News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu

Portrait of Palestinian boy who lost both arms in Israeli strike wins World Press Photo 2025

A portrait of a young Palestinian boy who lost both arms as a result of an Israeli attack in Gaza was honored as World Press Photo of the year. The photo, taken by Qatar-based Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times shows 9-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour with his arms missing just below each shoulder.

Manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita, Natyashastra inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register

Manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra are among 74 new documentary heritage collections that have been added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register as of April 17, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570. Entries on the Scientific Revolution, women's contribution to history and major milestones of multilateralism from 72 countries and four international organisations were included in the register, according to UNESCO.

Disingenuous attempt’: Delhi responds to Dhaka’s call for protection of Indian Muslims

India hit back at Bangladesh after the Press Secretary of Chief Advisor Prof Mohammed Yunus called upon India to protect rights of minority Muslim population and refuted allegations of involvement of citizens of Bangladesh in the anti-Waqf Act violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad. A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs further raised the issue of protection of minority communities in Bangladesh. On Thursday, Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to Prof Yunus had refuted allegations from the Indian side about the involvement of Bangladeshi citizens in the violence in Murshidabad that flared up over the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.

Opposition parties criticise Dhankhar’s remarks against Supreme Court

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s remark that Article 142 of the Constitution that grants plenary powers to the Supreme Court is a “nuclear missile against democratic forces”, evoked sharp comments from the Opposition leaders. Former Law Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said he had never seen any Rajya Sabha Chairman make “political statements” of this nature, and stressed on the non-partisan and equidistant character of the Chair.

WB Governor, NHRC, NCW teams visit riot victims in Malda

Teams from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commission for Women (NCW), as well as West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose visited West Bengal’s Malda district to meet people affected by recent violence in Murshidabad district. Hundreds of people had taken shelter in a school in Malda after fleeing from violence in the Dhulian and Samsherganj areas of Murshidabad on April 11 and 12. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had urged the Governor not to visit the violence-affected areas and wait for the situation to normalise.

PM Modi speaks to Elon Musk, discusses ‘potential collaboration in technology’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he spoke to Elon Musk and talked about “various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year.” Without mentioning when the conversation took place, Mr. Modi said in his post on X (formally Twitter), that they discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation.

No decision yet on Nationwide rollout of satellite-based tolling from May 1: MoRTH

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) clarified that no decision has been taken on the nationwide implementation of satellite-based tolling from May 1. The Ministry's response came after some sections of the media reported that a satellite-based tolling system would be launched from May 1 this year, and will replace the existing FASTag-based toll collection system. In a statement, the Ministry said that to enable seamless, barrier-free movement of vehicles through toll plazas and reduce travel time, an ‘Automatic Number Plate Recognition(ANPR)-FASTag-based barrier-less tolling system’ will be implemented at selected toll plazas.

In U.S., more than 1,000 international students have had visas or legal status revoked

Over 1,000 international students have had their visas or legal status revoked in recent weeks, and several have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing the United States Government denied them due process when it suddenly took away their permission to be in the U.S. The actions by the Federal Government to terminate students' legal status has left hundreds of scholars at risk of detention and deportation.

U.S. strikes on a Yemeni oil port kill 74 people, Houthis say, in deadliest attack of Trump campaign

U.S. airstrikes targeting an oil port held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels killed 74 people and wounded 171 others, the group said Friday, marking the single-deadliest known attack under President Donald Trump’s new campaign targeting the rebels. Assessing the toll of Trump’s campaign, which began March 15, has been incredibly difficult as the U.S. military’s Central Command so far has not released any information on the campaign, its specific targets and how many people have been killed. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels strictly control access to areas attacked and don’t publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites.

Civilian ‘thrashed’ by Army officer during search operations in Rajouri; Army orders inquiry

A civilian was allegedly beaten up by an Army officer during a search operation in the Pir Panjal valley’s Rajouri. Meanwhile, the Army ordered an inquiry on Friday following an outcry, even as it claimed that there was an attempt of “weapon snatching” by the victim. The victim, identified as Professor Dr. Liaqat Ali, sustained head injuries in the alleged assault in Lam area of Rajouri’s Nowshera tehsil. He said he was hit by a Company Commander-level officer with his service rifle.

Seelampur murder: Role of ‘lady don’ Ziqra under lens, security beefed up in area

Delhi Police is probing the role of a woman, who worked as a bouncer for jailed gangster Hashim Baba’s wife, after the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in north-east Delhi’s Seelampur area, an official said. Kunal was stabbed on Thursday (April 17, 2025) evening in New Seelampur, and police have identified two suspects — Sahil and Rehan — after scanning CCTV camera footage from the area, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), Pushpendra Kumar, said.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla set for space travel in May

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the International Space Station next month as part of an Axiom-4 mission, four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said. Mr. Singh made the remarks after reviewing the work of the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in New Delhi.

Homebuyers have a right to peacefully protest against their builders: SC

The Supreme Court has upheld the right of homebuyers to peacefully protest against builders, saying portraying their right to free speech as a criminal offence is a clear abuse of the law. “A right to protest peacefully without falling foul of the law is a corresponding right, which the consumers ought to possess just as the seller enjoys his right to commercial speech. Any attempt to portray them as criminal offences, when the necessary ingredients are not made out, would be a clear abuse of process and should be nipped in the bud,” a Bench headed by Justice K.V. VIswanathan observed in a recent judgment.

DGCA orders probe into Air India Express pilot’s death

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched an investigation into the death of an Air India Express pilot who suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after flying from Srinagar to Delhi last week. The probe will examine allegations of delayed emergency medical response as well as the preparedness level of the medical facility at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Government clarifies no GST on UPI transactions over ₹2,000

The Government clarified that it is not mulling to levy GST on UPI transactions above ₹2,000. Clarifying on reports, which said that the government is considering levying Goods and Services Tax (GST) on UPI transactions over ₹2,000, the Finance Ministry said they are completely false, misleading, and without any basis. “Currently, there is no such proposal before the government,” the Ministry said in a statement.

U.S. will drop Ukraine-Russia peace efforts if no progress within days: Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday (April 18, 2025) that the U.S. may be ready to “move on” from efforts for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is not progress in the coming days. Speaking in Paris after a marathon day of landmark talks among U.S., Ukrainian and European officials, Mr. Rubio said the discussions had been constructive and produced an outline for steps toward peace.

Israeli strikes kill at least 17 in Gaza; Huckabee makes first appearance as U.S. ambassador

Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 17 people early Friday (April 18, 2025) including children, hospital workers said, as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. Among the dead were 10 people in the urban Jabaliya refugee camp, including eight from the same house, according to the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies. In the southern city of Khan Younis, seven people were killed, one of them a pregnant woman, according to Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were brought.

More than 170 arrested for attacks on Pakistan KFC outlets in Gaza war protests

“Police have arrested scores of people in Pakistan in recent weeks after more than 10 mob attacks on outlets of U.S. fast-food chain KFC, sparked by anti-United States sentiment and opposition to its ally Israel’s war in Gaza,” officials said. Police in major cities in the Islamic nation, including the southern port city of Karachi, the eastern city of Lahore and the capital Islamabad, confirmed at least 11 incidents in which KFC outlets were attacked by protesters armed with sticks and vandalised. “At least 178 people were arrested,” the officials said this week. KFC and its parent Yum Brands, both U.S.-based, did not respond to requests for comment.