President Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates, sparing them from execution, but excluded three men convicted of notorious mass killings: Robert Bowers, who killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018; Dylann Roof, a white supremacist who murdered nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who carried out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, killing three and injuring hundreds. Biden, opposed to the death penalty, justified his decision by citing the heinous nature of these hate-driven and terroristic acts. The three men remain on death row under federal sentencing.
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During his visit to the US, PM Modi and President Trump affirmed their strong personal bond and discussed key issues including trade, energy, and extradition. Both leaders emphasised the future collaboration and the importance of national interest, with commitments to enhance ties and combat human trafficking together.
A study by SKIMS Medical College in Srinagar has found that the acknowledgments in medical theses in J&K often use repetitive, copy-pasted phrases. Common expressions thanking guides and invoking divine blessings appear frequently, indicating a lack of originality. The study highlights concerns about the inventiveness and independent thinking of future doctors in their research.
Elon Musk appeared at CPAC advocating for budget cuts and government efficiency, wielding a chainsaw symbolically. Argentinian President Javier Milei joined him, sharing a similar agenda. Meanwhile, Kash Patel, a Trump ally, was confirmed as FBI director by the Senate with a tight 51-49 vote, promising transparency and accountability within the agency.
Matthew Hayden advises Virat Kohli to curb his off-stump shots and draw inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar's disciplined Sydney knock in 2004 to regain form in the remaining Border Gavaskar Trophy Tests. Kohli is urged to focus on staying at the crease and playing more down the ground to overcome his lean patch.
Senior civil servant Arunish Chawla, currently the pharmaceuticals secretary, is appointed as the new revenue secretary. Amit Agrawal will succeed Chawla. Vineet Joshi is selected as the higher education secretary. The reorganisation also includes key shifts like Sanjay Sethi heading the national commission for minorities and Rachna Shah leading the department of personnel and training.
Qari Abdul Rehman, a member of the banned anti-Shia outfit ASWJ, was killed in a targeted attack by masked assailants in Karachi's Qaid Abad. The incident, believed to be sectarian in nature, has heightened concerns over Pakistan's sectarian violence. The ASWJ condemned the act as terrorism.
A stampede at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday echoed previous tragedies, recalling deadly incidents in 2004, 2010, and 2012. These stampedes were caused by last-minute platform changes. Experts stress improving crowd management, preventing platform changes during rush hours, and enhancing infrastructure to avoid future mishaps.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam claims the Mumbai Congress faces severe financial trouble, with unpaid rent and bills, and employees without salaries for months. He attributes the crisis to ineffective leadership and a bad alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), predicting further decline for Congress in Maharashtra.
The Delhi assembly election results present significant changes as BJP secures 43 seats, with notable victories by Parvesh Singh Sahib Verma, Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Atishi, Shikha Roy, and Karnail Singh. Arvind Kejriwal, Satyendar Jain, and Manish Sisodia of AAP suffer major losses, impacting the party's overall standing.
Thursday saw a tense exchange between Hamas and Israel as four Israeli hostages' bodies were returned, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were released. With the ceasefire's first phase concluding and its future uncertain, both sides navigate complex negotiations amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.