The Hindu Morning Digest, January 17, 2025

Dalai Lama Charitable Trust gets FCRA nod

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted a Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration to ‘His Holiness the Dalai Lama Charitable Trust’ for “religious” purposes, among others. FCRA registration is a mandatory requirement to receive foreign funds. An official with the Trust said that the NGO is not directly linked with the spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, but is associated with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which looks after the welfare of the Tibetan community in India. The CTA is headquartered in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamsala.

Israel strikes Gaza and accuses Hamas of backtracking on deal

Israel carried out fresh air strikes on Gaza on Thursday (January 16, 2025) and accused Hamas of backtracking on parts of a fragile ceasefire and hostage release deal ahead of an expected vote by its cabinet .The truce, announced by mediators Qatar and the United States on Wednesday, would take effect on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war would be finalised.

12 Maoists killed by security personnel in Chhattisgarh

In the biggest anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh since the beginning of the year, at least a dozen Maoists were gunned down by the security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur on Thursday (January 16, 2024), said the police. Carried out ten days after the IED blast in Bijapur that left eight security personnel dead, the operation was reported in the South Bastar region. This region spread across Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts is considered a stronghold of the Maoists but many new security camps have come up there in the past one year.

Govt. launches app to promote battlefield tourism

Civilians can soon visit battlefield locations along India’s borders, thanks to a newly introduced app and website .An initiative of the Ministries of Defence and Tourism, as well as the Army, the “Bharat Ranbhoomi Darshan” app was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (January 15, 2025) coinciding with Army Day celebrations. Locations of the 1962, 1971, and 1999 (Kargil) conflicts, Siachen base camp, and even the site where the Galwan clash of 2020 took place, will be accessible for tourists.

Congress promises ₹500 LPG cylinder, ration kit, 300 units of free power to Delhi residents

The Congress on Thursday said it will provide subsidised LPG cylinder at ₹500, a free ration kit, and 300 units of free electricity per month to every family if voted to power in Delhi .The announcement was made by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at a press conference with All India Congress Committee Delhi in-charge Qazi Nizamuddin and Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav. Mr. Reddy said the guarantees will help the people tackle inflation. “AAP and the BJP have ruined the lives of families with sky-rocketing inflation, but the Congress guarantee will take inflation out of the kitchens,” he said.

‘Twin Peaks’ creator and filmmaker David Lynch dies at 78

David Lynch, the American filmmaker, writer and artist who scored best director Oscar nominations for “Blue Velvet,” “The Elephant Man” and “Mulholland Drive” and co-created the groundbreaking TV series “Twin Peaks,” has died at age 78, his family said on Thursday (January 16, 2025). “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” a statement on Lynch’s Facebook page said. “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’”

Singapore aiming to build semiconductor ecosystem in India, says President Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Singapore is exploring new initiatives like manufacturing of semiconductors and building a semiconductor ecosystem in India apart from participating in the creation of new generation of technological solutions, the city-State’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on Thursday. The visiting dignitary recounted his 2022 visit to India as the Senior Minister of Singapore when he toured Assam and announced that this time he is focusing on Odisha.

Pannun inquiry report is a ‘positive first step’, but process not done yet, says U.S. Ambassador Garcetti

The Modi government’s announcement of the results of its high-level inquiry into the Pannun case was a “positive first step”, but not the end of the U.S.’s expectations of action in the alleged assassination plot, said outgoing U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti in New Delhi on Thursday (January 16, 2025) .In the first official reaction to the government’s statement that it had identified an “individual”, believed to be a former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) official, as responsible for the conspiracy to assassinate Khalistani activist Pannun, Mr. Garcetti welcomed the statement and said it must now lead to a full prosecution. He also called for “systemic change” to ensure this doesn’t “happen again”.

Memorial for Manmohan Singh still in preliminary stages

The finalisation of a site for a memorial to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who passed away last month is still in preliminary stages .Sources in the Union Urban Affairs Ministry said that a site at the Rashtriya Smriti Complex (a part of Rajghat precinct) has been earmarked for the memorial and the family of the former PM has been intimated of the same. However, they have not visited the site yet as they are still grieving.

Hindenburg closure not a clean chit for Adani group: Congress

The Hindenburg Research Group’s closure does not in any way mean a clean chit for the Adani group, the Congress said on Thursday (January 16, 2025), reacting to Hindenburg founder Nate Anderson’s announcement on disbanding the U.S.-based short seller. The party has reiterated its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into alleged “acts of blatant favouritism and brazen criminality” by the Adani group in collusion with the government.