Top news of the day: May 23, 2025

The Hindu

23-05-2025

Trump threatens Apple with 25% tariffs if iPhone assembly doesn't move to U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Apple, Inc. with 25% tariffs on iPhone imports if the company didn't make them domestically. Repeating his insistence that he didn't want iPhones to be assembled in India, Mr. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that 'I have long informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone's (sic) that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' adding that if that doesn't happen, 'a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S.' Apple and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
IAF, Lahore ATC denied IndiGo permission to use Pakistan airspace: DGCA
The pilots of IndiGo's Delhi to Srinagar flight that was caught in a hailstorm earlier this week were denied deviation to escape bad weather by using Pakistan airspace by both the Indian Air Force as well as Lahore's Air Traffic Control tower, the DGCA said on Friday (May 23, 2025). However, Defence sources have refuted a part of this claim and said the IAF-controlled Northern Area Control Centre is not authorised to provide Indian aircraft permission to enter international airspace, which rests with Delhi Air Traffic Control. The incident pertains to IndiGo's 6E 2142 flight that was caught in bad weather, including strong turbulence, on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) evening.
'My linguistic mistake': Vijay Shah apologises again; SIT yet to question him
Days after the Supreme Court turned down his apology and formed an SIT to probe the case against him, Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah on Friday (May 23, 2025) issued another public apology and termed his remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a 'linguistic mistake'. Mr. Shah said in a video statement on X, 'I was deeply saddened and disturbed by the gruesome massacre that took place in Pahalgam earlier. I have always had immense love for my nation and respect for the Indian Army. The words spoken by me have hurt the community, religion and countrymen, it was my linguistic mistake.'
RBI to pay govt record dividend of ₹2.69 lakh crore for FY25
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday (May 23, 2025) approved the transfer of ₹2,68,590.07-crore as surplus to the Central Government for the accounting year 2024-25. Under the the Chairmanship of RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the decision was made in the 616th meeting of the Central Board of Directors of the Reserve Bank of India. 'The CRB was increased to 6.00% for FY 2022-23 and to 6.50% for FY 2023-24. Based on the revised ECF, and taking into consideration the macroeconomic assessment, the Central Board decided to further increase the CRB to 7.50%. The Board thereafter approved the transfer of ₹2,68,590.07 crore as surplus to the Central Government for the accounting year 2024-25,' the RBI said in a statement.
Herald case: ED names Congress leaders who 'sought donations' for Young Indian, AJL
Some Congress leaders were among individuals who donated funds to the Young Indian and AJL on instructions from senior party functionaries, as not doing so would have been 'damaging' for their political careers and businesses, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is learnt to have said in its chargesheet filed in the National Herald case. The ED has named 78-year-old former Congress president and Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi as accused no. 1 and her son Rahul Gandhi (54) as accused no. 2, apart from five others in the prosecution complaint filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Flight of Kanimozhi-led Indian MP delegation circles Moscow sky following drone attack
The flight carrying an Indian Member of Parliament (MP) delegation to Moscow, led by DMK leader Kanimozhi, sent for diplomatic outreach on the India-Pakistan conflict, had to circle in the sky for sometime due to a drone attack on Thursday (May 22, 2025) night. However, the aircraft later landed safely. Ms. Kanimozhi leads one of the seven all-party delegations of Indian MPs deputed by the Centre following Operation Sindoor, the military offensive aimed at terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. 'It circled in the air and later landed and there was a delay of 45 minutes. She (Kanimozhi) landed safely,' sources close to Kanimozhi said in Chennai on Friday (May 23, 2025).
Operation Sindoor showed terror in India fully sponsored by Pakistan: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (May 23, 2025) said Operation Sindoor has exposed the fact that terrorism in India is fully Pakistan sponsored. Delivering the Rustamji Memorial Lecture organised by the Border Security Force (BSF) on the occasion of its 22nd investiture ceremony, he also said that the border guarding force has proved its mettle during Operation Sindoor and did not allow nefarious Pakistani activities. 'Operation Sindoor has exposed that terrorism in India is absolutely Pakistan sponsored,' he said. 'We targeted the terrorists, but Pakistan took it on itself and proved that it was Pakistan sponsored terrorism,' Mr. Shah added.
India's foreign policy collapsed: Rahul Gandhi takes swipe at Jaishankar
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday (May 23, 2025) claimed that India's foreign policy has 'collapsed' and asked External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to explain why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan and who asked U.S. President Donald Trump to 'mediate' between the two South Asian neighbours. Mr. Gandhi tagged a post by the Congress which carried a video clip of Mr. Jaishankar answering questions on the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent tensions between India and Pakistan, during an interview with Dutch broadcaster NOS. 'Will JJ explain: Why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to 'mediate' between India & Pakistan? India's foreign policy has collapsed,' Mr. Gandhi said.
PM Modi inaugurates 'Rising North East Investors Summit', says diversity biggest strength of the region
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (May 23, 2025) said the Northeastern region is witnessing unprecedented progress and the government is determined to accelerate its growth story. Addressing the 'Rising North East Investors Summit' in New Delhi, he also said that diversity of the Northeast is its biggest strength and that the region is emerging as the frontrunner of growth. 'The Northeast is witnessing unprecedented progress. We are determined to accelerate its growth story,' he said while inaugurating the two-day event which is being attended by chief ministers of the region, union ministers, bureaucrats, diplomats among others.
North Korea denies severe damage of warship; full investigation under way on its failed launch
North Korea is seeking to arrest those responsible for the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, as it denied the warship suffered major damage — a claim quickly met with outside skepticism. A statement from North Korea on its handling of the botched launch came after leader Kim Jong Un expressed fury over an incident that he said was caused by criminal negligence. The main military committee said on Friday (May 23, 2025) that those responsible would be held responsible for an 'unpardonable criminal act.' North Korea's state news agency KCNA said on Friday (May 23, 2025) that the severity of the damage to the 5,000-tonne-class destroyer was 'not serious" as it cancelled an earlier assessment that the bottom of the hull had been left with holes.
Israeli Embassy killings suspect told police: 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza'
The man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington outside a Jewish museum told police after his arrest, 'I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza,' federal authorities said in announcing charges in the killings they called a targeted act of terrorism. Elias Rodriguez (31) shouted 'Free Palestine' as he was led away after his arrest, according to charging documents that provided new details of the Wednesday (May 21, 2025) night shootings in the nation's capital that killed an American woman and an Israeli man who had just left an event at the museum. They were set to become engaged.
'Investment, not tariffs,' says Japan PM after telephone talks with Trump before 3rd round of talks
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Friday (May 23, 2025) that he held telephone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and agreed to hold 'productive' discussions at an upcoming tariff talks between the two sides. 'Investment, not tariffs,' Mr. Ishiba told reporters after the talks. He said Japan's position to keep pushing Washington to drop all recent tariff measures is unchanged and that he stands by plans to push for Japanese investment to create more jobs in the U.S. in exchange. Mr. Ishiba said he reminded Mr. Trump that Japan's position was for the U.S. administration to scrap all recent tariffs on imports from Japan, to which the U.S. president made no specific response.
Reliance to invest ₹75,000 cr in North-Eastern States: Mukesh Ambani
Oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited will invest ₹75,000 crore in North Eastern States in setting up 350 biogas plants, expanding its telecom services, retail footprint, and clean energy projects, Chairman Mukesh Ambani said on Friday (May 23, 2025). Speaking at the Rising NorthEast Investors Summit, Reliance Industries Limited Chairman and Managing Director said his group will invest in factories for high-quality FMCG products in the region and setting up a 150-bed cancer hospital in Manipur. 'Reliance has invested around ₹30,000 crore in the region in the past 40 years. In the next five years, we will more than double our investments, with our target at ₹75,000 crore,' he said.