The Statesman Kolkata - February 12, 2025

In this issue

February 12, 2025

Chandrima to present state budget today

Chandrima Bhattacharya, the Minister of State (Independent charge) for Finance, will present the budget for 2025-26 in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly tomorrow.

1 min

Furious response from TMC after FM's allegations of graft in welfare schemes

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday used the floor of the Lok Sabha to attack the ruling Trinamul Congress in Bengal, alleging it had institutionalised corruption in the state.

3 mins

Lottery distributors not liable to pay service tax to Centre, states alone can impose taxes: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that lottery distributors are not liable to pay service tax to the Central government and it is the state government alone which can impose taxes on the lotteries and not the Centre.

1 min

India Invites Global Partners to Join in Co-development and Co-production of Advanced Defence Systems

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged the global community to partner with India in the co-development and co-production of advanced defence systems, stressing that the current global security landscape demands innovative solutions and stronger international partnerships.

1 min

Furore in Rajya Sabha over original pics missing in newer editions of Constitution

The Rajya Sabha witnessed a furore on Tuesday over new editions of the Constitution of India being published without 22 illustrations found in the original edition.

2 mins

India ready to host next AI summit

Co-chairing AI summit in Paris, PM Modi also stresses need to democratise technology, ensure it is rooted in local ecosystems

2 mins

Political uncertainty in Manipur: Hectic talks on to choose new CM

Two days after the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, uncertainty over the formation of the next government prevails even as a section of political leaders frantically make queries about the prospects of President's Rule in the state.

1 min

Furious response from TMC after FM's allegations of graft in welfare schemes:

Govt. officials in DOUBLE ENGINE states have been openly looting Mid-Day Meal funds for years, while the State Administration looks the other way.

1 min

Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit likely to rejoin Congress

Late President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee may join Congress, leaving the ruling Trinamul Congress soon.

1 min

Kalyani explosions: LoP Suvendu demands NIA probe

Expressing serious concerns over repeated incidents of explosions in firecrackers units in West Bengal during the past several years, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday demanded a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the latest explosions in Nadia's Kalyani.

1 min

16k kg ammonium nitrate seized in Birbhum, 3 arrested

A total of 320 sacks of ammonium powder were seized by Birbhum Police from a truck

1 min

Rural development may get top priority in state budget

This will be the last full-fledged Budget of the present govt before next year's Assembly elections

1 min

Sebaashray: After boy with heart ailment, another gets treated for tumour

More than 12,000 people visited the Sebaashray camps at Metiabruz today, the 10th day of the camp.

1 min

Assembly Special Session for VP Dhankhar's Address

A special session of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly may be convened after the ongoing Budget Session to facilitate an address by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was the previous Governor here.

1 min

Future innovators shine at AOT's premier hackathon

Academy of Technology (AOT) proudly concluded Frost Hacks 1.0, a 36-hour national-level hackathon held from 7-9 February in the institute campus at Adisaptagram.

1 min

Pinpointed pest control approach to check fruit flies

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Calcutta University and other institutions have developed a novel technique for fruit fly control which can revolutionize global efforts to combat these pests.

1 min

Commuters Can Get Real-Time Info on Bus Timings

The state transport department along with KMC has decided to launch a pilot project of installing LED display boards at bus stops

1 min

Relief for locals as wandering tiger captured in Maipith

A tiger that strayed into Maipith's jungles in the Sundarbans, was finally captured early this morning, thanks to the relentless efforts of forest officials.

1 min

Congress Likely to Replace Nana Patole as Maharashtra Chief

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Monday and sources have indicated that the Congress is likely to replace Patole as Maharashtra Congress chief with a younger face, taking election-related caste arithmetic into consideration.

1 min

AI will be used to identify and close mule accounts before they are made operational

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that in recent years, there has been an expansion of digital infrastructure in the country, leading to an increase in the number of cyber attacks, with cybercrimes erasing geographical boundaries.

1 min

India Offers Unmatched Investment Opportunities

Rajnath has emphasised the country's strong political stability, vast market potential

1 min

INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Veera visit Singapore to strengthen maritime cooperation

The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS), comprising INS Sujata, INS Shardul, and ICGS Veera, made a port call at Changi Naval Base Singapore, recently.

1 min

Kerala Cabinet Okays Draft Bill for Setting Up Private Universities

The LDF government in Kerala on Monday approved a draft bill for the establishment and management of private universities in the state called Kerala State Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Draft Bill, 2025.

2 mins

Allahabadi, Sanmay and others summoned by NCW

The commission has summoned them to appear before it on 17 February

1 min

Rahul's Warangal visit cancelled; BRS attributes it to discontent among locals

As Rahul Gandhi's visit to Warangal, slated for tomorrow, stands cancelled, BRS leaders attributed the move to the groundswell against Congress.

1 min

Piyush Goyal says Israel has several areas to invest in India; calls countries 'natural allies'

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal on Tuesday called India and Israel as 'natural allies', and noted that due to India's large demand growth Israel has several key areas from technology to appliances to invest in.

1 min

14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum to begin today

The 14th Asian Fisheries and Aquaculture Forum (14 AFAF), with the theme 'Greening the Blue Growth in Asia-Pacific' is to be organised in New Delhi from 12-14 February.

1 min

Punjab to Host Patiala Heritage Festival from 13 to 16 February

As Punjab steps into 2025, its fairs and festivals are set to be celebrated on a grander scale, drawing tourists from across the globe.

2 mins

Punjab Will Reject Aam Aadmi Party as Delhi Did, Say Congress MPs

Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Tuesday claimed that Punjab would \"reject\" Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), just as voters in Delhi did, and asserted that mid-term elections would soon be held in the state.

1 min

Following Delhi defeat, Kejriwal meets Punjab AAP MLAs

Bhagwant Mann dismissed rumours doing the rounds that he may switch parties

1 min

Speaker Om Birla to be Chief Guest at 2-day orientation programme for Haryana MLAs

A two-day orientation programme will be organised for members of the Haryana Legislative Assembly on 14-15 February under the guidance of Haryana Legislative Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan.

1 min

Blue Marine Economy Growth Creates Momentum for Viet Nam's Sustainable Development

We are proud that Viet Nam is a country with the potential to develop the marine economy.

2 mins

Unresolved Crisis

As India prepares to cut tariffs ahead of a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, the move signals a calculated attempt to maintain trade stability while avoiding retaliatory measures.

4 mins

Swadeshi Roots

Ideas and ideologies being the lifeblood of movements, swadeshi and its leadership were inspired by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in north India and Bankim Chandra and Swami Vivekananda in Bengal. By 1905, the swadeshi movement built the platform for a broad political movement on novel lines, with writings and speeches of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Ghosh setting the political stage on fire

6 mins

Battle of survival for Pakistan's judiciary

As letters from a courageous few judges highlight that Pakistan's Supreme Court is fighting a battle for survival, with some judges refusing to go down without a fight, striving to prevent complete capitulation.

3 mins

Mein Kampf is 100; still inspires hate

A hundred years ago, Adolf Hitler penned Mein Kampf while imprisoned after his failed Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. What started as a bitter and self-justifying political tract went on to shape one of the most catastrophic ideologies in human history.

3 mins

Testimony in trial of man accused of trying to kill Salman Rushdie heads into second day

Testimony is set to continue Tuesday in the trial of the man charged with stabbing famed author Salman Rushdie in a frenzied knife attack on a western New York stage.

1 min

White House officials ready to meet with Zelenskyy in Munich for talks on Russia's war on Ukraine

President Donald Trump's senior advisers are expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss the path toward ending Russia's nearly three-year war in Ukraine.

1 min

UK touts a clampdown on illegal working as it seeks to look tough on immigration

The British government on Monday touted its success in raiding businesses that employ unauthorised workers and deporting thousands of migrants with no right to stay in the U.K., as it moved to strengthen law-enforcement powers against people-smuggling gangs.

1 min

EU Vows Tough Countermeasures to US Tariffs

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed on Tuesday that U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum \"will not go unanswered,\" adding that they will trigger tough countermeasures from the 27-nation bloc.

1 min

Trump Will Host Jordan's King Abdullah II as He Escalates Pressure on His Gaza Resettlement Plan

President Donald Trump will host Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday as he escalates pressure on the Arab nation to take in refugees from Gaza—perhaps permanently—as part of his audacious plan to remake the Middle East.

1 min

Hamas Delays Hostage Release Raises Fears for Gaza Ceasefire

Already, there had been concerns that the war would resume at the end of the first phase in early March

2 mins

Trial Begins for 84 Congolese Soldiers Accused of Murder, Rape and Other Crimes Against Civilians

The trial of 84 Congolese soldiers accused of murder, rape and other crimes against civilians in the country's conflict-battered east opened Monday.

1 min

Horn of Africa to receive over 4 mn USD to tackle hunger

The European Union has provided $4.13 million to support a joint project to protect vulnerable communities in the Greater Horn of Africa from the devastating impacts of climate extremes, conflict, and displacement, the World Food Programme (WFP) said.

1 min

Iran Loosens Import Restrictions on Foreign Cars and iPhones, Trying to Mask Its Economic Woes

All architecture student Amirhossein Azizi wanted for his 19th birthday was the latest iPhone—and for Iran's cash-strapped theocracy, it was just the gift they needed as well.

1 min

Most Nations Miss Deadline for Plans to Fight Climate Change

The United Nations says that's okay as long as they are working on them

2 mins

UN suspends its humanitarian work in Houthi rebels' stronghold in Yemen after more staff detentions

The United Nations said Monday it suspended its humanitarian operations in the stronghold of Yemen's Houthi rebels after they detained eight more U.N. staffers, affecting the global response to one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.

1 min

India is driving global growth through its energy sector, says PM Modi

India is driving not only its growth but also the growth of the world, with the energy sector playing a significant role.

2 mins

New Delhi Secures 6th Position for Highest Price Appreciation of Luxury Homes: Report

India's capital city, New Delhi, has emerged as a top contender in the global luxury real estate market.

1 min

Berger to invest ₹2,000 Cr to reach ₹20,000 Cr revenue, Akzo Nobel not on company radar

Berger Paints India, the second largest player after Asian Paints, will shell out Rs 2,000 crore in aggregate over the next three years to put up two plants in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and to bring into operation its largest plant in the country in Odisha by 2027.

2 mins

Adani Group partners with Mayo Clinic to invest ₹6,000 crore in hospitals

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani has tweeted on X, the launch of Adani Health City in partnership with the globally renowned Mayo Clinic, to enable world-class medical research, affordable healthcare and medical education at an investment of Rs 6000 crore.

1 min

Under GST, taxes have not gone up even on a single item but cut on many: FM

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that indirect tax under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has significantly reduced over the years since its implementation.

1 min

Market closes 1.3 pc lower mirroring global equities

Over the past five sessions, the 30-share Sensex has plunged 2,290 points

1 min

Minister Urges Cycle Manufacturers to Offer Incentives to Encourage Cycling

Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday urged cycle manufacturers to offer incentives to encourage cycling across all age groups.

1 min

Birla Announces Extension of Translation Services to 6 New Languages in Parliament

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Tuesday announced the extension of translation services to six new languages in Parliament including Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Urdu and Sanskrit.

1 min

Journalist Yambem Laba abducted and released amid Manipur's political turmoil

In a concerning escalation of threats against media personnel, veteran journalist Yambem Laba, 69, was forcibly taken from his residence in Uripok Yambem Leikai in Imphal West district by a group of approximately 15 to 20 armed individuals around 3:30 am on Tuesday.

1 min

'Lifetime VVIPs are spreading misinformation on Mahakumbh'

UP CM Adityanath accused opposition of engaging in negative politics, misleading propaganda

1 min

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma eyes collaboration in key sectors with Singapore

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during his two-day visit to the island nation on Tuesday, reinforcing Assam's growing role in India-Singapore strategic cooperation.

1 min

ASTRONOMENS HAVE SPIED AN ASTEROID THAT MAY BE HEADING FOR EARTH WHAT TO KNOW

On 27 December last year, astronomers using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile discovered a small asteroid moving away from Earth.

5 mins

Delray Beach Open: Former champ Norrie in Round 2

Top British singles player Cameron Norrie made a winning return to the Delray Beach Open with a hard-fought straight-sets win against qualifier Zachary Svajda to reach the second round of the ATP 250 event.

1 min

We want to qualify for Women's Asian Cup on merit

The Indian senior women's football team has kicked off its first national camp under new head coach Crispin Chettri in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, as they prepare for the Pink Ladies Cup, a friendly tournament to be held from 20-26 February in Sharjah, UAE.

3 mins

ISL: FC Goa Hope to Turn the Tide Against Mumbai City FC

FC Goa will hope to reduce the gap with league leaders and defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant while Mumbai City FC will aim to cement their place in the top six when the two teams meet in an Indian Super League (ISL) encounter at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Wednesday.

3 mins

Serie A: Sweet revenge for Inter Milan against Fiorentina

Inter Milan took revenge on Fiorentina in Serie A, beating the Viola 2-1 at San Siro.

2 mins

Warrican, Beth Mooney bag ICC Players of the Month for January

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday unveiled the Men's and Women's Players of the Month for January 2025 as the West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican and Australia batter Beth Mooney.

2 mins

Ranji Trophy: Vidarbha, Gujarat, Mumbai cruise into semifinals with emphatic wins

There has been much to cheer for Vidarbha, Gujarat and defending champions Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy this season.

3 mins

Third ODI: Upbeat India eye series whitewash against insipid England

Having won the first two matches in convincing fashion, the hosts are raring for another good show

2 mins

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The Statesman Kolkata Newspaper Description:

The Statesman Kolkata is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by The Statesman Net Pvt Ltd in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest and most respected newspapers in India. The newspaper is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence.

The Statesman Kolkata covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, economy, society, culture, and sports. It also has a strong focus on local news and events. The newspaper is known for its critical and independent reporting on the government and the powerful.

The Statesman Kolkata is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in India, and especially in West Bengal. It is also a great way to get in-depth analysis and commentary on current affairs.