India flags ‘mistreatment’ of nationals deported from U.S.
In a special briefing on Friday (February 7, 2025), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India has registered its concerns with the U.S. on deportation issue. “The real cancer is the misleading of innocents to undertake illegal immigration, and the people who do this must be prosecuted,” he said. Mr. Misri added that MEA has flagged the issues of “mistreatment of illegal migrants deported to India”, and said “will continue to do”. The MEA also announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a two-day working visit to the U.S. from February 12 during which he will meet President Donald Trump.
ACB serves notice to Kejriwal over claims of BJP poaching AAP candidates
The Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on Friday (February 7, 2025) served a legal notice to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, seeking details and evidence regarding his allegations that the BJP attempted to bribe his party candidates ahead of the Delhi Assembly election results. The legal notice comes just a day before the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly elections. The notice, delivered at Mr. Kejriwal’s 5, Ferozeshah Road residence, has intensified tensions between AAP and BJP, with the former calling it politically-motivated. The ACB’s notice specifically refers to an X post by Mr. Kejriwal accusing the BJP of offering bribes to 16 AAP candidates to switch sides.
Why more voters added in 5 months than in 5 years in Maharashtra: Rahul Gandhi
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday (February 7, 2025) raised concerns over the surge in new voters, particularly between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra, highlighting that 39 lakh new voters were added in just five months after the Lok Sabha polls. In a joint press conference with the leaders of the INDIA bloc including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, Mr. Gandhi said that Congress, Shiv Sena-UBT, NCP-SS demand from the Election Commission voters’ list of Maharashtra. “We have been telling the EC about anomalies in Maharashtra polls, we need voters’ lists of Lok Sabha polls, Assembly elections,” he said.
RBI cuts lending rate by 25 basis points to 6.25%
In a bid to add to the momentum of the budgetary reliefs, RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Friday (February 7, 2025) decided unanimously to reduce the policy rate by 25 basis points to 6.25% from 6.5%. One basis point equals 0.01%. Consequently, the Standing Deposit Facility rate will be at 6%. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said, “The interest of the economy demands financial stability and consumer protection. Our mandate at the RBI is to ensure both of them.” The MPC also decided unanimously to continue with a neutral stance and remain unambiguously focused on a durable alignment of the inflation target, while supporting growth.
R.G. Kar case: Calcutta HC rejects Bengal’s appeal, admits CBI’s plea seeking capital punishment
The Calcutta High Court on Friday (February 7, 2025) rejected the West Bengal government’s appeal challenging the trial court’s life term till death awarded to R.G. Kar hospital rape-murder case convict Sanjay Roy, while admitting the same plea of the CBI. Both the CBI and the State government filed appeals before the High Court seeking capital punishment for Roy, the sole convict in the case. The division bench comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Md. Sabbar Rashidi said that since the CBI conducted the investigation and was the prosecution agency, its appeal challenging the quantum of sentence is being admitted for hearing. The State government had argued before the High Court that apart from the central agency, it too can move an appeal claiming inadequacy of sentence given by the trial court.
Fire breaks out at camp in Maha Kumbh Mela
A fire broke out at a camp in Mahakumbh Nagar on Friday (February 7, 2025), fire officials said. No casualties have been reported. Inspector Yogesh Chaturvedi of Khak Chowk police station said, “A fire broke out at a camp near Tulsi Chauraha on Old GT Road. However, firefighters have managed to bring the blaze largely under control.” He said fire department officials have arrived at the scene to oversee the operation. Multiple fire tenders are at the scene, working to extinguish the flames.
Sambhal property demolition: SC asks petitioner to approach jurisdictional HC
The Supreme Court on Friday (February 7, 2025) asked a petitioner, who was seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Sambhal authorities for allegedly violating its verdict on demolition of properties, to approach the jurisdictional High Court. “File it before the High Court,” a bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K. Vinod Chandran told the counsel appearing for petitioner Mohammed Ghayoor. “We find that the issue can be best addressed by the jurisdictional high court,” the bench said, while granting liberty to the petitioner to approach the High Court.
Did T.N. Governor refer re-passed bills to President to avoid assent, asks Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Friday (February 7, 2025) asked whether Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi referred 10 Bills re-passed by the State Legislature to the President to avoid having to give his consent to them. A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan questioned Attorney-General of India R. Venkataramani if the Governor had referred the re-passed bills to the President for consideration only to circumvent the procedure under the first proviso of Article 200 (Governor’s assent of Bills) of the Constitution. Under Article 200, a Governor has three options when bills are sent to him for assent. That is, either to give assent, withhold assent or refer the Bills to the President for consideration.
Kerala Budget 2025-26: Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal announces hike in land tax
A 50% hike in the land tax, expected to bring in an additional ₹100 crore for the State government, plans to transform the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) into a “revenue-generating entity,” as well as announcements aimed at boosting investment-friendly infrastructure, marked the 2025-2026 Kerala Budget presented by Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal on Friday (February 7, 2025). Presenting his fifth Budget in the Kerala Assembly, Mr. Balagopal chose to paint an optimistic picture of a State economy that has “definitely overcome the trying times of severe fiscal constraints” that had affected it in recent years.
Air India cabin crew held as deportees at Zurich for 24 hours
Five crew members of Air India were recently put in a deportee cell at Zurich airport because they were not carrying an authorised crew member certificate, which is a substitute for a visa for flight crew. They remained confined for 24 hours in the cell and were allowed to leave the cell only to use the toilet. They were also barred from using the shower facility and their mobile phones, according to the sources. The Hindu has requested Air India’s response. Allegedly, the crew did not carry a valid crew member certificate. According to sources, the crew member certificate was endorsed under the Vistara name, but immigration authorities refused to accept it since they were travelling as Air India employees.
Indian consulate in Seattle rejects Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant’s emergency visa
The Indian consulate in Seattle rejected Indian-American politician Kshama Sawant’s emergency visa but granted it to her husband Calvin Priest. The officer at the consulate did not give an explanation, simply saying Ms. Sawant’s name is on the “rejection list”. Ms. Sawant’s political organisation ‘Workers Strike Back’’s members came to the Consulate to support them as they were worried about their safety, she said. “We engaged in a peaceful civil disobedience at the Consulate office, with other members outside on the street.” Ms. Sawant, a critic of India’s Hindu Right, has “urged” the country’s political Opposition to speak up for critics like her, saying it is in their interest to do so.
H-1B initial registration period to commence on March 7, 2025: USCIS
“The initial registration period for the H-1B visas, the most sought-after by Indian IT professionals, for the fiscal year 2026 will commence on March 7, 2025 and close on March 24, 2025,” a federal agency has said. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in special occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries such as India and China. “During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives must use a USCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated registration fee for each beneficiary,” it said. The registration fee is $215.
International Criminal Court condemns sanctions by Trump administration
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (February 7, 2025) called on its member states to stand up against sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump, saying the move was an attempt to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work”. The White House issued the executive order on Thursday (February 6, 2025) in response to what it called “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”. It was referring to the arrest warrant the ICC issued last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The Hague-based court said it “condemns” the move. “The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world,” the court said in a statement.
Vandalism, arson spread across Bangladesh as protesters attack houses of Awami League leaders
Protesters in Bangladesh have attacked, torched houses of leaders of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League across the country and murals of the country’s founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were demolished and defaced in nearly two dozen districts, according to media reports. The unrest sparked after a live online address of Ms. Hasina. A fire has been set at the house of Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Selim in Dhaka’s Banani on Friday (February 7, 2025). The fire was set around 1:30 a.m., but due to a lack of police protection, the Fire Service was delayed and was not able to reach the scene until 2:45 am.
Ranji Trophy quarterfinals: Formidable Mumbai firm favourites against Haryana
Title contenders and defending champions Mumbai will have both form and pedigree on their side when they take on a spirited Haryana outfit that is seeking to prove a point in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal starting in Kolkata from Saturday (February 8, 2025). The shifting of the match to the iconic Eden Gardens from Lahli, Haryana’s home venue, has affected the travel plans of both the teams, especially the hosts since the BCCI has not officially provided them any reason for the switch. While Haryana will not enjoy the advantage of playing in the familiar environs of the Bansi Lal Stadium, Mumbai are too professional a side to take any team lightly, more so in a knockout game of the country’s premier domestic tournament which they have won an unprecedented 42 times.
Published - February 07, 2025 07:01 pm IST
