"I Love Donald Trump," Says Elon Musk. US President Reacts

Billionaire Elon Musk, more active on social media platform X than ever, on Friday, had an unexpected declaration for US President Donald Trump. "I love Donald Trump as much as a straight man can love another man," the Tesla CEO wrote on X.

Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, reacted with laughing emojis, while users flooded the platform with jokes.

???????????? https://t.co/QZwRFpRvWZ

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 7, 2025

A user reminded him that Valentine's Day was still days away. 

Valentine's Day is on the 14th.

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 7, 2025

Someone called it the "greatest bromance in history."

Greatest bromance in history pic.twitter.com/GgR7qwpnWM

— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) February 7, 2025

Another joked, "Says a lot when you have to state 'as much as a straight man'."

Says a lot when you have to state "as much as a straight man"...

— Bill G (@Bill_Gro) February 7, 2025

At a White House briefing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy took the opportunity to question Trump about Musk's post.

"Elon Musk says, 'I love Donald Trump as much as a straight man can love another man.' What does the First Lady think of that?" Mr Doocy asked.

With his signature grin, Trump shrugged off the question. "Oh, I think she'll be okay with it... somehow."

Fox News' Peter Doocy's first question for Trump: Elon Musk says I love Donald Trump as mush as a straight man can love another man. What does the First Lady think of that? pic.twitter.com/8NVS8pnjZx

— Acyn (@Acyn) February 7, 2025

Musk's statement came after he cemented his position as a key Trump ally weeks after the 78-year-old returned to the White House. The billionaire donated over $100 million to Republican causes, attended campaign rallies, and took on an influential role in shaping the administration's policies.

Together, Trump and Musk have emerged as a disruptive force in Washington. In his first weeks back in office, Trump has issued sweeping executive orders - targeting birthright citizenship and rolling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked controversy by gaining access to sensitive government records, including the federal payment system that distributes Social Security checks.

The Trump administration, alongside Musk's budget-cutting DOGE, has also launched an unprecedented crackdown on USAID. Nearly all funding for the agency has been halted, effectively shutting down global aid and development programs. Staffers and contractors have been placed on leave or furloughed, with access to agency systems revoked. According to Democratic lawmakers, USAID's computer servers were even removed as part of the overhaul.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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BJP's Delhi 'Wapsi' Complete, Focus Now On Chief Minister Question

The Delhi Assembly election win in the bag, the Bharatiya Janata Party's focus will now shift to the next big question - who will the party pick as the next Chief Minister of Delhi?

The smart money, it appears, is on Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, the 'giant slayer' who defeated Aam Aadmi Party boss Arvind Kejriwal in his New Delhi stronghold. Mr Verma eased to a comfortable win over a beleaguered Mr Kejriwal - by over 4,000 votes - to cement a miserable afternoon for the AAP.

And if that isn't reason enough to suggest the two-time former Lok Sabha MP get the top post, there is this - three of the last four Chief Ministers held the New Delhi seat. Mr Kejriwal won it in 2013, 2015, and 2020, and the Congress' Sheila Dikshit, his predecessor, claimed it in the 2008 election.

But Mr Verma isn't the only name on the shortlist. BJP sources have told NDTV there are five candidates, including Mr Verma, and that the party will balance various factors, including caste.

Parvesh Verma

Making Mr Verma Chief Minister will send a strong message to the Jat community, from which the incoming New Delhi MLA hails. Jat votes helped ensure the BJP won last year's Haryana election, as well as flipping Rajasthan from the Congress, and solidifying its hold over Uttar Pradesh.

That Parvesh Verma met Union Home Minister Amit Shah - widely credited with orchestrating the BJP's remarkable Delhi win - soon after his victory was confirmed is another sign in his favour.

READ | Parvesh Verma Emerges 'Giant Killer' After Defeating Kejriwal

Mr Verma spoke to NDTV and gave the people of Delhi an "assurance", i.e., the incoming Delhi government, which will form a 'double engine' administration with the party that is also in power at the centre, will work for the development of the national capital.

READ | "Want To Assure People Of Delhi...": 'Giant-Slayer' Parvesh Verma

"... people of Delhi have given us this mandate. I want to assure them a government will be formed that works with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government," he said.

Satish Upadhyay

The second option is Satish Upadhyay, who stopped AAP leader Somnath Bharti from claiming a fourth successive win from the Malviya Nagar Assembly constituency.

Mr Upadhyay is seen as the Delhi BJP's Brahmin face.

He was the party's state unit boss and, crucially for him, also served as Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, which means he has administrative experience relating directly the national capital, something Mr Verma may, perhaps, not have.

Another point in Mr Upadhyay's favour is that he has held many other senior positions within the BJP, and is also close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the BJP's ideological mentor.

Ashish Sood

The BJP's Punjabi face, Mr Sood is the new MLA from the Janakpuri Assembly constituency, which was (an impenetrable) BJP stronghold till 2015, when the AAP's Rajesh Rishi won two terms.

Mr Sood's past administrative experience includes time as a Delhi Councillor and the General-Secretary of the party's Delhi unit. He is also in-charge of the party's unit in Goa (which will vote next in 2027) and the co-in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir.

Other points in Mr Sood's favour, sources have suggested, are his close ties with the BJP's central leadership, and his tenure as President of Delhi University.

Jitendra Mahajan, Vijender Gupta

The fourth and fifth names on this list, Jitendra Mahajan and Vijender Gupta come from the Vaishya community, with the latter possibly the more favoured of the two options.

With his win today, Mr Mahajan is now a three-time MLA from Delhi's Rohtas Nagar. And, like Mr Upadhyay, also has closes links to the RSS.

Mr Gupta was President of the Delhi BJP and is seen as the Vaishya face of the party. He is now a three-time MLA from the Rohini Assembly seat and has also been Leader of the Opposition twice.

BJP Thumps AAP, Reclaims Delhi

The BJP - boosted by the 'Modi wave' and votes from women, the middle-class, and the Purvanchali community - brought the curtain down on Arvind Kejriwal's decade-long hold over Delhi.

READ | Delhi Picks BJP, Rejects AAP, PM Says "Development Won"

The AAP, which registered landslide wins in the 2015 and 2020 elections, winning 67 and 62 of Delhi's 70 seats each time, was dealt a heavy defeat this time around. The BJP is set to win 48 seats - up 40 from five years ago - to the AAP's 22. The Congress draws a blank for the third straight Delhi election.

READ | "Development, Good Governance Won": PM On BJP's Big Delhi Win

Reacting to the big win, the PM said on X, "My salute and congratulations to all my brothers and sisters for giving a historic victory to BJP... I am very grateful to all of you from the bottom of my heart..."

Mr Kejriwal, meanwhile, was left with little option but accept "the people's mandate".

READ | "Accept People's Mandate": Arvind Kejriwal Reacts To Delhi Loss

"People's decision is paramount. I congratulate the BJP on its victory and I hope that it lives up to the hopes and expectations of the people who have given them a majority." he said in a video statement.

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Muslim Man Thrashed In Bhopal Courtroom For Trying To Marry Hindu Woman

A man was allegedly brutally thrashed by members of a right wing organisation at a district court in Bhopal, when he arrived at the premises with a woman, from another faith, whom he wanted to marry.

A purported viral video of the incident shows the man, a Muslim, getting beaten up by two men, even as he writhes in pain.

Police said they have launched a probe and are also trying to verify the authenticity of the video.

*ब्रेकिंग भोपाल*

*भोपाल जिला अदालत में जमकर हुआ हंगामा*

*मुस्लिम युवक की हिंदूवादी संगठन के कार्यकर्ताओं ने की पिटाई*

*हिंदूवादी संगठन ने युवक पर लगाए लव जिहाद के आरोप*

*लव जिहाद का आरोप लगाते हुए की जमकर पिटाई*

नरसिंहपुर से मुस्लिम युवक कोर्ट हिंदू लड़की को लेकर पहुंचा था। pic.twitter.com/39wGOamwQr

— tarun yadav / तरुण यादव (@CameramanTarun) February 7, 2025

According to sources, the victim is a resident of Narsinghpur and had arrived in Bhopal to marry the woman, a Hindu, from Pipariya in court.
 
"The victim, a Muslim, had come to the district court with a Hindu woman to meet a lawyer who was to notarise their documents. We have called their families to speak to them," MP Nagar police station inspector Jai Hind Sharma was quoted as saying by PTI.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Akshay Chaudhary said the man is undergoing a medical examination, and a probe into the assault is underway. "We will take appropriate action against those involved," he said. 

The right wing organisation alleged a "love jihad" conspiracy.

"He brought the woman after trapping her. When we got information from the lawyers, we intervened...," Chandrashekhar Tiwari, president of the outfit Sanskriti Bachao Manch, said. 

The outfit also demanded strict action against the victim.

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"Finally, You Will Shave Your Beard": To Naga Chaitanya, A Message From Sobhita

Naga Chaitanya's film Thandel released today. Recently, his wife and actress Sobhita Dhulipala praised the actor and expressed her excitement to finally see her husband's clean-shaven face.

The actress wrote, "#Thandel release day tomorrow! I've seen you so focused and positive throughout the making of this film, and I can't wait for everyone (and myself) to experience this extraordinary love story in theatres from tomorrow," alongside a picture of Chaitanya from the film.

She added a sweet message in Telugu that read, "Finally gaddam shave chesthavu.. modati sari ni mukham darshanam avuthundi saami @chayakkineni," which translates to: "Finally, you will shave your beard, and I will see your face."

ICYDK, Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita married on December 4 last year in a grand ceremony in Hyderabad. They exchanged wedding vows in a traditional Telugu Brahmin ceremony at Hyderabad's Annapurna Studios.

Veteran actor Nagarjuna shared a series of pictures from Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala's wedding. The bride wore a golden kanjivaram saree. The groom, on the other hand, sported a white kurta teamed with dhoti. Sharing the pictures on X (formerly Twitter), Nagarjuna wrote, "Watching Sobhita and Chay begin this beautiful chapter together has been a special and emotional moment for me. Congratulations to my beloved Chay, and welcome to the family dear Sobhita--you've already brought so much happiness into our lives."

He added, "This celebration holds even deeper meaning as it unfolds under the blessings of ANR garu's statue, installed to mark his centenary year. It feels as though his love and guidance are present with us at every step of this journey. I thank the countless blessings showered upon us today with gratitude."

Coming back to Thandel, the film is a romantic action thriller directed by Chandoo Mondeti, co-starring Sai Pallavi. It tells the gripping story of fishermen from Srikakulam who, during a routine fishing trip, accidentally drift into Pakistani waters, leading to rugged and unexpected challenges.

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US Government Vessels To Sail Through Panama Canal Without Fees

The United States said Wednesday that its government vessels would be allowed to sail for free through the Panama Canal, following heavy pressure from President Donald Trump.

"US government vessels can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees, saving the US government millions of dollars a year," the State Department said in a post on social media platform X.

It was the first public announcement of promises hinted at by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said that Panama offered concessions during his talks on Sunday.

Rubio said he had told Panama that it was unfair for the United States to be in a position to defend the vital waterway and also to be charged for its use.

Since winning the November US election, Trump has refused to rule out the use of force to seize the canal, through which 40 percent of US container traffic passes. Trump and Rubio have complained about Chinese investment -- including ports on both sides of the canal -- and warned that Beijing could close the waterway to the United States in a crisis.  

Panama has forcefully denied Trump's repeated allegations that China has been given a role in operating the canal.  

But it has also moved to address US concerns. President Jose Raul Mulino after his talks with Rubio said that Panama would not renew membership in the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing's signature infrastructure-building program.

Rubio told reporters on Monday that his talks with Mulino were "respectful" and that the visit was "going to achieve potentially good things that assuage concerns we have."

Trump, however, said that he was still "not happy," although he acknowledged that Panama had "agreed to certain things."

The United States and Panama are scheduled to hold new talks on Friday to discuss the canal.

Trump in his inaugural address said the United States would be "taking back" the canal -- built more than a century ago by Washington with Afro-Caribbean labor and handed back to Panama at the end of 1999.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Valencia vs Barcelona LIVE Streaming Copa Del Rey: When And Where To Watch

Valencia vs Barcelona LIVE Streaming, Copa del Rey: Barcelona take on Valencia in a Copa del Rey quarter-final, just over a week after thrashing them 7-1 in a La Liga match. Barcelona were knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the Copa del Rey in the previous season. As a result, they will be hoping to replicate their last performance against Valencia. Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have already booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, and Barcelona will be hoping to join that list. Valencia, who beat Barcelona to the Copa title in 2019, will be eyeing a major upset this time around.

Valencia vs Barcelona LIVE Streaming details, Copa del Rey 2024-25 LIVE Telecast: Check Where and How to Watch?

When will the Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match take place?

The Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match will take place on Friday, February 7 (IST).

Where will the Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match be held?

The Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match will be held at the Mestalla Stadium, Valencia.

What time will the Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match start?

The Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match will start at 2:00 AM IST.

Which TV channels will show the live telecast of the Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match?

The Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match will not be televised live in India.

Where to follow the live streaming of the Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match?

The Valencia vs Barcelona, Copa del Rey match will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website.

(All details are as per information provided by the broadcaster)

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A Blank South Korea? New North Korea Map Piques Interest Online

The tension between North and South Korea is legendary. Since the Korean War in the 1950s, reconciliation efforts have not been successful. And now, a photo of North Korea's map circulating on the internet has baffled policy researchers and other users. The map has been shared on the Chinese social media platform RedNote (Xiaohongshu) and claims the revised map was shared in April 2024, as per a report in Newsweek. It marks a major shift in the country's policy on unification by showing the Korean Peninsula divided into two separate parts, further driving home North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's break from the long-standing goal of eventual reunification with the South.

For decades, Pyongyang had demanded to be reunited with the South but always on its terms. The three-year Korean War, which started when communist North invaded South, ended in an armistice in 1953 without a peace treaty ever being signed. Still, Pyongyang kept preaching reunification for many years afterward, according to the news portal.

According to Newsweek, labelled "Joseon," the term North Korea typically uses for itself, the map displayed administrative districts only for the North and omitted them for the South-unlike older charts that have been made public.

Instead, South Korea was shown in grey like China and labelled simply as "South Korea. This was a departure from the previously used term "Puppet Korea", which implied the South was not an independent country but a US puppet state.

Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of North Korea, said in an October speech: "In the previous period, we talked a lot about liberating the South and unifying the country by force, but now we are not interested in that at all, and since we declared two countries, we are not even conscious of that country."

North Korea's rhetoric on the South has been subdued since the December political crisis in Seoul following now-jailed President Yoon Suk-yeol's brief declaration of martial law. Despite this, experts believe Kim Jong Un will not reverse his purge of unification symbols.

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