TODAY NEWS ON February 19, 2025

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU
 

U.S. SEC seeks help from Law Ministry to serve complaint to Gautam Adani, nephew Sagar in Adani bribery case

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has requested assistance from Indian authorities in its investigation of Adani Group founder Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani over alleged securities fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme, a court filing showed on Tuesday (February 18, 2025).

Gyanesh Kumar to take over as CEC on February 19; Supreme Court to hear plea against law under which he was appointed

Senior Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar would take over as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India (CEC) on February 19, a day when the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition challenging the law under which he was appointed CEC by a three-member panel led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi says it is ‘disrespectful and discourteous’ to appoint the CEC at midnight, makes his dissent note public

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday asserted that the midnight appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was “discourteous and disrespectful” when the process of appointment and the composition of the selection committee itself was being challenged before the Supreme Court.

Slight dip in unemployment rate in urban areas: survey

The unemployment rate in the urban areas of the country was 6.4% for the period of October to December 2024 for persons of age 15 years and above, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in New Delhi on Tuesday (February 18, 2025). For male, the the unemployment rate was 5.8% during the period, while for female it was 8.1%.

Punjab leads tally of Indians who joined Russian Armed forces; Kerala fourth

Though the ‘irregular’ migration from Kerala to Russia has sparked concerns in the past, recent developments revealed that Punjab is leading in the table in both illegal and irregular migration. According to the data available with the Ministry of External Affairs, the highest number of Indians who migrated to Russia — to fight in the war with Ukraine — were from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

With terror on the decline in J&K, police must now prioritise safeguarding of citizens rights: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) that the three new criminal laws should be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir by April. With the decline in terror activities and an improved security scenario, Mr. Shah said that the police should now prioritise safeguarding the rights of citizens in the Union Territory.

President Droupadi Murmu sanctions prosecution of AAP leader Satyendar Jain

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) accorded sanction to prosecute Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain in a money-laundering case being investigated by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), a senior government official said on Friday.

In landmark talks in Riyadh, Russia, U.S. agree to work towards ending Ukraine war

Russia and the U.S. on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) agreed to start working towards ending the war in Ukraine and improving their diplomatic and economic ties, America’s top diplomat said after talks that reflected an extraordinary about-face in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.

European leaders differ on peacekeeping in post-war Ukraine

European leaders failed to reach a joint position on whether they would send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, after they discussed the issue of security guarantees for Ukraine and negotiations for an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict at an emergency summit in Paris on Monday (February 17, 2025). The meeting, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron, was in response to U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh which left Ukraine and the rest of Europe out of the negotiating room.

Hamas to release six hostages on February 22; four bodies of hostages to be handed over on February 20

The six hostages to be released on Saturday (February 22, 2025) will include Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengisto, who were held in Gaza before the start of war there, the Hamas leader in Gaza said on Tuesday (February 18, 2025).

Tesla posts job openings in India after PM-Musk meeting

Electric vehicle maker Tesla, Inc. on Monday (February 18, 2025) posted thirteen job openings in Mumbai, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the EV firm’s CEO and founder Elon Musk in Washington, DC.

I&B Ministry issued Vikatan magazine’s website blocking order

The Vikatan magazine’s website was blocked in India by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through a referral to the Department of Telecommunications, three people with knowledge of the order told The Hindu. The website was blocked following the publication of a cartoon featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting, shackled in chains, next to U.S. President Donald Trump, in an apparent reference to deported immigrants being flown to India in chains.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee questions silence of Centre over U.S. deportees being chained

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioned the silence of the Union government over deportees from the U.S. being brought back to the country in chains. “The Prime Minister should have protested against it. The deportees could have been brought with some dignity,” Ms .Banerjee said while participating in debate in the West Bengal Assembly. Ms. Banerjee added: “Centre should have sent our transport planes to bring back deportees from the U.S.”

PM Modi, Amir of Qatar hold talks, decide to elevate India-Qatar ties to ‘strategic partnership’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani as the two leaders decided to elevate India-Qatar relations to a “strategic partnership” with a focus on trade, investments, technology, energy and people-to-people ties, further cementing the “deep and traditional relationship” between the two countries.T hey also exchanged views on “regional and global issues” of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who oversaw Lok Sabha and J&K polls, demits office

Rajiv Kumar, who oversaw the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the crucial Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, demits office on Tuesday as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner after a nearly three-year tenure marked with high electoral successes but also repeated allegations of bias by opposition parties.

India’s Got Latent row: ‘Something very dirty in his mind’, Supreme Court lashes out at Ranveer Allahbadia

The Supreme Court protected YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia from arrest in FIRs registered in Maharashtra, Assam, and any filed or to be filed in Jaipur in connection with his controversial remarks on a show ‘India has got Latent’. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh restricted him from participating in any shows for the time being as a condition for his interim protection from arrest. “Stop this show business for the time being,” Justice Kant told Allahbadia’s counsel, advocate Abhinav Chandrachud.

Union Carbide waste burning to begin this month as M.P. HC allows trial runs

The Madhya Pradesh High Court allowed the State Government to conduct three trial runs by disposing off 10 tonnes each of the Union Carbide’s 40-year-old toxic waste at an incineration facility in Dhar district’s Pithampur, where a total of 358 tonnes of waste has been lying for more than one and a half months.

Christian Michel James gets bail in AgustaWestland chopper scam case

The Supreme Court granted bail to Christian Michel James, the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, saying “the trial may not be completed in the next 25 years at this pace”. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta refused the Centre’s request to adjourn the case to Friday.

Costa Rica agrees to accept Indian migrants deported from U.S.

Costa Rica has agreed to serve as a “bridge” to repatriate illegal immigrants in the U.S., including from India and Central Asia, according to an official release on Tuesday (February 18, 2025). The first group of 200 migrants will arrive at the Juan Santamaria International Airport on a commercial flight on Wednesday (February 19, 2025), according to a statement by Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles’ office.

Top Russian and U.S. officials are discussing improving ties and ending the Ukraine war — without Kyiv

The top diplomats from Russia and the U.S. met in Saudi Arabia to discuss improving ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine — talks that represented a rapid and major change in American foreign policy under President Donald Trump. No Ukrainian officials were present at the meeting, which comes as the beleaguered country is slowly but steadily losing ground against more numerous Russian troops in a grinding war that began nearly three years ago. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country won’t accept any outcome from this week’s talks if Kyiv doesn’t take part. European allies have also expressed concerns they are being sidelined.

Champions Trophy set to start amid debate on relevance of 50-over cricket

Intrigue, uncertainty, backstage drama. The ICC Champions Trophy has seen it all even before the curtains go up on the tournament and it would only get more stirring over the next three weeks, starting with the opening clash between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi.

Jan Zelezny’s tweaks will take me to 90m mark soon: Neeraj Chopra

Two-time Olympic medal-winning javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra has revealed that his new coach Jan Zelezny has figured out mistakes in his technique and would now make some adjustments to his throwing routine to achieve the 90m mark that the Indian star is pursuing for a while.