Sun Feb 23 01:36:16 UTC 2025: ## International and National News Roundup: February 23, 2025

**International News:**

* **Pope Francis’s Condition Critical:** Pope Francis remains in critical condition after experiencing a severe asthmatic attack and receiving blood transfusions due to anemia. The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized for a week with a lung infection.
* **France Knife Attack:** A knife attack in Mulhouse, France, claimed one life and injured at least two others. French President Emmanuel Macron labeled the attack as Islamic extremism, with a 37-year-old Algerian man arrested.
* **Peru Mall Collapse:** A food court roof collapse at a shopping mall in Trujillo, Peru, resulted in six deaths and at least 78 injuries.
* **New Zealand Naval Exercise:** The Chinese navy conducted a live-fire exercise in international waters near New Zealand, following a similar joint Australia-New Zealand exercise that caused flight diversions.
* **Australia Cricket Victory:** Australia secured a five-wicket victory over England in the Champions Trophy, with Josh Inglis scoring a maiden ODI century in the highest successful run chase in men’s ICC ODI history. The match was marred by a brief, incorrectly played Indian national anthem. The Pakistan Cricket Board blamed the ICC for the error.

**India News:**

* **Farmer Protests Continue:** Farmers in Punjab continued their year-long protests for legal guarantees on Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops. A meeting with the Union government ended inconclusively, with further talks scheduled for March 19.
* **Advocates Act Amendment:** The Union Law Ministry announced a new draft Bill to amend the Advocates Act, following public feedback on a previous draft.
* **Manipur Weapons Surrender:** Following a Governor’s appeal, members of the Kuki-Zomi community in Churachandpur surrendered 16 looted and illegal weapons, including AK rifles and grenade launchers.
* **Telangana Tunnel Collapse:** Eight people were trapped after a section of a tunnel roof collapsed at an under-construction canal project in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana.
* **Pennsylvania Hospital Hostage Situation:** A gunman took staff hostage at a Pennsylvania hospital before being killed in a shootout with police; one officer died in the incident.
* **USAID Funding Concerns:** External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over information released by the Trump administration regarding USAID funding in India.
* **India-France Military Cooperation:** Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi began a five-day visit to France to strengthen bilateral military cooperation.
* **Delhi Road Project Update:** The Barapullah elevated corridor is expected to open to the public within 12 months, according to the newly appointed PWD Minister.
* **Maharashtra-Karnataka Bus Suspension:** MSRTC bus services between Maharashtra and Karnataka have been suspended from the Kolhapur division following an assault on a transport employee in Karnataka.
* **Language Debate in Uttar Pradesh:** A political debate over language use in Uttar Pradesh intensified, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP and RSS of hindering access to English education for marginalized communities.

The article summarizes various news events reported on February 23rd, 2025, covering international incidents, domestic political and social issues, and sporting events.

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