India’s foreign tourist pattern has shifted, with Gujarat and West Bengal reporting strong growth while Goa and Tamil Nadu saw steep declines. Data shared in the Lok Sabha by Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat showed Gujarat’s foreign tourist arrivals rose 281 percent between 2019 and 2024. West Bengal recorded an 88 percent rise. Goa’s numbers dropped by about 50 percent in the same period. Tamil Nadu saw an 83 percent fall. Maharashtra held the largest share of coastal foreign tourist visits at 17.69 percent during 2019–24. India recorded 20.57 million foreign tourist visits in 2024. The minister shared the figures in a written reply to Parliament. (PC: X)

A 13-year-old boy was arrested after two students were stabbed inside a secondary school in north-west London. The victims, aged 12 and 13, suffered neck injuries and were taken to hospital in serious condition. Witnesses told local media the suspect shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. Police said counter-terror officers are leading the probe due to the circumstances, but the case has not been declared a terrorist incident. Officers reached the school within minutes and later recovered the suspected weapon. The incident happened inside a classroom. Students present are being treated as witnesses. Authorities asked the public to share verified information only. (PC: X)

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri denied allegations linking him to Jeffrey Epstein. Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in the Lok Sabha, Puri said, “I met him only three or four times as part of a peace delegation.”   He said the meetings were official and not linked to Epstein’s crimes. “Our interactions had nothing to do with the charges against him,” Puri added.   The minister said US authorities have released millions of documents and only a few mention him. He stressed that his email exchanges were professional. Epstein was arrested in 2019 on sex trafficking charges and later died in jail.

The Union government has opposed the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently detained under the National Security Act (NSA), stating that there is no medical reason to grant him bail. Authorities said Wangchuk has undergone multiple medical examinations since his detention, and his condition has been consistently reported as stable and healthy. The government emphasized that the reasons for his detention continue to exist and cannot be set aside on health grounds. Wangchuk’s wife had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking his release, claiming his detention was unlawful and that his health was deteriorating, but the Centre firmly denied these claims. The Supreme Court will now consider the matter further. (PC: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed shock after a mass shooting in Canada left 10 people dead. The attack took place at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Six victims were found inside the school. Three others were rushed to hospital, where one later died. The suspect was also found dead with a self-inflicted injury.   Around 25 people were treated for injuries at a local medical centre. Police said there is no ongoing threat. Modi offered condolences to the families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He said India stands with Canada in this time of grief.

Veteran Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav, currently jailed over a Rs 9-crore cheque‑bounce case, is set for a bail hearing on February 12, his manager confirmed. Major industry figures, including Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn, Varun Dhawan, and Sonu Sood, have stepped in to provide financial and legal support, bolstering the actor’s chances. Singer Guru Randhawa and the FWICE have also extended aid. The film fraternity’s backing brings hope to Yadav’s family ahead of the crucial hearing. (PC: X)

A tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada has left 10 people dead, including the suspected shooter, and around 27 others injured, police said. Six fatalities were found inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, two at a nearby residence, and one victim died en route to hospital, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported. The suspected shooter appears to have died from a self-inflicted injury, and authorities believe there is no ongoing threat to the public. The remote community of about 2,400 residents was profoundly affected, with schools closed and counselling offered as officials continue their investigation. (PC: X)

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif delivered an unusually blunt critique of Islamabad’s past ties with the United States, telling the National Assembly that Pakistan was “used like toilet paper and then thrown away” after serving U.S. strategic goals, particularly in Afghanistan. He described the country’s alignment with Washington after 1999 and post-9/11 as a grave miscalculation that inflicted long-term damage, including prolonged violence and economic strain. Asif challenged the official narrative that Pakistan’s involvement in Afghan wars was driven by religious duty, instead calling it a damaging mistake. His remarks signal deep frustration in Pakistan’s political discourse over its foreign policy legacy. (PC: Getty Images)

Delhi Police have arrested a self-styled “baba,” Kamruddin, in the shocking triple murder of three people found dead inside a parked car near the Peeragarhi flyover. Initial indications of suicide shifted after investigators uncovered that Kamruddin had lured the victims with promises of “Dhanvarsha” (surprise money) through tantric rituals and fed them poison-laced laddoos and drinks, police said. CCTV footage reportedly shows him in the car with the trio before their deaths, and he is now booked for murder as part of a well-planned conspiracy for financial gain. The victims were Randhir (76), Shiv Naresh (47) and Laxmi Devi (40). Police continue probing motive and sequence of events. (PC: HT)

Bangladesh has withdrawn from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, refusing to send its cricket team to play matches in India due to alleged security concerns following the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL and broader political tensions. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its fixtures to Sri Lanka, but the request was rejected, leading to Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland. Sports adviser Asif Nazrul later claimed the decision was made by the BCB and players, not the government. The ICC has said no sanctions will be imposed on Bangladesh. (PC: X)