloud from the volcano led to flight delays and cancellations in Sicily. Experts continue to monitor the volcano’s activity.

Chinese researchers have identified a new bat coronavirus, HKU5-CoV-2, capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor, similar to SARS-CoV-2. Led by virologist Shi Zhengli, the study involved scientists from Wuhan and Guangzhou and was published in Cell. The virus, linked to the MERS subgenus, was found in Japanese pipistrelle bats. Researchers warn of possible animal-to-human transmission but stress its binding efficiency to human receptors is lower than SARS-CoV-2. Scientists caution against exaggerating the risk but highlight the potential for spillover through intermediate hosts.

The family of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli hostage, refuses to mourn her sons Ariel and Kfir until her body is returned. Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire after forensic testing revealed an unidentified body handed over Thursday was not Shiri. Hamas claims her remains were mixed with others due to Israeli airstrikes. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu vowed "revenge," but Shiri’s sister-in-law Ofri Bibas Levy urged focus on recovering hostages. Hamas previously said Shiri and her sons were killed in an Israeli strike, but Israel insists the boys were executed in captivity.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has imposed a ₹3.44 crore penalty on BBC India for violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). Directors Giles Anthony Hunt, Indu Shekhar Sinha, and Paul Michael Gibbons were each fined ₹1.14 crore. The ED found that BBC India failed to reduce its foreign direct investment (FDI) to 26%, maintaining 100% despite a 2019 government directive. A ₹5,000 daily fine applies from October 15, 2021, until compliance. The probe followed a 2023 Income Tax survey alleging financial discrepancies. BBC has not yet responded to the penalty order.

Three flights carrying deported Indian migrants from the US landed at Amritsar airport, highlighting Punjab's growing human smuggling crisis. An India Today investigation in Jalandhar exposed illegal immigration rackets, where agents offer dangerous routes to Western nations for high fees. Fraudulent political asylum applications in Canada and perilous "donkey routes" to Europe were uncovered. Agents like Sahil Verma and Raman facilitated these illegal journeys, exploiting immigration loopholes. With US deportations increasing, concerns over safety risks and policy misuse intensify. "The more money you spend, the better the journey," an agent revealed, underscoring the lucrative nature of this illicit industry.

Moscow is preparing to declare "victory" in Ukraine on February 24, marking three years since its invasion, according to Ukrainian intelligence. The Kremlin aims to frame the announcement as a triumph over both Ukraine and NATO, with Russian propaganda portraying the war as a broader conflict with the alliance. The report comes amid U.S.-Russia negotiations on the war and heightened tensions between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump, who has been critical of Zelenskyy, recently called him a "dictator" and urged a swift peace deal.