Wed Apr 16 01:13:24 UTC 2025: ## Top News Headlines (April 16, 2025)

**Supreme Court to Hear Petitions Against Waqf Amendment Act:** The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including one filed by AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi. Separate petitions also seek investigations into violence related to the Act in West Bengal.

**Trump Threatens Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status:** U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status following the freezing of $2.2 billion in federal funding and a demand for greater government oversight.

**Calm Returns to Violence-Hit West Bengal Areas:** An uneasy calm has settled in the violence-affected areas of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, following recent unrest over the Waqf Amendment Act. Many displaced residents remain hesitant to return home.

**India’s Retail Inflation Eases:** Retail inflation in India fell to a five-and-a-half-year low of 3.34% in March, primarily due to lower food prices. This follows two consecutive repo rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India.

**Hemant Soren Appointed JMM President:** Hemant Soren, Jharkhand Chief Minister, has succeeded his father Shibu Soren as the president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

**Robert Vadra Questioned by ED:** Robert Vadra, businessman and husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, gave a statement to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a 2008 Haryana land deal, calling the summons a “political vendetta.”

**Supreme Court Warns Parents About Child Trafficking:** The Supreme Court issued a warning to parents to be vigilant about child trafficking, highlighting various forms of exploitation.

**CBI Arrests Four in ‘Digital Arrests’ Fraud:** The CBI arrested four individuals for their alleged involvement in a “Digital Arrests” fraud, following searches across multiple locations.

**Nitish Kumar’s Son Confident of Father’s Continued Leadership:** Nishant Kumar, son of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, expressed confidence in Amit Shah’s assurance that his father would remain Chief Minister after the upcoming elections, seemingly countering other political statements.

**Anti-Militancy Operation in Poonch:** A major anti-militancy operation was launched in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, following an encounter between militants and security forces.

**Delhi Schools Face Scrutiny Over Fee Hikes:** Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta issued notices to schools over complaints of arbitrary fee hikes, promising action against those failing to comply.

**Mahagathbandhan Leaders Meet in Delhi:** Ahead of a Mahagathbandhan meeting, Tejashwi Yadav and senior RJD leaders met with Congress leaders in Delhi to discuss alliance strategies.

**Mehul Choksi Owes ₹63 Lakh in Maintenance Dues:** Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has accumulated approximately ₹63 lakh in outstanding maintenance dues for his Mumbai apartment.

**Wholesale Price Inflation Eases:** Wholesale price inflation eased to 2.05% in March, although inflation in manufactured products saw a rise.

**Supreme Court Extends Protection to Former IAS Probationer:** The Supreme Court extended the protection from arrest granted to former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating in the civil services examination.

**Assamese Made Compulsory Official Language in Assam:** Assamese will be the compulsory official language for all government communications in Assam, alongside English, effective immediately.

Read More