The Hindu Morning Digest, February 20, 2025

Rekha Gupta, the debutante MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been chosen to be Delhi’s next Chief Minister.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Rekha Gupta, first-time MLA, named as Delhi Chief Minister

Rekha Gupta, the debutante MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been chosen to be Delhi’s next Chief Minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party said after a Delhi legislative party meeting at its national headquarters on Wednesday evening. Ms. Gupta, 50, will be the fourth woman to head the government in the State.

Delhi CM pick Rekha Gupta is a grassroots leader with RSS–ABVP background 

With a 30-year career in politics, Shalimar Bagh’s Rekha Gupta is set to take over as the next Chief Minister of Delhi on February 20. A grassroots leader with an RSS–ABVP background, she began her political journey while she was a B.Com student at Delhi University’s Daulat Ram College. She joined the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in 1992. 

Maha Kumbh 2025: NGT pulls up U.P. Pollution Control Board for inadequate info on high faecal coliform bacteria levels

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) for not submitting adequate information to the court, including onfaecal coliform levels in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers at Prayagraj during the ongoing Maha Kumbh. 

Four women Maoists killed in encounter with police in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat

At least four women Maoist operatives were gunned down by Madhya Pradesh Police during an encounter in Balaghat district on Wednesday (February 19, 2025), officials said, adding that a search operation is going on to find the outlawed organisation’s fighters who were injured.

Will Modi govt. respond to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s query on Gautam Adani, asks Congress 

The Congress on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) asked whether the Narendra Modi government would respond to the U.S. Securities and Exchanges Commission’s (SEC) request in the ongoing probe against the Adani group since the Prime Minister had already declared the Adani issue to be a “personal matter”.

Ranveer Allahbadia case: What has Supreme Court previously ruled on ‘onerous’ conditions and gag orders? 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) granted interim protection from arrest to podcaster and influencer Ranveer Allahbadia in connection with the first information reports (FIRs) registered against him over remarks made on the YouTube show “India Got Latent”. 

Zelenskyy ‘a dictator without elections’, says Trump as Ukraine President accuses him of living in ‘Russian-made disinformation space’

Relations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump deteriorated rapidly on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) as Mr. Zelenskyy said Mr. Trump was living in a Russian-made “disinformation space” and Trump called Zelenskyy “a dictator without elections” in comments that were sure to complicate efforts to end the war.

Gunmen identify, kill seven Punjabi travellers in Pakistan: govt official

Gunmen in volatile southwest Pakistan shot seven bus passengers dead after identifying them as being from another region, officials said Wednesday (February 18, 2025) .Security forces have been battling sectarian, ethnic and separatist violence for decades in impoverished but mineral-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

Russia praises Trump for saying NATO was a major cause of war in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lauded U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) for saying that previous U.S. support of Ukraine’s bid to join the NATO military alliance was a major cause of the war in Ukraine.

Infosys denies using intimidation tactics on Mysuru campus

IT services company Infosys on Wednesday said it did not use force or intimidation tactics when it laid off trainees at Mysuru campus over performance-related issues, and that it was explaining the circumstances to the labour department authorities.

U.S. SEC asks India’s Law Ministry to serve its complaint to Adanis

Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to hit the pause button on the U.S. anti-bribery law — a move viewed as a big relief for Indian billionaire and top industrialist Gautam Adani — the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has now written to Indian authorities to serve a complaint on the Adani Group founder and his nephew Sagar Adani for their alleged involvement in securities fraud and a $265 million bribery scheme, according to a court filing.

Apple iPhone 16e launched with A18 processor, 48 MP camera and Apple Intelligence

Ending speculation about its new launch, Apple on Wednesday (February 19, 2025) launched the new iPhone 16e instead of the iPhone SE 4 featuring the new A18 processor, Apple Intelligence and iOS 18 out-of-the-box. With the new iPhone 16e, the U.S. based company introduced a new identity of ‘e’ phones in its cavalry.

Champions Trophy 2025: New Zealand beat defending champions Pakistan by 60 runs in opening match

New Zealand underlined their title aspirations with a 60-run victory against defending champions Pakistan in a Group A match of the Champions Trophy at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday (February 19, 2025).

Gavaskar pays glowing tributes to Rege; says Mumbai cricket was his life

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar paid tribute to former Mumbai captain and selector Milind Rege, who passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday. 

WPL | Lanning’s experience to the fore as Capitals battle past Warriorz

There was no change in the pattern on Wednesday night in WPL 3. The first leg of the league ended at the BCA Stadium with Delhi Capitals beating UP Warriorz by seven wickets with a ball to spare.