National Herald case, Bengaluru rains, Harvard foreign enrolment ban and more: The week in 5 charts
(1) India's global outreach on Operation Sindoor
The Centre on Saturday (May 17, 2025) released the list of seven all-party delegations, spanning a total of 59 MPs from various political parties, that would travel to key partner countries, including members of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union, to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
The first three multi-party delegations, as shown in the graphic (comprising all seven delegations below, to global capitals will started their journey on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) and Thursday (May 22, 2025)
The first three teams were briefed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Tuesday (May 20, 2025). These three teams will also visit Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain. Other delegations started their journeys on May 24 (Saturday) and May 25 (Sunday).
(2) Enforcement Directorate makes submissions in National Herald Case
The ED laid out a case of money laundering based on prima facie evidence against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) in front of a Delhi court. The development is the latest in a decade-long case dubbed the National Herald case.
According to the ED, the two Congress leaders and others were involved in masking illegal proceeds of crime worth around 85 crores through a dubious purchase of a company called Associated Journals Limited. The graphic below shows the key transactions involved in the case, and how they enabled money laundering according to the ED.
The purchase of a company worth around 2,000 crores for a mere 50 lakh was one of the key contentions brought out by the ED. The defence has argued that YIL is a not-for-profit company, meaning its shareholders do not receive dividends. Moreover, it has argued that while YIL owns most of AJL, AJL's assets remain the property of AJL itself, and were never used in any other capacity by the Congress leaders and associated persons.
(3) Bengaluru floods after pre-monsoon downpour
Bengaluru recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall for May in recent years on Monday (May 19, 2025), with 105.5 mm of rainfall. IMD Bengaluru's director said that this extent of rainfall was rare for the month. Seen cumulatively, Bengaluru's May rainfall was the highest this year at 307.9 mm
Bengaluru's rainfall patterns show a peak in May, followed by elevated rainfall levels through October, with September's rainfall being the highest. Localities that are known for frequent flooding - like Sri Sai Layout, S.T. Bed Layout and Trinity Fortune Layout - were inundated again.
(4) Trump pushes for domestic iPhone manufacturing
U.S. President Donald Trump said that iPhone manufacturer Apple will face tariffs on its iPhone up to 25% if they are made in another country. Mr. Trump pushed again for domestic manufacturing of those iPhones that were sold in the U.S.
A Reuters report said that iPhone prices could increase anywhere from 30% to 43% for different models, if Apple chooses to pass the tariff onto consumers. The U.S., along with Canada, plays a significant role in Apple's net sales. The Americas (Canada and U.S.) constitute around 42% of Apple's net sales in the quarter ended March 29 this year, according to the company's financial statement.
As of 2023, Apple's supplier list includes more than 20 countries with primary manufacturing locations for Apple's products. This includes 14 locations in India (not all owned by Indian companies).
(5) Federal Judge blocks Trump administration's decision to disallow foreign enrolment at Harvard
A federal judge on Friday (May 23, 2025) blocked the Trump administration from cutting off Harvard's enrolment of foreign students, an action the Ivy League school decried as unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House's political demands.
In its lawsuit filed earlier Friday (May 23, 2025) in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government's action violates the First Amendment and will have an 'immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.'
In the academic year of 2024-25, a total of 6,793 international students were enrolled in Harvard, which comprised 27.2% of the University's total enrolment.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the action Thursday (May 22, 2025), saying Harvard has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing 'anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators' to assault Jewish students on campus. Without offering evidence, it also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese communist party.
The administration revoked Harvard's certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which gives the school the ability to sponsor international students to get their visas and attend school in the United States.
After the federal judge's suspension of the action, U.S. President Donald Trump defended on Sunday (May 25, 2025) his administration's move to block foreign students at Harvard. 'Why isn't Harvard saying that almost 31% of their students are from FOREIGN LANDS, and yet those countries, some not at all friendly to the United States, pay NOTHING toward their student's education, nor do they ever intend to,' Mr. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
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