Tue Feb 18 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Top News Headlines: February 18, 2025

**New Chief Election Commissioner Appointed Amidst Legal Challenge:** Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed India’s new Chief Election Commissioner, effective Wednesday, February 19th. This appointment follows a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi and comes as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a challenge to the new law governing the selection process.

**Delta Plane Crash Lands in Toronto:** Nineteen people were injured, three critically, when a Delta Airlines plane flipped onto its roof upon landing at Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Monday.

**Alleged Bribery Scandal in Manipur:** Following the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, police reported that several legislators received calls from an individual claiming to be Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s son, offering ministerial positions for a ₹4 crore bribe.

**Contaminated River Water at Maha Kumbh:** A report submitted to the National Green Tribunal revealed high levels of faecal coliform in the river water used for holy dips during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

**Income Tax Bill Sparks Debate:** Experts are questioning the inclusion of provisions related to electoral bonds in the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, despite their unconstitutionality being declared by the Supreme Court last year.

**India-Bangladesh Border Talks:** A high-level delegation from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrived in New Delhi for bi-annual talks with the Border Security Force (BSF).

**Positive FII Outflows Indicate Strong Indian Investment Returns:** Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that Foreign Institutional Investment (FII) outflows from India’s equity markets signal investors are booking profits, indicating strong returns on investments.

**Ukraine Peacekeeping: UK Seeks US Security Commitment:** British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for a US security commitment to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine, while remaining non-committal on the number of British peacekeeping troops that might be deployed.

**Musk’s DOGE Raises US Tax Data Concerns:** Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has raised concerns after seeking access to a US tax office system containing detailed financial data on millions of Americans.

**Sri Lanka Rejects Adani’s High-Tariff Energy Project:** Following Adani Green’s withdrawal from a controversial renewable energy project, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that excessively high tariffs, such as the proposed $8.26 cents, are unacceptable.

**RCB Dominates WPL Match:** Smriti Mandhana led the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women’s cricket team to a convincing victory over the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

**Cricket Fever Grips Pakistan Ahead of Champions Trophy:** Pakistan is experiencing a surge in cricket enthusiasm as the Champions Trophy is set to begin, with businesses related to the game also seeing increased activity.

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