Source: THE HINDU

U.S. Embassy, consulates in India put new student visa appointments on pause

The U.S. Embassy and consulates in India have paused scheduling new appointments for student visa applicants as they await “further guidance” from the U.S. State Department, a day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly sent a cable to missions worldwide on the issue of social media screening, The Hindu has learnt.

Lokpal gives clean chit to Madhabi Puri Buch in Hindenburg case

The Lokpal on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) disposed of all three complaints against Madhabi Puri Buch, former Chairperson of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in the Hindenburg case, granting a major relief for Ms. Buch as well as the market regulator she once headed.

Rubio says U.S. will start revoking visas for Chinese students

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) that the United States will start revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. In a statement, Mr. Rubio said the department will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from China and Hong Kong.

Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh postpone civil defence exercise

After the government decided to carry out a civil defence exercise on Thursday (May 29, 2025) in states and Union Territories adjoining the western border, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) postponed the scheduled mock drill.

Trump used offers of trade access to broker India-Pakistan ceasefire, claims U.S. Commerce Secretary

The U.S. government has, for the first time, put on record in a court submission its claim that the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following India’s Operation Sindoor, was “only achieved” after U.S. President Donald Trump stepped in and offered both countries trading access to the U.S. in order to “avert a full-scale war”.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters hold rally calling for polls by December

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) called for early election in Bangladesh on Wednesday (May 28, 2025), adding to the growing pressure on the interim government. In the past 10 months, this is the first time that the BNP has challenged the interim government led by Mohammed Yunus, and criticised its major initiatives like the so-called “humanitarian corridor” between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Free movement will take time, government tells Meiteis

The resumption of free movement for all communities along the National Highways in Manipur, and the resettlement of internally displaced people are “going to take some time”, Home Ministry officials told a delegation of Meitei civil society groups at a meeting in the National Capital. The officials “clearly stated” that this is “not achievable in a few months or a few weeks”, the Meitei groups said in a press conference on Wednesday (May 28, 2025), a day after the meeting.

Chelsea defeats Real Betis in Conference League final to make history in Europe

A dominant Chelsea crushed Spanish side Real Betis 4-1 in the final of the UEFA Conference League to become the first team in Europe to win all the continental trophies on offer, on Wednesday (May 28, 2025). Goals from Enzo Fernandez, Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho and Moises Caicedo helped the London side cap off a massive second-half comeback after being 0-1 down at the break.

Maharashtra government approves Dharavi project master plan

The master plan for the Dharavi redevelopment project was approved on Wednesday (May 27, 2025) during a review meeting attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and senior officials. “Dharavi should be developed in an environmentally friendly and integrated manner while preserving its original concept,” said Mr. Fadnavis.

Delhi, followed by Maharashtra, sent back the most number of ‘illegal’ Bangladeshi immigrants

With the continuing arrests of “illegal” Bangladeshi immigrants in various States, Border Security Force (BSF) data show that Delhi leads among the States sending back these individuals over land via the eastern border. In the past six months, a number of allegedly “illegal” immigrants from Bangladesh have been detained in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled States of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa, and handed over to be sent back, a senior official told The Hindu.

L-G put in an embarrassing position on Delhi ridge tree felling issue: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 28, 2025) noted that the willful disobedience, deliberate concealment of the fact of the tree felling in the protected Delhi ridge area and a series of miscommunications by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials left Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena in an “embarrassing position”.

Series of earthquakes strike Manipur

A series of earthquakes struck Manipur on Wednesday, the strongest one being 5.2 magnitude, according to the National Centre for Seismology. “The earthquake of 5.2 magnitude struck Churachandpur district at 1.54 a.m.,” it said. “A second one of 2.5 magnitude hit Noney district at 2.26 a.m., while a third one of 3.9 magnitude struck Churachandpur at 10.23 a.m.,” it added. “No casualties or damage have been reported so far,” officials said.

Supreme Court collegium recommends transfer of Chief Justices of Rajasthan, Tripura, Jharkhand and Madras High Courts

The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfers of four Chief Justices from the High Courts of Madras, Rajasthan, Tripura and Jharkhand. The Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India, has proposed the transfer of Madras High Court Chief Justice K.R. Shriram to Rajasthan. In return, Rajasthan Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava was recommended to head the Madras High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfers of four Chief Justices from the High Courts of Madras, Rajasthan, Tripura and Jharkhand.

Indian Embassy in Iran says taken up missing Indians’ case with Iranian authorities

The Indian Embassy on Wednesday said it has strongly taken up with Iranian authorities the case of three missing Indian citizens, all from the same family, who went missing after reaching Iran. “Family members of three Indian citizens have informed the Embassy of India that their relatives are missing after having travelled to Iran,” the Embassy said in a post on X. The Embassy did not, however, clarify when and where the three Indians went missing in Iran.

Cabinet approves two multi-tracking railway projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved two multi-tracking railway projects to ensure faster transportation of both passengers and goods, the government said on Wednesday. It added that these projects include the third and fourth lines between Ratlam-Nagda and the fourth line between Wardha-Balharshah. According to a government statement, the total estimated cost of the projects is ₹3,399 crore and will be completed by 2029-30.

Increased outward FDI by Indian companies ‘warrants attention’: Finance Ministry

Even as Indian companies turn “cautious” on investing within the country, and the global economic scenario remains uncertain, the increased outward foreign direct investment by Indian companies “warrants attention”, the Ministry of Finance has noted in a new report. The Hindu had previously reported how the Reserve Bank of India’s data showed that, in 2024-25, Indian companies invested a total of $29.2 billion in other countries, 75% higher than the previous year, which was a major contributor towards India’s net foreign direct investment (FDI) figure falling 96% to just $0.4 billion.

‘Using every tool to vet’, says U.S. amid reports of new student visa interviews freeze

The U.S. said it is using “every tool in our tool chest” to vet those coming into the country, including students, amid reports the Trump administration is ordering its embassies and consular sections abroad to halt scheduling new student visa interviews as it considers social media vetting for such individuals. “The Trump administration is weighing requiring all foreign students applying to study in the United States to undergo social media vetting,” a news report in Politico said.

Israeli forces fire on crowd gathered at Gaza aid site; one killed, 48 injured

The Gaza Health Ministry said Wednesday that one person was killed and another 48 wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on crowds overrunning a new aid distribution site in Gaza. The melee happened on Tuesday (May 27) at a new site established by an Israeli and US-backed foundation. A U.N. official had said earlier that 47 people were wounded, mostly by gunfire. Ajith Sunghay, the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territories told reporters in Geneva: “There are about 47 people who have been injured”, adding that “most of those injured are due to gunshots”, and that “it was shooting from the IDF”.

South Korean students warned over social media posts amid Trump administration crackdown

President Donald Trump’s administration is raising scrutiny over the social media posts of South Korean students in the United States or who plan to study there,” the students and agencies that support them said. That has triggered concerns for parents of students studying or planning to study in the United States. South Korean students are the third-largest among international students in the U.S., behind those from India and China.