Indian conservationist Purnima Devi Barman has been included in Time magazine's Women of the Year 2025 list for her remarkable contributions to wildlife conservation. From Assam, Barman founded the "Hargilla Army," a group of women dedicated to protecting the greater adjutant stork, improving its conservation status from endangered to near-threatened. She also empowers local women by involving them in sustainable practices, including textile production. Barman has received numerous awards, including the Nari Shakti Puraskar and Whitley Award, and continues to inspire global conservation efforts.  

US President Donald Trump recently criticized the $21 million USAID fund allocated to India for 'voter turnout,' calling it a "kickback scheme" during a meeting with the Republican Governors Association. Trump questioned why taxpayer money was spent on India's election turnout, suggesting that the funds were misused. His remarks have sparked a political firestorm in India, with BJP officials accusing the money of supporting "deep-state assets," while Congress questioned the Modi government's handling of foreign aid. This controversy has reignited tensions between the BJP and Congress.  

      Russian forces reclaimed over 800 sq km in Ukraine’s Kursk region, while Moscow launched an overnight drone attack, with 80 drones shot down and 78 lost. Russia also struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in Odesa for a second time, leaving parts without power.Russia's central bank denied involvement in US sanction discussions. The Kremlin criticized UK peacekeeping plans, labeling them a threat. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's remarks about President Trump and urged Ukraine to reconsider its stance on rare earth mineral deals with the US.    

  On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed Kash Patel as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with a 51-49 vote. Patel, a long-time ally of President Donald Trump, is expected to implement significant reforms within the FBI, aiming to reduce political biases and restore public trust. During his confirmation hearing, Patel addressed concerns about his previous statements on the January 6 Capitol riot, emphasizing his commitment to reforming the bureau rather than dismantling it. His appointment has sparked debate, with critics questioning his qualifications and potential political motivations.  

US President Donald Trump asserted that the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE—"broke up" after he threatened to impose 150% tariffs on their goods. Trump claimed that the BRICS countries sought to undermine the US dollar by creating a new currency, prompting him to warn of severe tariffs. He emphasized that he hasn't heard from the BRICS bloc since issuing this threat in February 2023. Trump's earlier warnings in January also included imposing tariffs if BRICS attempted to replace the dollar.  

    Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricketer and ex-BCCI president, survived a road accident on West Bengal’s Durgapur Expressway. While traveling to Burdwan University for an event, Ganguly’s convoy was forced to brake suddenly when a lorry overtook the vehicles. The abrupt stop caused a chain reaction of collisions, damaging two vehicles, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Despite the accident, Ganguly proceeded to the event after a brief wait. He expressed his joy at visiting Burdwan and praised the district's cricketing talent.    

  On February 21, 2025, multiple bus explosions rocked Central Israel, prompting authorities to label the incidents as a suspected terror attack. No casualties were reported, but additional explosives were found on two other buses, heightening concerns. Police discovered five similar bombs, all featuring timing devices. Following the explosions in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, authorities conducted thorough searches for further threats. Prime Minister Netanyahu scheduled a security meeting, coinciding with the return of hostages' bodies by Hamas. Investigations are underway to determine whether a single or multiple perpetrators were involved in the attacks.  

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will oversee Finance, Revenue, and Women and Child Development as the BJP government allocated portfolios. Ashish Sood, a key Punjabi leader, gets Home, Power, and Education, while Jat leader Parvesh Verma handles PWD and Irrigation. Kapil Mishra, known for his Hindutva stance, becomes Law and Justice Minister. Manjinder Singh Sirsa will manage Forest and Food Supplies, and Pankaj Kumar Singh takes Health and Transport. The new Cabinet, sworn in at Ramlila Maidan, also pledged quick implementation of welfare schemes, including Mahila Samman Yojana and Ayushman Yojana, marking BJP’s return after AAP’s 10-year rule.

India captain Rohit Sharma became the second fastest batter to reach 11,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in 261 innings and surpassing Sachin Tendulkar (276). However, he fell short of Virat Kohli’s record (222 innings). Rohit, who started the Champions Trophy 2025 with a quickfire 41 off 36 balls against Bangladesh, now trails Sourav Ganguly (11,363) in India’s all-time ODI run-scorers list. With 32 centuries and 338 sixes, he remains a dominant force in ODIs. Kohli, at 13,963 runs, is just 37 runs away from becoming the third player to reach 14,000 ODI runs.

Amazon MGM Studios has taken creative control of the James Bond franchise in a joint venture with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, who remain co-owners of 007’s intellectual property. The deal follows Amazon's $8.45B acquisition of MGM in 2022. Broccoli confirmed her focus on new projects, while Wilson will concentrate on art and charity. The next Bond film and its lead actor remain unannounced. Amazon has already expanded the franchise with the reality show 007: Road to a Million. “We are honored to usher in the next phase of 007,” said Amazon’s Mike Hopkins.