Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the Indian consulate in Marseille, strengthening India-France ties. They interacted with the Indian community, who welcomed them with dhols and flags. The leaders also visited Mazargues War Cemetery, paying tribute to Indian soldiers who fought in the World Wars. Modi recalled Veer Savarkar’s 1910 escape attempt from British custody in Marseille, thanking French activists of that era. His visit includes the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site before heading to the US. The new consulate aims to enhance India-France diplomatic and people-to-people relations.

Palestinians and Israeli hostage families fear the fragile Gaza ceasefire may collapse after Israel's security cabinet backed Donald Trump’s demand for all 76 remaining hostages to be freed by Saturday. Hamas insists it remains committed to the deal, blaming Israel for any delays. In West Jerusalem, hostage families urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to complete the prisoner exchange. Meanwhile, Jordan’s King Abdullah rejected Trump’s Gaza takeover plan, opposing Palestinian displacement. The region remains tense as negotiations continue. The ceasefire’s fate now hinges on both sides’ willingness to uphold agreements.

A Delhi court has acquitted seven women accused of obscenity for dancing in a bar, ruling that wearing small clothes and performing is not a crime unless it offends public sentiment. The case was filed in March 2024 under IPC Section 294, alleging the women engaged in obscene acts. Judge Neetu Sharma reviewed CCTV footage and stated, “The accused did not wear revealing outfits or perform obscenely.” The verdict reaffirmed that dancing in bars is not illegal. The bar manager was also acquitted. The ruling highlights evolving perspectives on personal freedom and morality in India.

The United Nations Human Rights Office reports that up to 1,400 individuals were killed during a six-week crackdown on student-led protests in Bangladesh between July 1 and August 15, 2024. The protests, initially targeting a government job quota system, evolved into a broader movement against then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who subsequently fled to India. The UN cites credible sources indicating widespread violence by security forces, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture, actions potentially amounting to crimes against humanity. A UN fact-finding team is currently investigating these allegations.

Shubman Gill reached a milestone in the 3rd ODI of the series against England in Ahmedabad, scoring a century in his 50th match. His seventh ODI century also became the fastest by an Indian batter in 50 innings. Gill's 112-run innings off 102 balls, adorned with 14 fours and 3 sixes, also became the fifth player to score centuries in all formats at the same venue. He is continuing to expand his stellar ODI career, having also reached the fastest to 2,500 runs.

Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island erupted again Tuesday, sending lava into the air. The volcano, active since Dec. 23, has had nine eruptive episodes, with lava flowing into Halemaumau Crater. No residential areas are threatened. The latest eruption started at 10:16 a.m., with a vent launching lava up to 330 feet high. Visitors have been flocking to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for views. Previous eruptions have lasted between 13 hours and eight days with pauses in between.

Elon Musk joked about claims that 150-year-olds are receiving US Social Security. "I think they're probably dead, is my guess, or they should be very famous, one of the two," he said. The US Social Security program supports retired and disabled people, but living to 150 is extremely rare. Musk is leading a government team under US President Donald Trump to cut spending. Trump plans to reduce the federal budget by $1 trillion. The US debt has reached $36.2 trillion. Critics argue the cuts are extreme, but Musk's team is reviewing payments and jobs to reduce waste.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting Marseille, France, paid tribute to freedom fighter VD Savarkar’s 1910 escape attempt from a British ship. “The bravery of Veer Savarkar continues to inspire generations!” Modi posted on X. He also thanked French activists who opposed Savarkar’s extradition. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the Mazargues War Cemetery to honour Indian soldiers who died in World Wars. They also toured ITER, a nuclear fusion project. In Paris, Modi addressed an AI summit, stressing ethical AI development. “AI must be about people-centric applications,” he said.

Harshit Rana's unexpected selection to replace Jasprit Bumrah for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy has raised eyebrows. Despite being inexperienced, Rana was chosen over established players like Mohammed Siraj, sparking fan outrage on social media. Some critics allege favoritism, citing Indian coach Gautam Gambhir’s ties to Kolkata Knight Riders, as both Rana and Varun Chakravarthy are KKR players. Fans questioned whether Rana’s selection was influenced by Gambhir's connections, noting Siraj’s strong ODI record. The debate has fueled claims of bias and "politics" in team selection.

The Supreme Court of India criticized the culture of announcing freebies before elections, stating it discourages people from working. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih, hearing a case on urban homelessness, observed, “People are getting free rations and money without working.” The court suggested integrating them into society for development. Attorney General R Venkataramani informed that the Centre is finalizing an urban poverty alleviation mission. The court directed the Centre to specify its timeline and scheduled the next hearing in six weeks.