West Bengal minister Manas Bhunia sparked outrage after allegedly calling the Kolkata law student gang-rape a "small incident." The BJP slammed his remarks, accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of normalizing rape and shielding the accused, who is linked to TMC’s student wing. BJP’s Amit Malviya shared the video and demanded accountability, calling it a sign of institutionalized misogyny. Bhunia later clarified his comments were misrepresented, condemned the June 25 assault, and defended Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s zero-tolerance stance. The TMC accused BJP of running a smear campaign, warning defamation has consequences and insisting the truth will prevail. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he hopes for a Gaza ceasefire "sometime next week," ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's July 7 visit to the White House. Responding to reporters, Trump said, “We hope it's going to happen.” The United States has renewed diplomatic efforts following the end of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran. Trump has previously urged Israel to “make the deal in Gaza.” Despite ongoing airstrikes and humanitarian crises affecting over 2 million Palestinians, Israeli forces have continued their operations. Washington is reportedly pushing both sides for a temporary truce to allow humanitarian aid access. (PC: NDTV)

The UK has recorded its hottest day of 2025 so far, with temperatures reaching 33.6°C in Frittenden, Kent, at 13:00 BST, surpassing earlier highs of 33.5°C in East Malling and 33.2°C in Surrey. Forecasters expect temperatures to rise further, possibly reaching 34°C or even 35°C in parts of Kent and London, though cloud cover in the capital may limit the heat. July typically brings high temperatures, but climate experts warn of more intense heatwaves as global temperatures rise. The UK’s highest July temperature ever was 40.3°C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, in 2022. More regional forecasts are expected later today. (PC: BBC)

India-US trade negotiations have hit a deadlock as New Delhi refuses to compromise on key demands concerning its dairy sector. According to senior government sources, the Indian side has drawn a "red line" on dairy imports, citing the livelihoods of over 80 million people, mostly smallholder farmers, dependent on the sector. The United States has been pressing for greater market access for its dairy products, but Indian officials argue that such a move would threaten rural economies and traditional farming systems. Talks may resume later, but the impasse highlights the challenges of balancing trade liberalization with local employment concerns. (PC: India Today)

A BBC investigative report has challenged the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government’s claim that only 37 people died in the January 29 Kumbh Mela stampede in Prayagraj. The BBC found evidence of 81 deaths, based on interviews with 100 affected families across 11 states. It revealed that 26 families were given partial compensation quietly, while 18 families received none. Victims’ relatives allege that many deaths were falsely recorded as due to illness to avoid compensation. The state had claimed it paid ₹25 lakh to 35 families. Critics say this raises serious concerns about data manipulation and a possible cover-up. (PC: BBC, Reuters)

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended by the Constitutional Court after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. The court is investigating if she broke ethics rules during a tense border dispute that led to the death of a Cambodian soldier. In the call, Paetongtarn called Hun Sen “uncle” and referred to a Thai commander as her “opponent.” This sparked protests and backlash. The court voted 7-2 to suspend her while the case continues. Paetongtarn said she will follow the court’s decision. She also faces a separate ethics probe by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. (PC: AP)

India captain Shubman Gill said Jasprit Bumrah is available for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, starting July 2. “Bumrah is surely available, but we have to look into workload management,” Gill said at a press meet. Bumrah bowled 43.4 overs in the first Test, taking five wickets in the first innings. He will play only three out of five Tests in the series, as confirmed earlier. Gill said the team has not yet decided which games Bumrah will play. The final call will be taken after checking the pitch and team combination at the nets. (PC: AP)

A leaked phone call of senior Karnataka Congress MLA BR Patil has gone viral. In the call, he claims, “Siddaramaiah won the lucky lottery and became Chief Minister. I was the one who made him meet Sonia Gandhi.” Patil expressed frustration over party politics, saying, “There is no God or father for us.” He added that Siddaramaiah’s rise was due to “favourable planetary alignment.” Patil said he recently met AICC leader Randeep Surjewala, who told him, “I’m grateful to you.” The leak follows another clip where Patil alleged corruption in a housing scheme, questioning, “Is this a business?” (PC: India Today)

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said it was India—not US President Trump—that led the ceasefire with Pakistan after the April terror attack in Kashmir. In a Newsweek interview, he said, “I was in the room when Vice-President JD Vance warned Prime Minister Modi about a massive Pakistani assault.” India responded quickly on May 9, and the next day, Pakistan asked for a ceasefire. Jaishankar denied Trump’s claim that trade pressure ended the fight, saying, “We did not accept certain things, and the Prime Minister was impervious to threats.” He added, “India no longer separates terrorists from those who support them.” (PC: PTI)

A  severe heatwave continues to grip Europe, placing France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Germany under extreme heat alerts. Paris is now under red alert, its highest warning level, prompting authorities to close the top of the Eiffel Tower. In Italy, 2 heat-related deaths have been reported, while wildfires in western Turkey forced 50,000 evacuations. Parts of Spain and Portugal hit record June highs of 46°C. Meanwhile, southeast England could see temperatures soar to 35°C, though other regions remain more changeable. Cities across Europe are enacting emergency cooling measures as spectators at events like Wimbledon battle the intense sun. (PC: BBC)