The Hindu Morning Digest, February 17, 2025

Representational picture of a seismograph recording an earthquake. Picture: through Reuters

Third group of deportees from U.S. land in Punjab’s Amritsar

A United States plane carrying round 112 undocumented Indian immigrants, deported from the U.S. landed at Punjab’s Amritsar Worldwide Airport on Sunday evening (February 16, 2025), whilst Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged the youth of Punjab to study classes from the deportation of unlawful migrants, interesting to them to shun the concept of going overseas by unsuitable means.

Excessive-level committee shaped to probe into New Delhi railway station stampede

The Railways has shaped a two-member high-level administrative grade committee to research the stampede that occurred on Saturday evening (February 15, 2025) at New Delhi Railway Station, officers within the Ministry of Railways stated on Sunday (February 16, 2025). The committee of Northern Railways’ Principal Chief Industrial Supervisor Narsingh Deo and Principal Chief Safety Commissioner Pankaj Gangwar will examine the stampede that claimed 18 lives, together with 4 youngsters and a septuagenarian girl.

Delhi earthquake: Sturdy tremors felt throughout Nationwide Capital Area on February 17 morning

An earthquake of 4.0 magnitude rocked components of Delhi-NCR early on Monday (February 17, 2025), the Nationwide Middle for Seismology stated. The tremors rocked a number of components of the town and the adjoining Nationwide Capital Area. The situation of the earthquake was New Delhi, at a depth of 5 kilometres, it stated in a publish on X.

Pakistani troops opened small arm fireplace on Indian publish at LoC in Poonch: Military

A contemporary change of fireside was reported on the Line of Management (LoC) within the Pir Panjal Valley’s Poonch on Sunday. No casualties had been reported within the incident. An Military official stated a transient change of fireside came about on the LoC in Poonch district. “Round 11 a.m., Pakistan troops opened fireplace from small arms on an Indian publish throughout the LoC in Poonch sector. The hearth was retaliated appropriately by the Indian Military. No casualties to our facet,” an Military official stated. 

Jaishankar meets Overseas Ministers of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and different south Asian counterparts

Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Bangladesh Overseas Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain in Muscat on Sunday (February 16, 2025), in a gathering geared toward defusing tensions and addressing “challenges” between Delhi and Dhaka over assaults on minorities and the continued keep of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India.

PM Modi hopeful of reaching ₹9 lakh-cr textile exports forward of 2030 deadline

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 16, 2025) stated he’s optimistic that the textile sector will obtain the Rs 9 lakh crore annual exports goal forward of the 2030 deadline.

Former Indian Navy officers jailed in Qatari jail name for return of colleague left behind

A day earlier than the arrival of the Qatari Emir to India for an vital go to, the seven former Indian Navy officers who returned final yr after being imprisoned for almost 18 months in Doha, have referred to as for the repatriation of the final remaining Indian who’s caught within the Gulf sheikhdom.

Will U.S.’s F-35 stealth fighter jets match into IAF’s future plans? 

Early final week fifth era fighter plane (FGFA) of each Russia and U.S. had been at Aero India in Bengaluru, positioned at every finish of the static show on the Yelahanka Air Power station. Simply because the enterprise days of the present got here to an finish, U.S. President Donald Trump, standing subsequent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a go to to Washington DC, introduced that they are going to be rising army gross sales to India “by many billions of {dollars}” and they’re additionally paving the best way to “finally” present India with the F-35 stealth fighters.

No less than 9 persons are lifeless, together with eight in Kentucky, amid newest blast of winter climate

No less than 9 folks have died in the latest spherical of harsh climate to pummel the U.S., together with eight folks in Kentucky who died as creeks swelled from heavy rain and water lined roads. 

Trump administration cuts attain FDA staff in meals security, medical gadgets and tobacco merchandise

The Trump administration’s effort to slash the scale of the federal workforce reached the Meals and Drug Administration this weekend, as not too long ago employed staff who assessment the security of meals elements, medical gadgets and different merchandise had been fired.

Rwanda-backed rebels attain centre of east Congo’s 2nd main metropolis in unprecedented growth

Rwanda-backed rebels reached the centre of east Congo’s second-largest metropolis, Bukavu, on Sunday (February 16, 2025) morning and took management of the South Kivu province administrative workplace after little resistance from authorities forces, a lot of whom fled the rebels’ advance. 

Musk says chatbot Grok 3 can be unveiled on February 17

Elon Musk stated his startup xAI will launch its Grok 3 chatbot on Monday (February 17, 2025) and billed it because the “smartest AI on Earth” in a fiercely aggressive market.

IPL 2025 schedule: KKR vs RCB at Eden to kick off season

The BCCI on Sunday (February 16, 2025) unveiled a 74-match schedule for the 18th Indian Premier League that can be held throughout 13 venues, beginning on March 22 with three franchises taking part in a minimum of a few their residence video games at their designated second bases.

WPL | Gardner’s all-round effort and Priya’s spell flip the tide in Giants’ favour

Priya Mishra didn’t get a sport in final yr’s WPL. And when she lastly made her debut for Gujarat Giants, within the Season 3 opener in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she went for many.