The Morning Standard - February 04, 2025

In this issue

February 04, 2025

High-Octane Campaign Ends, Over to Feb 5

The intense campaigning for the February 5 Assembly elections finally ended on Monday, with the top leadership of all parties canvassing for their candidates and making a final push to reach out to voters through rallies, roadshows, and public meetings.

1 min

Rahul raps slide in manufacturing

IN a departure from his usual combative mode, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, touching upon all the key issues that currently dominate the Budget season unemployment, border security, Election Commission, China and caste census among others.

1 min

Rahul raps slide in manufacturing

Both sides exploring possibility of scheduling it after Paris AI summit

1 min

Competing devotion for 'His'

THE Prachin Hanuman Mandir has always been a go-to place for the believing.

2 mins

Centre, states can't reduce forest cover: SC

In a stern warning, the Supreme Court on Monday restrained the Centre and state governments from reducing forest areas without providing compensatory land.

1 min

HC summons Tharoor in defamation case

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in connection with a defamation suit filed by BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

1 min

BJP says will return to power after 27 yrs

ON the final day of campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections, senior BJP leaders including Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Anurag Thakur, and several chief ministers, Union ministers and MPs took to the streets in the national capital, holding rallies across various constituencies to rally support for the party's candidates.

1 min

Naidu slams AAP, says 'half-engine' govt has failed to check corruption

TELUGU Desam Party (TDP) leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), accusing it of misgovernance and failure to address key issues plaguing the national capital.

1 min

Amid raining sops, students seek to remind parties of basic rights

THESE are not freebies but basic rights that we rightfully deserve,\" said one of the students at University of Delhi when asked if the vast array of 'freebies' up for grabs are lucrative enough for students to come out and vote for on Feb 5.

2 mins

Will bring back Sheila Dikshit's Delhi: Cong

LAUNCHING a sharp attack on the BJP and ruling AAP on the final day of campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections, the Congress presented itself as the only viable alternative and pledged to restore Delhi's glory witnessed under the late Sheila Dikshit's leadership.

1 min

Rape convict Sengar gets bail for eye surgery

THE high court on Monday granted a one-day interim bail to former BJP MLA and Unnao rape case convict Kuldeep Singh Sengar to undergo cataract surgery. The relief allows Sengar to have the procedure on February 4, with a directive to surrender to jail by February 5..

1 min

Fake news: HC notice on plea of Aishwarya's child

THE Delhi high court on Monday took a significant step in a defamation case filed by Aaradhya Bachchan, daughter of actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, by issuing a notice on an application seeking a summary judgement.

1 min

HC declines urgent hearing on PIL against election freebies

DELHI High Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a PIL filed by retired Justice S N Dhingra, challenging the cash-oriented schemes announced by political parties ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

1 min

LAND ODISHA BUSINESS PROPOSALS ON TIME

THE BJP government's first investment summit in Odisha has generated a big buzz around the state's industrial roadmap.

1 min

APPOINTING AD HOC JUDGES COULD BE A GAME-CHANGER

IN an attempt to undo the 'tareekh pe tareekh' culture in the higher judiciary, a bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna recently lifted a constriction on high courts appointing ad hoc judges

1 min

Privilege motion against Sonia for 'demeaning' Prez

A group of BJP MPs on Monday submitted a breach of parliamentary privilege notice against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of using \"derogatory and slanderous words\" to describe President Droupadi Murmu during her address to a joint session of Parliament last week.

1 min

Third aircraft carrier to replace Vikramaditya

THE Indian Navy imagining itself as a three aircraft carrier force is in for reality check as the transition is unlikely in the near future.

1 min

Soren resolution against UCC, NRC in J'khand

THE ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha passed a 50-point resolution which included the rejection of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.

1 min

Floodwaters force people to evacuate Queensland

FAST-moving floodwaters rose Monday in northeastern Australia after forcing many to flee, blacking out homes, and sweeping away a chunk of a critical bridge.

1 min

Now, South Africa in Trump's crosshairs

US President Donald Trump announced he was cutting off all future funding to South Africa for \"confiscating\" land and \"treating certain classes of people very badly,\" an accusation his South African counterpart rejected on Monday.

1 min

USAID gets new acting director - Rubio

SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio on Monday announced USAID was not disappearing but would come under his control after Elon Musk said the humanitarian agency will be shutting down.

1 min

Funeral of Nasrallah to be held on February 23

THE Lebanese Hezbollah group announced the funeral of its longtime leader will take place on Feb. 23, months after he was assassinated in a series of Israeli airstrikes in a southern Beirut suburb.

1 min

Tariff on Mexico put on hold, no luck for China, Canada

Don pauses after Mexican prez agrees to send forces to address drug trafficking

1 min

Tax Revenue Assumptions Seem Optimistic

The Union Budget for FY26 attempts to strike a balance between supporting economic activity and fiscal consolidation, which is quite commendable given the country's current macroeconomic situation and the uncertain global environment.

2 mins

Tax cuts to give banks ₹45k cr boost: DFS Secy

Even if direct allocations have not seen a major rise in budget, effective capex is ₹15.5L cr, 18% more than FY25

2 mins

Mfg growth hits 6-month high in Jan on export demand

RISING exports drove up the manufacturing sector activity in January, with the purchasing managers index (PMI) for the month surging to a six-month high of 57.7, which, though is marginally lower than the initial forecast of 58, shows a private survey.

1 min

TELLING THE INDIA STORY

As Sabyasachi completes 25 years of his design label, TMS sheds light on how he made India felt seen’ on the world map in arare feat achieved by a few Indian designers.

3 mins

More Clouds, Less of Silver Lining

Two documentaries explore the human and environmental costs of development, highlighting the struggles of marginalized communities and the impact of industrialisation. A conversation with the directors.

3 mins

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