Relatives of 38-year-old Pinky Devi, who died in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station, mourn her death, at Sangam Vihar in New Delhi on Sunday, February 16, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI
Two-member committee begins probe over Delhi Railway station stampede
The Northern Railway on February 16, 2025 formed a two-member committee comprising Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) Narsingh Deo and Principal Chief Security Commissioner (PCSC) Pankaj Gangwar to probe into the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) on February 15 night.
New India Cooperative Bank accused sent to police custody till Feb. 21
Former general manager and head of accounts of New India Cooperative Bank Hitesh Mehta and the beneficiary of the theft Dharmesh Paun have been sent to police custody till February 21, 2025. Both were produced before the court on Sunday (February 17, 2025). The Mumbai police on Saturday (February 15, 2025) arrested Hitesh Mehta, general manager and head of accounts of the New India Cooperative Bank, for allegedly misappropriating ₹122 crore from the bank, officials said.
Deportee from second batch of illegal immigrants from U.S. says they were handcuffed, chained
The 116 undocumented Indian migrants, who were onboard the U.S. plane that landed at Punjab’s Amritsar International Airport on Saturday night (February 15, 2025) were handcuffed and chained during the travel as they were deported from the United States, as per one of the deportees. Talking to media persons in Hoshiarpur, Daljit Singh, one of the deportees, asserted that on their way to Amritsar from the U.S. the deportees were “handcuffed with their legs chained” in the aircraft. The second group of 116 Indian citizens was deported from the United States in the C-17 aircraft after U.S. President Donald Trump recently started a crackdown on illegal immigrants.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar calls for coordinated efforts to fulfil development, security aspirations of Indian Ocean region
The Indian Ocean is veritably a global lifeline, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday (February 16, 2025), as he asked the countries in the region to look out for each other, supplement their strengths and coordinate their policies to fulfil its development, connectivity, maritime and security aspirations.
Change of guard ceremony now in new format, says Rashtrapati Bhavan
The change of guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan will now be held in a new format, featuring an elaborate visual and musical performance against the backdrop of the presidential palace, an official statement said on Sunday (February 16, 2025). The new format includes military drills by troops and horses of the President’s Bodyguard, along with personnel from the Ceremonial Guard Battalion and the Ceremonial Military Brass Band. The display will be spread over a larger area, the statement added.
Jairam Ramesh said BJP, Assam CM launching smear campaign against Gogoi and legal action is being taken
The Congress on Sunday accused the BJP and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of indulging in an “atrocious smear campaign” and “character assassination” against Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, adding that legal action is being initiated in the matter. Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said this is being done as Mr. Gogoi won the Jorhat Lok Sabha seat and is exposing the Assam Chief Minister’s corruption.
Farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar brought to Bengaluru by air ambulance
Farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar, who was seriously injured in an accident near Patiala in Punjab, was brought to Bengaluru on Sunday (February 16, 2025) by air ambulance, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office said. Mr. Shanthakumar has now been admitted to Manipal Hospital in the city for treatment. Mr. Siddaramaiah wished Mr. Shanthakumar a speedy recovery, a statement from CMO said.
$21 million for ‘voter turnout in India’ among grant cuts announced by Elon Musk-led DOGE
The U.S. Department of Government Efficiency led by billionaire Elon Musk has announced a series of expenditure cuts, including $21 million allocated for “voter turnout in India.” U.S. President Donald Trump chose Mr. Musk to head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last month. Tasked with improving governance and curbing wasteful expenditures, the DOGE announced the cuts in a post on X on Saturday (February 15, 2025).
Netanyahu says with U.S. support, ‘we can finish the job’ against Iran
Israel and the United States are both determined to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its “aggression” in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday (February 16, 2025) following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Speaking after a meeting with Mr. Rubio in Jerusalem, Mr. Netanyahu said they had held a “very productive discussion” on a number of issues, “none more important than Iran”.
Brazil to host next BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro in July
The Brazilian government announced Saturday that the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. Brazil will chair the bloc of developing economies through 2025 and said it will focus on promoting global governance reform and cooperation among Global South countries, according to a statement from the federal government.
Published – February 16, 2025 06:44 pm IST