The Hindu Morning Digest, January 19, 2024

Police personnel keep vigil outside the Sealdah court where the judgement in the alleged rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital is scheduled to be delivered, in Kolkata, on January 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

RG Kar verdict: Sanjay Roy held guilty of rape and murder of doctor

The Additional District and Sessions Court, Sealdah on (January 18, 2025) held accused Sanjay Roy “guilty” of rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Judge Anirban Das pronounced the verdict in the presence of the accused. The parents of the victim were also present in the court premises. The term of the sentence will be pronounced on Monday (January 20).

Ceasefire between Israel, Hamas will go into effect on January 19 morning: Officials

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will go into effect on Sunday at 8.30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), mediator Qatar announced on Saturday (January 18, 2025), as families of hostages held in Gaza braced for news of loved ones, Palestinians prepared to receive freed detainees and humanitarian groups rushed to set up a surge of aid.

Peace should be brokered by a third party, say Manipur Police personnel

At the first-ever integration training organised by the Assam Rifles for the Manipur Police last month, recruits from all the three communities – Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga – concurred that peace in the ethnic violence-affected State should be brokered by a “neutral third party”, a senior government official told The Hindu.

Three held in Thrissur for death of Kerala man who joined Russian military

Three people were arrested on Saturday (January 18, 2025) in connection with the death of a man from Kerala, who had joined the military support service in Russia. Sandeep Thomas, Sumesh Antony, and Sibi, all natives of Thrissur, were arrested for allegedly recruiting youths to Russia with promises of high-paying jobs, police said.

Centre to hold meeting with protesting farmers on February 14; Dallewal takes medical aid

The Centre will hold a meeting with Punjab’s protesting farmers on February 14 in Chandigarh to discuss their demands, thus ending a stalemate over the resumption of a dialogue with the agitators, who have been demanding a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops.

Netanyahu says Israel reserves ‘right to resume war if necessary’ with U.S. support

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday (January 18, 2025) that Israel reserves the right to resume fighting in Gaza with U.S. support, as he pledged to bring home all hostages held in the Palestinian territory.

“We reserve the right to resume the war if necessary, with American support,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a televised statement, a day before a ceasefire is set to take effect.

Cancer of terrorism is consuming Pakistan’s body politic: Jaishankar

Pakistan’s support of cross-border terrorism is like a cancer, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Saturday (January 18, 2025).

“Pakistan remains the exception in our neighbourhood in view of its support for cross-border terrorism, and that cancer is now consuming its own body politic. Obviously, the entire sub-continent has a shared interest in Pakistan abjuring that approach.” Mr. Jaishakar said, while delivering the 19th Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Lecture.

Congress hopes to repeat 2013 performance in Delhi polls

Fighting for survival in Delhi, the Congress has narrowed down its focus to 20 seats and is running a candidate centric campaign in the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls. The party wants to repeat its 2013 performance where after being unseated from the throne, pushed to the third position in the Assembly tally, the Congress still held the key to power.

EPFO simplifies account transfer rules, employees can also correct personal details using Aadhaar number

In a significant reform that would ease the burden on subscribers, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has simplified the process of joint declaration on the EPFO portal by allowing employees to self-correct errors in their personal details such as name, date of birth, gender, nationality, father/ mother’s name, marital status, spouse name, date of joining and date of leaving. The corrections can be done without any verification by the employer or approval by the EPFO, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said here Saturday (January 18, 2025).

Congress will remove quota cap if elected to power, says Rahul Gandhi

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on his first visit to Bihar after becoming the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, on Saturday (January 18, 2025) slammed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bharatiya Janata Party for being anti-Constitution and asserted that 20-25 billionaires own the wealth of the country. Mr. Gandhi further said the 50% reservation barrier would be removed and caste census conducted across the country when the Congress returns to power at the Centre.

India, EU expected to make ‘meaningful’ progress on FTA talks in 2025: diplomats

“Meaningful progress” on the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected in 2025, said senior European diplomats in New Delhi, as Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal began his three-day visit to Brussels on Saturday. An EU-India strategic road map is also taking shape, as part of which the EU-India summit will take place at the end of the year, the diplomats added.

The Hindu Lit for Life 2025: Without Voldemort, Harry Potter is just having a lovely day at school, says David Walliams

In his very first literary fest in India, popular children’s author and comedian David Walliams, began with a loud proclamation to an audience filled with children: “I am here to talk about my favourite subject – Me!”

This very inflated sense of self remained a running joke through a delightfully interactive session at The Hindu Lit for Life, peppered with animated readings and hilarious audience interactions. The author walked in through the audience high five-ing young readers holding up copies of this famous series, World’s Worst Children. Walliams’ journey with writing children’s books began with the title The Boy in the Dress. “We all feel different in one way or the other and I want to say this to you kids out there, difference is your superpower. Never be afraid of that,” said Walliams.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Bumrah and Shami included in the squad

Despite concerns over his fitness, Jasprit Bumrah – the backbone of India’s bowling – was on Saturday (January 18, 2025) included in India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, starting on February 19. While Yashasvi Jaiswal has earned a maiden ODI call-up, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav – bowlers who are also on a comeback trail following injury layoffs – have also been selected in the Rohit Sharma-led squad.