Sajjan Kumar, ex-Congress MP, gets life imprisonment in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
A Delhi court awarded life imprisonment to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Special judge Kaveri Baweja pronounced the judgment for the alleged killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. The verdict came over 40 years after the riots. Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, already serving sentence in another case related to 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
21 AAP MLAs, including Atishi, suspended from Delhi Assembly for three days
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta suspended 21 AAP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Atishi, from the House for three days for raising slogans during Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena’s address. Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was not present in the House, is the only member from AAP not to be suspended. The AAP MLAs, who were protesting and sloganeering during L-G’s speech over the issue of removal of photos of B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, were marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly.
Legal experts appear before One Nation One Election committee
Former Law Commission of India chairperson Ritu Raj Awasthi appeared before the Joint Parliamentary Committee studying the two bills for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls as the panel began consulting experts and stakeholders. IAS officer Niten Chandra, the secretary of the high-level Kovind committee, also shared his views with the panel. Former chief justice of India U.U. Lalit is also scheduled to appear before the committee during its day-long meeting.
SP leader Abdullah Azam Khan walks out of jail after one-and-half years
Samajwadi Party leader Abdullah Azam Khan walked out of the Hardoi jail in Uttar Pradesh after spending 17 months behind bars, with his party leaders and supporters flocking outside the prison to welcome him. Abdullah Khan is a former MLA from Suar constituency in Rampur and son of incarcerated veteran SP leader and former State cabinet minister Azam Khan.
Preity Zinta, Congress in X spat over loan waiver reports
Actor Preity Zinta termed “vile gossip” an X post by Congress’ Kerala unit alleging that she had handed her social media accounts to the BJP and got a ₹18 crore loan waiver. The Congress Kerala backtracked soon after and said it was just sharing media reports and is glad to accept mistakes if any. At the heart of the controversy is the Reserve Bank of India dissolving the New India Co-operative Bank’s board on February 15 amid reports of financial irregularities.
Tharoor posts selfie with Union Minister Goyal, U.K. Trade Secretary; hails revival of India-U.K. FTA talks
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor posted a selfie with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, and said the revival of long-stalled India-U.K. FTA negotiations was most welcome. “Good to exchange words with Jonathan Reynolds, Britain’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in the company of his Indian counterpart, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal,” he said of their meeting at an event on Monday.
CAG report: Delhi Government suffered losses of ₹2,000 crore due to liquor policy
The Delhi Government suffered cumulative losses of over ₹2,000 crore due to the 2021-2022 Excise policy for reasons ranging from weak policy framework to deficient implementation, according to a CAG report tabled in the Assembly. “Therefore, these implementation issues of the new policy led to a loss of revenue of approximately ₹ 2,002 crore,” the report said.
CM Stalin calls for an all-party meet on March 5 to discuss impact of delimitation on T.N.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has convened an all-party meeting at the Secretariat in Chennai on March 5, 2025, to discuss the impact of the proposed delimitation exercise on Tamil Nadu, which may lead to a reduction in the number of Lok Sabha seats in the State. The Chief Minister further said: “As of now, Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats. The delimitation exercise is likely to reduce the number of Lok Sabha seats to 31. It is not just a reduction in numbers. It is about our rights. The voice of Tamil Nadu is being suppressed in the name of delimitation. Transcending political differences, everyone should come together and raise our voice.”
Land-for-jobs scam: Delhi court summons former Rail minister Lalu Prasad, son, daughter
A Delhi court summoned former Union rail minister Lalu Prasad in connection with the land-for-jobs “scam”. Special Judge Vishal Gogne also summoned Prasad’s son and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, and daughter Hema Yadav. The judge issued fresh summonses to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo’s younger son and former Bihar deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.
India imports €49 billion worth of Russian oil in 3rd year of Ukraine invasion
India, the world’s third largest oil consuming and importing nation, bought crude oil worth €49 billion from Russia in the third year of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a global think tank said. India, which has traditionally sourced its oil from the Middle East, began importing a large volume of oil from Russia soon after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This is primarily because Russian oil was available at a significant discount to other international benchmarks due to western sanctions and some European countries shunning purchases.
Supreme Court lists for urgent hearing plea against first ‘trial run’ of Bhopal gas tragedy waste
The Supreme Court agreed to urgently hear petitioners challenging the transportation and dumping of hazardous chemical waste from the Bhopal gas tragedy site at Pithampur on Thursday (February 27, 2025) as the first case. The High Court order had come a day after the Supreme Court, on February 17, decided to examine pleas challenging its decision to allow the transportation and disposal of 337 metric tonnes of waste from the Bhopal site to the Pithampur facility. The top court had also issued formal notice to the Union government, the State of Madhya Pradesh and the State’s Pollution Control Board.
PM Modi at Advantage Assam 2.0: ‘State’s economy doubled to ₹6 lakh crore during BJP rule’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit 2025 in Guwahati on Tuesday (February 25, 2025), and said that the value of the State’s economy doubled to ₹6 lakh crore during the BJP’s rule. Addressing the business summit in Guhawati, the Prime Minister asserted that Assam will soon become manufacturing hub for the Northeast. “Assam turning into destination for start-up units. Assam is a land of limitless opportunities, with peace accords and resolved border disputes,” the Prime Minister said.
India abstains on UNGA resolution calling for de-escalation, peaceful resolution of Ukraine war
India abstained on a U.N. General Assembly draft resolution that called for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly voted on the draft resolution ‘Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine’ tabled by Ukraine and its European allies. India was among the 65 U.N. Member States that abstained on the resolution. As the resolution was adopted, the UNGA hall broke into applause with Member States welcoming the adoption of the text.
Avian influenza: Amid rising concerns across India, doctors decode outbreak, explain how to consume poultry safely
With concerns over avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, resurfacing across India, Telangana has ramped up efforts to safeguard its poultry industry. With cases emerging in neighbouring states and the Central government issuing advisories, State authorities are working to strengthen biosecurity measures, educate poultry farmers, and reassure the public about the safety of poultry consumption. The situation gained urgency early this month, on February 8 when the Telangana Animal Husbandry Department issued a circular alerting District Collectors about the threat posed by highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
India seeks advisers for minority stake sales in State-run banks, financial firms
India has invited bids to appoint merchant bankers and legal advisers to sell the government’s minority shareholding in select public sector banks and financial companies. The government is looking to undertake minority stake sales in State-run banks and financial firms through an offer for sale, according to a document published on Monday (February 24, 2025) on the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management’s website, which did not name the lenders.
Apple announces $500 billion investment in US amid tariff threats that could affect the iPhone
Apple announced that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas. The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came asTrump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.
After 11 years, exploration firm Ocean Infinity restarts search for MH370
A fresh search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been launched more than a decade after the plane went missing in one of aviation’s greatest enduring mysteries. Maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity has resumed the hunt for the missing plane, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said.
Champions Trophy: India have huge advantage playing at same ground, says Cummins
Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins believes India have a “huge advantage” to be based in Dubai for the ongoing Champions Trophy while other sides criss-cross Pakistan for their group games in the tournament being held under a ‘hybrid model’. Rohit Sharma’s men are playing all their matches in Dubai and even the final will be held there if the team goes the distance. This was done after India refused to travel to Pakistan, the original hosts of the event, citing security concerns.
Published – February 25, 2025 05:32 pm IST