TODAY NEWS ON March 06, 2025

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU

Canada files WTO complaint against U.S. tariffs

Canada has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States over President Donald Trump’s dramatic tariff increases, the WTO confirmed on Wednesday (March 5, 2025). Canadian ambassador to the WTO Nadia Theodore wrote on LinkedIn that “the U.S. decision leaves us with no choice”. She said she had, “on behalf of the government of Canada, requested WTO consultations with the government of the United States in regard to its unjustified tariffs on Canada”. A WTO official confirmed to AFP that “Canada initiated dispute proceedings yesterday against the U.S. at the WTO on the additional tariffs”, following a similar complaint filed by Beijing over fresh U.S. levies on Chinese goods. Shortly after the tariffs on Canadian goods took effect, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attacked Washington’s “dumb” trade war, and accused Mr. Trump of trying to cause the collapse of Canada’s economy to make it easier for the United States to annex his country.

Trump grants one-month exemption for U.S. automakers from new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada

President Donald Trump is granting a one-month exemption on his stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada for U.S. automakers, amid fears that the trade war could harm U.S. manufacturers. The announcement comes after Mr. Trump spoke with leaders of the “big 3” automakers, Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis on Wednesday.

Trump warns Hamas, Gaza ‘you are dead’ if hostages not freed

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released, and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee. Strongly backing Israel as a ceasefire teeters, Mr. Trump said he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job” as his administration expedites billions of dollars in weapons.

Aid freeze in Gaza threatens progress, leading to soaring prices and dire humanitarian consequences

Israel’s cut-off of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza’s 2 million people has sent prices soaring and humanitarian groups into overdrive trying to distribute dwindling stocks to the most vulnerable. The aid freeze has imperilled the tenuous progress aid workers say they have made to stave off famine over the past six weeks during Phase 1 of the ceasefire deal Israel and Hamas agreed to in January. Israel says the siege aims at pressuring Hamas to accept its spinoff ceasefire proposal. Israel has delayed moving to the second phase of the deal it reached with Hamas. There’s no major stockpile of tents in Gaza for Palestinians to rely on during the aid freeze, said Shaina Low, communications adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy seeks peace under Trump’s leadership amid U.S. military aid pause

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Oval Office blowup with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump last week was “regrettable,” adding that he stands ready to work under Trump’s “strong leadership” to get a lasting peace. Mr. Zelenskyy’s remarks — an apparent attempt to placate Mr. Trump — came in a social media post on X, hours after the White House announced a pause in military aid to Ukraine that is critical to fighting Russia’s invasion. Mr. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine is ready to sign a lucrative deal on rare-earth minerals and security with Washington. “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts,” he said.

U.S. to impose reciprocal tariffs against India, China from April 2: President Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump criticised the high tariffs charged by India and other countries including China, calling it “very unfair” and announcing reciprocal tariffs will kick in from next month. In his address to a Joint Session of the U.S. Congress, the President said that the the reciprocal tariffs will commence April 2. “Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, - Mexico and Canada - Have you heard of them - and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair,” said Mr. Trump.

No response from India on Trump tariffs so far

India did not respond on Wednesday to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that his administration planned to go ahead with reciprocal tariffs against India.

Many Trump priorities work for India: Jaishankar

Citing the shifting geopolitical order, energy, tech and connectivity initiatives, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that several priorities of U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration were promising for India. “I think we see a President and an administration which, in our parlance, is moving towards multi-polarity. And that is something which suits India,” he said, clarifying that by practicing multi-polarity, the Trump administration was in fact promoting it.

If Pakistan vacates PoK, Kashmir issue will be ‘solved’: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said that Pakistan vacating Pakistan Occupied Kashmir would resolve the Kashmir issue in its entirety. The Minister was responding to a question from a member of the audience at the Chatham House, the London-based thinktank. The question was about whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi could use his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to “solve” the Kashmir issue.

Telangana tunnel: Final phase of debris removal explained using model of tunnel boring machine

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) tunnel expert Colonel Parikshit Mehra, providing a detailed update on the progress in the rescue operation at Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel at Domalapenta in Nagarkurnool district, emphasised that significant strides had been made in clearing debris and stabilising the site on Wednesday.

Aiming for last mile delivery of care with digital infrastructure: PM Modi

Capacity-building and talent-nurturing will prove to be the foundation stones of the country’s progress said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, while addressing the post-budget webinar on employment via video conferencing. Highlighting the developments in the healthcare landscape, Mr. Modi said that “tele-medicine facility is being expanded to all the Primary Health Centres. Through Day Care Cancer Centres and digital healthcare infrastructure, we want to take quality healthcare to the last mile that will ensure significant transformation in people’s lives.”

Government to share information on WAVES initiative with Ambassadors and Heads of Missions

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are scheduled to meet Ambassadors and Heads of Missions in India on March 13 to inform them about the Central government’s World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) initiative.

U.S., Hamas confirm direct talks on releasing American hostages

The United States on Wednesday confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Hamas on hostages, as Israel threatened to renew its military campaign in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire. The White House said that President Donald Trump’s envoy on hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, held the talks which focused on Americans among the remaining hostages in Gaza.

Pakistanis mourn 18 people, including 5 soldiers, killed in a twin suicide bombing at an army base

A city in northwestern Pakistan held funeral prayers and observed a day of mourning on Wednesday, after a twin suicide bombing targeted a military base there the evening before and killed 18 people, including five soldiers. A militant group linked with the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing in Bannu on Tuesday evening, which also left 42 wounded, some of them critically.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin calls for status quo on number of Lok Sabha seats for next 30 years

An all-party meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) unanimously urged the Centre to retain the existing number of Lok Sabha seats and the constitutional boundaries for the next 30 years beyond 2026. The meeting also decided to constitute a Joint Action Committee comprising representatives of political parties from all southern States to create awareness among people and take forward the struggle to prevent reduction of seats.

SP MLA Abu Azmi suspended from Maharashtra Assembly for remarks praising Aurangzeb

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) suspended from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s membership till the end of the ongoing budget session over his remarks eulogising Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. State Minister Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) moved the motion of suspension in the House.

Cabinet approves two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) approved the construction of two ropeways — 12.9 km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath and 12.4 km ropeway from Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib — in Uttarakhand. The 12.9 km project connecting Kedarnath to Sonprayag will be developed on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) mode at a total capital cost of ₹4,081.28 crore, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The ropeway is planned to be developed in public-private partnership and will be based on the most advanced Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology with a design capacity of 1,800 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) carrying 18,000 passengers per day.

Cabinet approves supply of generic veterinary medicines at affordable rates under LHDC program

The Cabinet, on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) approved changes to the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme to include distribution of high-quality and affordable generic veterinary medicines to farmers. The total budget provided for the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) was ₹3,880 crore for 2024-25 and 2025-26. “A decision related to livestock health has been taken in the Cabinet.... High quality medicines will be provided under the pashu aushadhi component of the scheme,” I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefed media after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Pashu Aushadhi is new component added to the LHDCP scheme, an official statement said. The Minister said pashu aushadi would be similar to Jan Aushadi yojana. The generic veterinary medicines will be distributed through PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras and Cooperatives.

Washington, DC, to remove 'Black Lives Matter' painting from street near White House: Mayor

The nation’s capital city will remove the large painting of the words “Black Lives Matter” on a street one block from the White House as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser struggles to fend off threats of encroachment from both President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress. Ms. Bowser pointed to the change on the social platform X, writing: “The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern.” The move shows Ms. Bowser’s striking shift in tone toward Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans since the President’s first term in office.

Pope Francis ‘rested well overnight’ with a ventilation mask as he battles pneumonia

Pope Francis was resting Wednesday (March 5, 2025), the start of the solemn Lenten period leading up to Holy Week observances, after sleeping through the night with a ventilation mask as he undergoes hospital treatment for double pneumonia. The Vatican said that the Pope rested well overnight, waking up shortly after 8 a.m. Pope Francis remained in stable condition, with a guarded prognosis, meaning he was not out of danger. The 88-year-old Pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, had two respiratory crises on Monday in a setback to his recovery.

Steve Smith retires from ODI cricket after Champions Trophy exit

Two-time ODI World Cup winner and one of the modern cricket greats Steve Smith announced his retirement from one-day international cricket on Wednesday (March 5, 2025) after captaining Australia to a semi-final exit at the Champions Trophy. “Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, so it feels like the right time to make way,” Smith said in a Cricket Australia statement. The Australian batter further added that he will remain available for Test and T20I selection.