12 civilians died in Russian strikes on Ukraine, officials said. Homes and key infrastructure were hit. The White House urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to a deal giving the US access to Ukraine’s critical minerals in exchange for aid. Meanwhile, the US and Russia are considering a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, but no decision has been made. Reports say the US opposes calling Russia the "aggressor" in a G7 statement on the war’s third anniversary. The White House says all options are open for peace talks, but Ukraine is not included yet.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has warned against underestimating him amid reports of tensions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Shinde, who has been skipping meetings called by Fadnavis, reminded everyone that he brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in 2022 when he was taken lightly. The warning comes after Fadnavis halted a ₹900 crore project approved during Shinde’s tenure. Speculation about a rift has grown, as both leaders run separate medical assistance desks and disagree over key ministerial posts. However, Shinde denies any cold war, saying they remain united for Maharashtra’s development.

Kashyap 'Kash' Patel has been confirmed as the first Indian-origin FBI Director. The US Senate approved him in a 51-49 vote. Patel is a close ally of President Donald Trump. After his confirmation, he promised to rebuild trust in the FBI. Trump’s aide Dan Scavino congratulated him with a Bollywood-style video featuring a song from Bajirao Mastani. Patel thanked Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their support. Born to Gujarati parents, Patel studied law in New York and London. He has also worked in national security and intelligence. Patel says he aims to make the FBI transparent.

India has called the US funding claim for voter turnout "deeply troubling." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it is looking into the matter. US President Donald Trump alleged that USAID gave $21 million to influence India's elections. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) revealed this funding, later saying it was canceled. Trump called it a "kickback scheme." His remarks sparked a political row in India. BJP's Amit Malviya claimed the money was used to support hidden networks. Congress' Pawan Khera questioned how such funds entered India under the Modi government. The MEA has promised further updates.

The Supreme Court has issued notices to Assam and Maharashtra on YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani’s plea to consolidate multiple FIRs filed against him over the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy. Chanchlani seeks to transfer the cases from Guwahati and Mumbai to Maharashtra, citing their similar nature. The case, tagged with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea, involves allegations of promoting obscenity. The Gauhati High Court earlier granted Chanchlani interim anticipatory bail, requiring his cooperation in Assam’s probe. The FIRs stem from explicit discussions on the show, triggering legal action.     

  Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and choreographer Dhanashree Verma have officially ended their four-year marriage, finalizing their divorce at the Bandra Family Court on Thursday. Despite participating in a court-advised counseling session aimed at reconciliation, the couple mutually agreed to separate, stating they could no longer live together harmoniously. They revealed that while the initial years of their marriage were harmonious, over time, frequent arguments and a lack of mutual understanding led to growing distance. After 18 months of living separately, they decided to part ways amicably. The couple's relationship began during the 2020 lockdown, blossoming from a social media connection into marriage in December 2020. Unfortunately, after four years together, they have chosen to go their separate ways.     

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Hamas for a "cruel and malicious violation" of the ceasefire agreement after the militant group returned a body misidentified as that of Israeli mother Shiri Bibas. While the remains of her two sons, Ariel and Kfir, were correctly identified, the third body was found to be that of a Gazan woman. Netanyahu has vowed to intensify military operations against Hamas in response to this incident, which has further strained the fragile ceasefire and heightened tensions in the region. 

Tesla is making a renewed effort to enter the Indian market after two previous attempts. Following CEO Elon Musk's recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the company plans to import vehicles produced at its Berlin plant and is exploring potential factory sites in India. This initiative aligns with India's March 2024 policy allowing electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to import up to 40,000 fully assembled EVs over five years at a reduced customs duty of 15%, contingent upon a $500 million investment in local manufacturing. This move comes as Tesla faces significant sales declines in key markets, including a 59.5% drop in Germany and a 63.3% decrease in France in January 2025. Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Musk's plans to establish a factory in India, adding complexity to Tesla's international strategy.  

Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah has expressed confidence in his team's ability to defeat India in their upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 clash, despite acknowledging India's strong lineup. Emphasizing that "every team is beatable," Shah believes that bringing their best performance will be key to overcoming their arch-rivals. Following a 60-run loss to New Zealand in their opening match, Pakistan faces a must-win situation to keep their tournament hopes alive. Shah also addressed criticism regarding his selection, urging fans to continue their support as the team aims to manage pressure and deliver a winning performance.   

Microsoft has introduced the Majorana 1 chip, the first quantum processor utilizing a Topological Core architecture. This innovation leverages topoconductors—materials capable of creating and controlling Majorana particles—to produce stable and scalable qubits, essential for practical quantum computing. The Majorana 1 chip aims to facilitate the development of quantum systems with up to a million qubits on a single, palm-sized chip, enabling solutions to complex industrial and societal challenges. This breakthrough is the result of nearly two decades of research and positions Microsoft at the forefront of quantum computing advancements.