LIVE updates: Top news headlines of today – 21 Feb 2025

New Delhi: The BJP formed its government in Delhi on Thursday after more than 26 years, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and her six ministers being sworn in at the Ramlila Ground and the new Cabinet approved the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Yojana in its first meeting.

Addressing a press conference soon after the Cabinet meeting, the chief minister announced allocation of portfolios among the newly appointed ministers and said that 14 pending CAG reports will be tabled in the first session of the Delhi Assembly.

While Gupta has kept with her finance, services, vigilance, revenue, and women and child development, among other departments, her Cabinet colleague Parvesh Verma has been allotted PWD, water, legislative affairs, irrigation and flood control, and gurdwara elections portfolios. Ashish Sood got home, power, education, and urban development, among other departments.

In Dubai, Shubman Gill was more artisan than artist en route to his eighth ODI hundred after Mohammed Shami’s satisfying five-wicket haul, propelling India to a workmanlike six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Champions Trophy opener on Thursday.

Skipper Rohit Sharma showered praise on his deputy Shubman Gill and veteran pacer Mohammed Shami for coming up with game-changing performances.

Track this LIVE update page for other important developments throughout the day.

Feb 21, 2025 16:48 IST
Deeply troubling and raises concerns about foreign interference in India: MEA on USAID
India on Friday said the revelations about USAID funding for certain activities in the country are "deeply troubling" and have led to concerns about foreign interference in its internal affairs.
 
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said relevant departments and authorities are looking into the information put out by the United States administration regarding certain US activities and funding. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 16:30 IST
Markets continue to fall for 4th day dragged by auto stocks, FII outflows
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower on Friday, dragged by auto stocks and relentless foreign fund outflows.
 
Weak US markets and tariff threats also dented investor sentiment.
 
The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex dropped 424.90 points or 0.56 per cent to settle at 75,311.06. During the day, it tanked 623.55 points or 0.82 per cent to 75,112.41.
 
The NSE Nifty declined 117.25 points or 0.51 per cent to 22,795.90.



Feb 21, 2025 16:18 IST
Kerala enter historic Ranji Trophy final after dramatic first innings lead over Gujarat
A resilient Kerala on Friday sealed their maiden Ranji Trophy final by taking a dramatic two-run first-innings lead over Gujarat, 68 years after making their debut in Indian cricket's premier domestic competition.
 
Going into the final day at 429/7, the home side, who won the Ranji title in 2016-17, needed just 29 runs to take a first innings lead. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 16:17 IST
BJP's narrative was aimed at diverting attention from own sins: Congress on USAID row
A row erupted on Friday over a media report, which claimed that an amount of USD 21 million approved by the USAID was meant for Bangladesh and not India, with the Congress demanding an apology from the BJP and alleging that the ruling party's narrative was aimed at diverting attention from its own use of foreign funds to destabilise past governments led by the grand old party.
 
The Congress also reiterated its demand from the government for a white paper on the USAID funding as well as funding by other such agencies in India. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 16:16 IST
Rahul Gandhi a 'traitor', colluding with foreign forces to weaken India: BJP on USAID row
The BJP on Friday sharpened its attack on the Congress on the USAID funding issue and called Rahul Gandhi a "traitor", accusing him of colluding with foreign forces in his bid to weaken India as it dismissed as "cover-up" media reports that claimed USD 21 million was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India.
 
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed the USAID funding came to India to meddle with internal politics and disrupt electoral politics in India. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 15:57 IST
Video: White House staff welcomes FBI director Kash Patel's appointment in Bollywood style
Newly-confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel got a Bollywood-style welcome from an aide of US President Donald Trump, who shared a morphed video of him dancing to the song “Malhari” from the film “Bajirao Mastani”.
 
Patel, 44, was confirmed on Thursday by a narrow vote in the Republican-led Senate, 51 to 49, and becomes the first Indian-American to lead the country’s premier law enforcement agency.
Congratulations to the new Director of the FBI, @Kash_Patel! pic.twitter.com/JsANV0s9cP
— Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) February 20, 2025



Feb 21, 2025 14:36 IST
CAG reports to be tabled in first session of newly constituted Delhi Assembly
The first session of the newly constituted Delhi Assembly will begin this Monday, officials said on Friday.
 
The session will be held on February 24, 25, 27 and 14 pending CAG reports on the performance of previous AAP government will be tabled in the House, they said.
 
The newly elected MLAs with be administered oath of office on February 24-25. After a holiday for Shiv Ratri on February 26, the CAG reports will be tabled by the BJP government.



Feb 21, 2025 14:14 IST
Rahul Gandhi meets party workers in Rae Bareli, asks them to gear up for 2027 UP polls
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged party workers to strengthen the organisation and begin preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.
 
Party workers met Gandhi at his parliamentary residence in Bhuemau and apprised him of various issues, particularly those concerning Dalits. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 14:09 IST
Sonia Gandhi discharged from Ganga Ram hospital, say sources
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was discharged from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here on Friday morning, sources said.
 
The Congress leader was admitted to the hospital for a regular check up on Thursday morning.
 
She was under observation of a team of doctors, the source said.



Feb 21, 2025 13:45 IST
Head Digital Works to acquire Adda52 parent firm for Rs 491 crore
Head Digital Works (HDW), an online skill gaming company, on Friday, said it will acquire Deltatech Gaming Ltd (DGL), the parent firm of online poker platform Adda52, for Rs 491 crore.
 
The transaction will be executed in two phases, according to a company statement. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 13:45 IST
Delhi Capitals eye top spot as UP Warriorz chase first win in WPL clash
Delhi Capitals will aim to claim the top spot, while UP Warriorz will be desperate to register their first win of the season when the two sides face off in the Women's Premier League here on Saturday.
 
Currently sitting second on the points table behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru, DC have won two of their three games. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 13:44 IST
Kerala aims to have 15,000 startups by 2026: CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Kerala aims to have 15,000 startups and create 1 lakh employment opportunities by 2026, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday.
 
In his inaugural address at the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) here, he said the state has made major strides in the startup sector.
 
In the last 8 years, Kerala has witnessed the establishment of 6,200 startups with an investment of Rs 5,800 crore creating 62,000 employment opportunities.



Feb 21, 2025 12:46 IST
Kangana Ranaut says 'Emergency' will stream on Netflix from March 17
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut on Friday announced that her film "Emergency" will be available for streaming on Netflix from March 17.
 
The film, which courted controversy over its censor certificate and allegations that it misrepresents the Sikh community, released in theatres on January 17 after several delays.
 
Also directed and produced by Ranaut, the film portrays the Emergency months and features the actor in the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 12:45 IST
Shubman Gill's ton of purpose gives India confidence for Pakistan, New Zealand matches
Shubman Gill has an invincibility cloak hung around his shoulder in ODIs these days. Conditions and oppositions do not feature in his set-list.
 
After taking a dominant avatar against England recently at home, Gill faced a different challenge against Bangladesh in India's Champions Trophy opener in Dubai on Thursday night. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 12:45 IST
Leonardo DiCaprio to produce Martin Scorsese's crime movie
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio will once again team up with filmmaker Martin Scorsese on a crime movie, based on the original idea by Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
 
The three actors will feature in the movie, which is said to be in the same vein as Scorsese's critically-acclaimed crime thrillers "Goodfellas" (1990) and "The Departed" (2006).



Feb 21, 2025 12:44 IST
SC seeks response of Maharashtra, Assam on plea of YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani
The Supreme Court on Friday sought response of Maharashtra and Assam governments on a plea of YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani seeking to quash or transfer to Mumbai an FIR registered in Guwahati in connection with a case of allegedly promoting obscenity in an online show.
 
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice and tagged Chanchlani’s plea with influencer Ranveer Allahbadia’s pending petition. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 11:01 IST
Kash Patel confirmed by US Senate as Trump’s FBI director
New FBI director Kash Patel has vowed to "rebuild" trust in the bureau as he becomes the first Indian-American to lead the country’s premier law enforcement agency after being confirmed by the US Senate.
 
The Republican-led Senate narrowly voted to confirm 44-year-old Patel on Thursday. The Senate voted 51 to 49 to confirm Patel. Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted against his confirmation.
 
The nomination faced intense scrutiny from Democrats on Capitol Hill who have warned that Patel is poised to use the position to seek retribution against Trump’s perceived political enemies. Read More...



Feb 21, 2025 09:09 IST
17 militants arrested from 4 Manipur districts
Seventeen militants belonging to different banned outfits were arrested from four Manipur districts in the last 24 hours, police said on Friday. Read more...



Feb 21, 2025 09:07 IST
KIIT founder Achyuta Samanta tenders apology to Nepalese students' parents, asks pupils to return
Official Statement from Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT.@MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @MofaNepal @IndiaInNepal @EONIndia pic.twitter.com/uqY56uDHH9
— KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (@KIITUniversity) February 20, 2025



Feb 21, 2025 08:00 IST
USAID’s $2.5 billion NGO funding linked to Bharat Jodo Yatra
A notable spike in USAID funding under the category of "Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance" occurred in 2022, coinciding with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s high-profile Bharat Jodo Yatra. 
 
The timing has fueled speculation that the funds may have been used to bolster opposition activities or influence public opinion during a critical political period, though no concrete evidence has been presented yet. Read more...
 



Feb 21, 2025 07:28 IST
Israel identifies child hostages’ remains, rejects Hamas’ claim on mother’s body
Hamas militants had turned over four bodies Thursday under the tenuous ceasefire that has paused over 15 months of war. Israel confirmed one body was that of Oded Lifshitz, who was 83 when he was abducted during the Hamas attack that started the war on October 7, 2023. Read more...