Sai Varshith Kandula, an Indian American with roots in Hyderabad, was sentenced to eight years in prison for crashing a rented truck into White House barricades in May 2023. Kandula aimed to overthrow the government and establish a dictatorship. He also planned to assassinate the US President. Kandula's actions caused significant damage and endangered public safety.
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US President Donald Trump has called for the repeal of the 2022 CHIPS Act, which includes $39 billion in subsidies for US semiconductor manufacturing. Despite its success in attracting investments, Trump believes the funds would better serve reducing national debt. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and New York Governor Kathy Hochul defended the act's economic benefits.
Abhinav Shukla, an actor, got a death threat online. The threat came from someone claiming to be a fan of Asim Riaz. The person also claimed affiliation with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The message threatened violence against Abhinav and his family. Abhinav shared the threat publicly. Tensions between Rubina Dilaik and Asim Riaz on a reality show are also mentioned.
The ICC Champions Trophy returns to Pakistan on February 19 after eight years, featuring the top eight men's ODI teams divided into two groups. India will play all their matches in Dubai under the hybrid model. Key players and squads have been announced for teams including India, Pakistan, and Australia, among others.
The Centre has introduced a new rule simplifying the import procedure for pet dogs and cats, allowing pet owners to obtain a 'no objection certificate' (NOC) round the clock at the port of entry. This eliminates previous hassles by allowing owners to receive an advance NOC through email submission of required documents.
India and China have agreed to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in 2025, aiming to rebuild bilateral relations. Key measures include increasing people-to-people exchanges, resuming direct flights, and enhancing cooperation on trans-border rivers. High-level talks discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Clashes broke out in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas between ISF supporters and police during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The violence escalated when police prevented protestors from marching to a rally, resulting in torched vehicles, injuries, and arrests. This follows similar unrest in Murshidabad, prompting calls for central intervention and deployment of central forces.
Reimbursements to private hospitals under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) have surged from 24% in 2019-20 to 60% in 2023-24. A significant rise in the number of beneficiaries has driven this increase. Instances of fraudulent billing and overcharging by empanelled hospitals have raised concerns about proper oversight and cost-effectiveness in the scheme.
Pete Alonso re-signed with the New York Mets for $54 million, with Mets owner Steve Cohen criticizing Alonso’s agent Scott Boras for his lack of input during negotiations. Cohen emphasized the importance of connecting personally with Alonso during the process and praised the team's lineup for the 2025 MLB season.
Rohit Sharma, seeking to regain form, played a quick 28 off 35 balls in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir after a disappointing first-innings score of 3. Despite his aggressive play, his innings ended when he was caught off Yudhvir Singh Charak's delivery. His performance aimed to overcome a recent lean patch in international series.
Elon Musk emphasizes that Mars is crucial for human survival, envisioning it as a backup plan against Earth's fragility. His SpaceX's Starship aims for affordable interplanetary travel, with plans for uncrewed missions over the next two years. Musk predicts the first crewed mission to Mars could launch in the early 2030s.