Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricketer and ex-BCCI president, survived a road accident on West Bengal’s Durgapur Expressway. While traveling to Burdwan University for an event, Ganguly’s convoy was forced to brake suddenly when a lorry overtook the vehicles. The abrupt stop caused a chain reaction of collisions, damaging two vehicles, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Despite the accident, Ganguly proceeded to the event after a brief wait. He expressed his joy at visiting Burdwan and praised the district's cricketing talent.    

  On February 21, 2025, multiple bus explosions rocked Central Israel, prompting authorities to label the incidents as a suspected terror attack. No casualties were reported, but additional explosives were found on two other buses, heightening concerns. Police discovered five similar bombs, all featuring timing devices. Following the explosions in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, authorities conducted thorough searches for further threats. Prime Minister Netanyahu scheduled a security meeting, coinciding with the return of hostages' bodies by Hamas. Investigations are underway to determine whether a single or multiple perpetrators were involved in the attacks.  

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will oversee Finance, Revenue, and Women and Child Development as the BJP government allocated portfolios. Ashish Sood, a key Punjabi leader, gets Home, Power, and Education, while Jat leader Parvesh Verma handles PWD and Irrigation. Kapil Mishra, known for his Hindutva stance, becomes Law and Justice Minister. Manjinder Singh Sirsa will manage Forest and Food Supplies, and Pankaj Kumar Singh takes Health and Transport. The new Cabinet, sworn in at Ramlila Maidan, also pledged quick implementation of welfare schemes, including Mahila Samman Yojana and Ayushman Yojana, marking BJP’s return after AAP’s 10-year rule.

India captain Rohit Sharma became the second fastest batter to reach 11,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in 261 innings and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar (276). However, he fell short of Virat Kohli’s record (222 innings). Rohit, who started the Champions Trophy 2025 with a quickfire 41 off 36 balls against Bangladesh, now trails Sourav Ganguly (11,363) in India’s all-time ODI run-scorers list. With 32 centuries and 338 sixes, he remains a dominant force in ODIs. Kohli, at 13,963 runs, is just 37 runs away from becoming the third player to reach 14,000 ODI runs.

Amazon MGM Studios has taken creative control of the James Bond franchise in a joint venture with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, who remain co-owners of 007’s intellectual property. The deal follows Amazon's $8.45B acquisition of MGM in 2022. Broccoli confirmed her focus on new projects, while Wilson will concentrate on art and charity. The next Bond film and its lead actor remain unannounced. Amazon has already expanded the franchise with the reality show 007: Road to a Million. “We are honored to usher in the next phase of 007,” said Amazon’s Mike Hopkins.

Bengaluru is facing record heat, with temperatures reaching 35.9°C on February 17. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) says the city is now hotter than Delhi, which recorded 27°C on the same day. Experts blame weak northern winds and the La Niña effect for the rising heat. Nights will still be cooler at around 17°C, but summer is arriving early this year. Usually, Bengaluru’s summer starts in March, but IMD predicts an early onset by mid-February. The city’s temperature has been rising for two years, making it one of the hottest places in Karnataka.

India began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a 6-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Dubai. Mohammed Shami starred with a record-breaking 5/53 as Bangladesh struggled at 35/5 before Towhid Hridoy (100) and Jaker Ali (68) guided them to 228. In reply, Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 101 and Rohit Sharma’s 41 set up India’s chase, securing the win comfortably. India will next face Pakistan on February 23 at the same venue, while Bangladesh will meet New Zealand on February 24 in Rawalpindi.

Veena Reddy, ex-USAID India director, is under scrutiny after BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani demanded a probe into a $21 million grant allegedly aimed at increasing voter turnout. Former US President Donald Trump claimed the Biden administration sought to influence India’s elections through USAID funding. Reddy, born in Andhra Pradesh, led USAID India from 2021 to 2024, overseeing a sharp rise in disbursements. She previously served in Cambodia and Haiti. USAID denied allegations of election interference, citing its focus on health, education, and development. Calls for investigation continue.

Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II in Egypt, marking the first royal tomb found since Tutankhamun’s in 1922. A British-Egyptian team uncovered it in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor. The tomb, buried under flood debris, featured a blue ceiling with yellow stars—an indicator of a pharaoh’s burial. Though emptied in ancient times, alabaster fragments confirmed Thutmose II’s identity. Egypt’s Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy called it an “extraordinary moment for Egyptology.” Researchers now aim to locate a second tomb, potentially intact with treasures. The discovery resolves a mystery about early 18th Dynasty burials.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged US pragmatism after Donald Trump called him a "dictator without elections." Trump is pushing for a quick deal with Russia, excluding Ukraine and European allies from initial talks. Zelensky, addressing Ukrainians, emphasized unity and collaboration with the US and Europe for security. European leaders pledged increased defense spending, while some consider a US-backed peacekeeping force. Trump’s remarks triggered Ukrainian opposition reactions, with ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko defending Zelensky’s legitimacy. Ukrainian officials insist a ceasefire would enable further Russian aggression, despite intelligence suggesting one may occur this year. Kyiv seeks continued US support.