Times of India

The Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets are playing today, February 19, in a game rescheduled due to January wildfires in LA. Initially set for January 9, the match was moved as part of several rescheduled Lakers games. The Hornets are also starting a West Coast road trip, and the game follows a recent trade attempt that fell through.

The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by using 'shraddhanjali' instead of 'adaranjali' in his tribute. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar demanded a retraction. Congress retaliated, citing similar language used by PM Modi. Both parties exchanged accusations regarding the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, with Congress pointing out BJP's past controversies and failures in honoring the Maratha ruler's legacy.

The Reliance-Disney joint venture has launched JioHotstar, merging JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar to challenge Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Reliance Jio is offering free JioHotstar subscription with its JioFiber plans, ranging from Rs 999 to Rs 11,988. These plans include additional OTT subscriptions like Netflix and Amazon Prime Lite, with internet speeds up to 1 Gbps and unlimited data.

A 17-year-old power-lifter, Yashtika Acharya, passed away during training in Bikaner, Rajasthan, as a 270kg rod fell on her neck. The incident, which occurred under her trainer's supervision, resulted in fatal injuries and her subsequent death, deeply impacting the sporting community. Following the incident, Acharya was rushed to hospital where medical staff pronounced her dead. The SHO reported that the accident occurred whilst her trainer was supervising her weight-lifting session. The trainer sustained minor injuries in the incident.

Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli celebrates the return of the Champions Trophy, being held for the first time since 2017. India, starting their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai, will also face Pakistan and New Zealand in group-stage matches. Kohli appreciates the high competition level and aims to continue his form from the previous ODI series against England.

Sam Pitroda and Mani Shankar Aiyar, once close allies of Rajiv Gandhi, have a history of making controversial remarks that trouble the Congress party. Pitroda's recent comment on India-China relations sparked backlash, contrasting with Congress's stance. Despite past controversies, Pitroda continues to receive support from the Gandhi family, unlike Aiyar, who faced consequences for his remarks.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, is confident in competing with Tesla if the EV maker enters the Indian market. He draws confidence from past experiences dating back to India's 1991 economic liberalisation. Mahindra's commitment to innovation is evident with its recent EV launches. Tesla has recently shown interest in India, posting job openings and meeting with PM Narendra Modi.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy refutes Trump's claim about his approval rating and Russian-sourced disinformation, amidst ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy addresses concerns regarding suspended elections and upcoming talks with U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg while emphasizing the need for security assurances in any future peace agreements.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized UP CM Yogi Adityanath for mentioning cricketer Mohammed Shami's alleged holy dip at Maha Kumbh. Yadav's jab was a response to Adityanath's ongoing initiative of renaming old Mughal and British era names of locations since taking office in 2017.

US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussed India's high import duties on US automobiles. Trump called the tariffs unfair and suggested reciprocal charges. Tesla is preparing to introduce electric vehicles in India by advertising positions in Mumbai, targeting an affordable EV market with plans for regional exports.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticizes Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for the state's educational issues, pointing out the closure of 11 lakh primary schools, most in UP. SP leader Mata Prasad Pandey accuses Adityanath of politicizing language by shifting the focus to Urdu, while ignoring vital educational improvements. Yogi counters SP's stance on language with accusations of double standards.

US President Trump's reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports are expected to have a limited impact, reducing exports by only 3-3.5%, according to an SBI report. India is countering potential impacts by diversifying its export markets and enhancing trade routes, aiming for sustainable growth despite new tariffs.

Residents in Ayapakkam Housing Board, Tamil Nadu, protested against Hindi imposition. They drew kolams with messages supporting Tamil language. DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin warned that Hindi could destroy Tamil like North Indian languages. The INDIA bloc parties protested against BJP's policies, highlighting issues like budget allocation and education funds.

Elon Musk's xAI company has introduced Grok 3, a powerful new chatbot aimed at competing with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Announced at the World Governments Summit, Musk described Grok 3 as 'scary smart.' It is accessible to Premium Plus subscribers on X, with a promising voice interaction feature expected within a week, enhancing the user experience.