Every week, there’s always a lot happening around the world. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most important news stories from this week. Whether it’s about space, science, or politics, we’ve got it all covered. Let’s catch up on the top news of the week.
The stampede took place at around 10pm on Saturday when passengers rushed towards platform 16 due to confusion over train announcements. The narrow stairway became overcrowded, and people got trapped between those moving up and those coming down. This led to chaos, with many falling and getting crushed.
Even on Sunday, the situation remained difficult, with large crowds struggling for space on platforms and foot-over bridges. Authorities are working to prevent further incidents and ensure passenger safety.
Senior IAS officer Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India. Kumar, a 1988-batch Kerala cadre officer, was serving as an Election Commissioner before taking on this top role. His tenure as the 26th CEC will run until January 26, 2029, just before the Election Commission is expected to announce the schedule for the next Lok Sabha elections.
From April 1, Madhya Pradesh will have a new type of bar—’Low Alcoholic Beverage Bars‘ that will only provide low-alcohol beverages such as beer, wine, and ready-to-drink with a low alcohol percentage of less than 10%. Hard liquors like whiskey, rum, and vodka won’t be on the menu.
The United States and Russia recently held a high-level meeting in Riyadh to discuss ending the war in Ukraine and improving diplomatic and economic relations. The meeting took place as the conflict approaches its third anniversary.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov confirmed the discussions and shared the key outcomes. Rubio told the Associated Press (AP) that both countries have agreed to work on three main goals: restoring embassy staffing, creating a high-level team for Ukraine peace talks, and exploring economic cooperation. Lavrov described the conversation as “very useful,” stating, “We not only listened but also heard each other.”
U. S. President Donald Trump has justified the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s cancellation of a $21 million fund designed to increase voter turnout in India. The decision has drawn criticism and Trump is asking why America was allocating financial support to a country with a strong economy and high trade tariffs.
“Why are we giving USD 21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?” Trump said after signing executive orders at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday to review the implementation of three new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by key officials, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Union Territory (UT) administration.
The meeting discussed how the new criminal laws are being followed in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in areas like police work, prisons, courts, and forensic investigations. Home Minister Amit Shah told the administration to fully apply these laws by April 2025. He also said that technology should be used to make the justice system faster and more efficient.
Prakriti Lamsal, a 20-year-old student from Nepal, was studying in her third year of BTech at KIIT. On February 16, she was found dead in her hostel room. Reports say that another student, 21-year-old Advik Srivastava from Lucknow, had been harassing and blackmailing her. This has made people question how safe students are at the university and whether the college takes harassment complaints seriously.
After her death, more than 500 Nepali students at KIIT started protesting. They said that the university did not do enough to protect Lamsal. The situation became worse when the university tried to remove the Nepali students from the campus. This led to the Nepalese government and Indian authorities getting involved to handle the issue.
Rekha Gupta will take the oath today as the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi. She is a first-time MLA and belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Her swearing-in comes after the BJP won the Delhi Assembly elections, ending the 10-year rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The BJP has returned to power in Delhi after 26 years.
DOGE cuts World Trade Center Health Program for 9/11 survivors
Days only after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), reductions were made in the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, providing medical treatment to 9/11 responders and survivors. The reductions in jobs—started by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—have outraged elected representatives and workers.
The U.S. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released new guidance reaffirming the acknowledgment of only two sexes—male and female—under federal policies.
The move, announced on Wednesday, follows a recent executive order by former President Donald Trump, which shows the administration’s position on biological definitions.