The Hindu Morning Digest: May 3, 2025
Pakistan armed forces hold a series of exercises
Amid expectations of potential Indian military action following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan's armed forces are conducting several exercises near the Line of Control (LoC) and in the Arabian Sea. Concurrently, Pakistan has closed several air traffic routes between Lahore and Islamabad and issued multiple 'Nav Area' warnings along its coastline, as some officials reportedly caution about an 'imminent' attack by India.
Teach Pakistan a lesson for Pahalgam, says Congress Working Committee
Urging the Narendra Modi government to 'isolate and penalise Pakistan for its continued export of terror,' the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Friday (May 2, 2025) also insisted on a 'time-bound accountability into the serious security and intelligence lapses' in Pahalgam, located in one of the most heavily-guarded regions of the country.
NEET-UG 2024: 26 MBBS students suspended for malpractice, 42 candidates debarred for three years
In a major crackdown on irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 examination, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Testing Agency (NTA) have uncovered multiple instances of malpractice, including impersonation and the use of leaked question papers. Following the probe, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical colleges and institutions to immediately suspend 26 MBBS students found complicit in the violations.
Licensed stamp vendors are public servants under anti-corruption law: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court on Friday (May 2, 2025) held that licensed stamp vendors perform a highly important public duty and come within the definition of 'public servant' under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The judgment by a Bench headed by Justice J.B. Pardiwala was based on an appeal filed by a licensed stamp vendor, Aman Bhatia, who was convicted by a trial court under the anti-corruption law for demanding ₹2 extra for a ₹10 stamp paper 22 years ago in the national capital.
Manipur ethnic conflict: Security heightened ahead of second anniversary
Security in Manipur has been heightened amid calls for a shutdown to mark the second anniversary of the ethnic conflict between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities that broke out on May 3, 2023. Security personnel intensified patrolling in the 'buffer zone' – the foothills around the Meitei-majority Imphal Valley – and frisking of vehicles in vulnerable locations in the valley as well as in the adjoining Churachandpur and Kangpokpi hill districts dominated by the Kuki-Zo people.
Prince Harry seeks family reconciliation after losing court case that caused split with his dad
Prince Harry said that he wants to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle on Friday (May 2, 2025) over his publicly funded security that he said led his father, King Charles III, to stop talking to him. 'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore,' Mr. Harry told the BBC. 'I don't know how much longer my father has.' But Harry took aim at Buckingham Palace officials after the court of appeal rejected a bid to restore his police protection detail that was stripped by a government committee when he stepped away from his royal duties and moved to the U.S.
Trump says he will strip Harvard's tax exempt status
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday (May 2, 2025) said he planned to strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status, the latest salvo against the Ivy League school amid a larger crackdown on elite U.S. universities. 'We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!' Mr. Trump said in a post on his social media platform, without specifying when he might take action.
Pakistan continuing its campaign of 'state sponsored terror' in Balochistan: Assam CM
The people of Balochistan are facing a 'ruthless campaign' of 'state-sponsored terrorism' from the Pakistani authorities, the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said on Friday. In a detailed statement posted on 'X', Mr. Sarma recollected the suppression of the Baloch nationalist movement and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'gave voice' to the people of Balochistan by extending support to the Baloch liberation movement in 2016.
Japan's speaker expresses his country's full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Nukaga Fukushiro, conveyed his country's full cooperation to India in fighting terrorism as he condemned the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians, mostly tourists, dead. On a visit to India, Mr. Fukushiro held bilateral talks with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as he expressed solidarity with India in eradicating terrorism, according to an official statement.
Trinamool MP Yusuf Pathan seeks Home Minister's intervention over alleged assault on migrant workers from Bengal in Odisha
Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan on Friday (May 2, 2025) wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that migrant workers from West Bengal, particularly from his Baharampur constituency, have been robbed, looted, and forcibly evicted from their accommodations in the neighbouring State of Odisha, and sought Mr. Shah's intervention.
VHP condemns attacks on Kashmiris, but says they will not stop those speaking against 'jihad'
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar on Friday (May 2, 2025) condemned the recent attacks on Kashmiris, especially students, in various parts of the country, but maintained that such incidents should not be used to 'silence' those who speak against the 'jihad' and the attempt to destroy 'Sanatan Dharma'.
Maharashtra Congress chief criticises State government's 100-day report card, points to internal rift in Mahayuti
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Friday (May 2, 2025) alleged that the State government's recently released 100-day performance report has once again exposed the underlying tensions between the ruling Mahayuti alliance partners. Mr. Sapkal claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis used the report card to highlight the superior performance of departments under his direct control, while downplaying the efforts of those managed by alliance partners, namely Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
IPL 2025, GT vs SRH: Gill and Buttler sizzle as Titans outplay Sunrisers
An 87-run opening partnership between Shubman Gill (76, 38b, 10x4, 2x6) and Sai Sudharsan (48, 23b, 9x4), and Jos Buttler's 37-ball 64 (3x4, 4x6), helped Gujarat Titans to a 38-run win versus Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL at the Narendra Modi stadium here on Friday. If Neville Cardus watched the GT openers bat, he would have called their union 'the midsummer night's dream of T20 cricket.' They made the viewer feel better about life having just watched them bat.
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