17 companies of CAPF deployed in Murshidabad, situation under control says DGP
Seventeen companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) were deployed in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following violent protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act that claimed three lives on Saturday. Over 150 people were arrested and one person who sustained bullet injury was admitted to a State-run health facility, the police said. Meanwhile, 23 high-ranking officers from the State police and other agencies have been deployed in the violence-affected district.
U.S. NSA Waltz puts off India visit amid ‘Signalgate’ controversy
Amidst turmoil in Washington over communication security breaches by the National Security Council, including the National Security Advisor’s office itself, U.S. National Security Advisor (NSA) Michael Waltz has put off his visit to India slated for next week, a number of sources confirmed to The Hindu. Mr. Waltz was due to visit New Delhi from April 21 to 23, for official meetings and addressing the annual U.S.-India Forum sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs and organized by the Ananta Centre. The U.S. NSA’s office conveyed to the MEA and to NSA Ajit Doval’s office a few days ago that he would postpone his visit to Delhi for now, the sources said.
Kerala temple opens sacred space to all sections
In a landmark move, devotees from all communities entered the nalambalam - the sacred inner quarter - of the centuries-old Pilicode Rayaramangalam temple in the Kasaragod district of Kerala for the first time, ending restrictions based on caste. Previously restricted to specific communities, the doors of the four sanctums of the temple were opened to all sections following a campaign led by a reformist organisation.
Parliamentary panel recommends independent survey to assess MGNREGA
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development has recommended an independent survey to assess the effectiveness of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), and its shortcomings. This survey, the panel said, should focus on worker satisfaction, wage delays, participation trends, and financial irregularities within the scheme. The panel also stressed on the need to revamp the scheme, keeping in view the “changing times and emerging challenges”.
Trump’s Commerce Secretary says new electronics tariff exemptions are temporary, chip tariffs coming
Tariff exemptions announced Friday on electronics like smartphones and laptops are only a temporary reprieve until the Trump administration develops a new tariff approach specific to the semiconductor industry, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said. The Trump administration late Friday had said it would exclude electronics from broader so-called reciprocal tariffs, a move that could help keep the prices down for popular consumer devices that aren’t usually made in the U.S. The move was expected to benefit big tech companies like Apple and Samsung and chip makers like Nvidia, though the uncertainty of future tariffs may rein in an expected tech stock rally on Monday.
Bangladesh reintroduces 'except Israel' inscription on passports after thousands rally in Dhaka over Gaza situation
Bangladesh has reintroduced "except Israel” inscription on passports debarring its citizens from travelling to the Jewish state as public anger mounted against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, officials said. The home ministry issued a directive asking the passport and immigration department to reinstate the sentence “THIS PASSPORT IS VALID FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD EXCEPT ISRAEL” in the official travel permits for citizens visiting abroad, the state-run BSS news agency reported.
DRDO tests directed energy weapon system that can disable drones, missiles
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday (April 13, 2025) announced the successful trial of a Mk-II(A) Laser- Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) system “mastering the technology of disabling missiles, drones and smaller projectiles.” The success has put India in the exclusive and limited club of nations, which are possessing the high-power Laser-DEW system, DRDO said in a statement.
India's iPhone, smartphone exports to U.S. have 20% tariff edge over China after exemption: Industry
Export of iPhones, smartphones, tablets, laptops from India to the U.S. will be cheaper by 20% compared to those shipped from China following the exemptions given by the Trump administration, industry body ICEA said. The U.S. government on Saturday amended its tariff order to exempt smartphones, tablets, laptops, and some other electronic devices from the new taxes.
Russia ‘deliberately’ targeted Indian pharma company’s warehouse in Kyiv: Ukrainian Embassy
Russia has “deliberately” bombed a major Indian-owned pharmaceutical warehouse in Ukraine, the Embassy of Ukraine announced in New Delhi. The assertion from the Ukrainian side coincided with the 78th anniversary of India-Russia diplomatic ties marked by the Embassy of Russia on Sunday. The attack on Kusum Healthcare’s storehouse in Kyiv showed the “all out” nature of the war between Ukraine and Russia, which has escalated in recent weeks, a Ukraine-based representative of Kusum Healthcare told The Hindu.
PM Modi to launch development projects in Haryana on Ambedkar birth anniversary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch several development initiatives in Haryana on April 14 to mark the birth anniversary of Bhim Rao Ambedkar, an iconic figure known for his role in Dalit emancipation and for preparing the Constitution. Later, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of development projects in Yamuna Nagar and address a public meeting.
National Herald case: ‘Not mother of democracy, father of dictatorship’, says Kapil Sibal over ED notices to Congress
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal accused the government of using probe agencies to "paralyse" the Congress and described the development of the Enforcement Directorate issuing notices to take possession of immovable assets in the National Herald case as an "assault on democracy". His remarks come a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated it has served notices to take possession of immovable assets worth ₹661 crore that it had attached as part of a money laundering probe linked to Congress-controlled National Herald newspaper and the Associated Journals Limited (AJL).
Centre planning ₹10 lakh crore investment to rewire highways; roads in northeast will be on par with the U.S.: Gadkari
The Centre is planning to invest ₹10 lakh crore over the next two years to strengthen highways across the country, with special focus on the Northeast, where roads will rival those in the U.S., Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said. There is an urgent need to augment the road infrastructure in the Northeast given its difficult terrain and proximity to borders, he said.
Pause, review, repeal ‘RTI-destroying amendment’: Jairam Ramesh to Ashwini Vaishnaw
In a letter to Union Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Congress Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh warned that the proposed amendment to the Right to Information Act, 2005, would have a “devastating” effect on the transparency law. He urged Mr. Vaishnaw to “pause, review, and repeal” the change. The letter was in response to Mr. Vaishnaw’s assurance to an earlier letter by Mr. Ramesh, in which the Congress leader had expressed concern over Section 44 (3) of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, which would place a blanket ban on sharing any “personal information” with RTI applicants.
BJP leader defends Eknath Shinde amid rumoured tensions in Maharashtra alliance
Senior BJP leader and former Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar extended support to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde amid reports of discord within Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti alliance. The development comes amid speculation that Mr. Shinde raised concerns about the functioning of the alliance during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to the State. Sources indicate growing discontent in Mr. Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction over two key issues: delays in clearing files related to Sena-held ministries currently pending with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who controls the finance portfolio; and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ reversal of certain decisions taken during Mr. Shinde’s previous tenure as CM.
China calls on U.S. to 'completely cancel' reciprocal tariffs
China called on the United States to “completely cancel” its reciprocal tariffs after Washington announced exemptions for consumer electronics and key chipmaking equipment. “We urge the U.S. to... take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of ‘reciprocal tariffs’ and return to the right path of mutual respect”, a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Favourable weather may herald bountiful rabi wheat harvest in Punjab and Haryana
Favourable weather conditions over the rabi (winter) crop in the country’s key wheat-producing States of Punjab and Haryana are likely to boost the yield of wheat this harvest season, experts said. However, untimely rain accompanied by hailstorms in a few parts of Punjab and Haryana in the past two days triggered concern among farmers that the standing wheat crop’s quality could be damaged, causing losses. The harvesting of wheat, with the main rabi crop sown between late October and December, has already commenced in Punjab and Haryana.
New earthquake shakes central Myanmar, one of the biggest aftershocks since March 28 disaster
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck morning near Meiktila, a small city in central Myanmar, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake came as Myanmar is engaged in relief efforts following a massive 7.7 magnitude temblor that also hit the country's central region on March 28. The epicentre of the latest quake was roughly hallway between Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, which suffered enormous damage and casualties in last month's earthquake, and Naypyitaw, the capital, where several government offices were then damaged.
Kohli, Salt guide RCB to nine-wicket win against RR
Openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt slammed brisk half-centuries and shared a 92-run partnership to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a nine-wicket win against hosts Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League match in Jaipur on Sunday (April 13, 2025). Salt smashed 65 off 33 deliveries, his highest score this season, while Kohli struck an unbeaten 62 (45 balls) as RCB overhaul RR's 173/4 with 15 balls to spare. One-down Devdutt Padikkal also scored an unbeaten 40 (28 balls) in the big win.
Published - April 14, 2025 06:20 am IST
