Digest for 24 July, 2025
India and UK Sign Landmark Free Trade Agreement
India and the United Kingdom have signed a historic Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to boost their economies. The deal, formalised during PM Modi's visit to the UK, will eliminate tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, including textiles and agricultural products, while reducing duties on British cars and Scotch whisky. The pact aims to double the nearly $56 billion bilateral trade by 2030, create jobs, and facilitate greater mobility for Indian professionals in the UK.
Supreme Court Stays Acquittal of 12 in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case
The Supreme Court has stayed the Bombay High Court's recent verdict that acquitted 12 individuals convicted in the 2006 Mumbai serial train blasts. The High Court had overturned a special court's 2015 ruling, stating the prosecution had failed to prove guilt. Following an appeal by the Maharashtra government, the apex court paused the acquittal order, though the accused who were released will not be required to surrender immediately. The 2006 blasts killed 189 people and injured over 800.
India Resumes Issuing Tourist Visas for Chinese Nationals After Five Years
India has announced it will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens, ending a five-year halt that began with the COVID-19 pandemic and continued amid border tensions. The move is a significant step towards normalizing bilateral relations, which have been strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes. China's Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision as a "positive move." This follows other recent thaws in relations, including the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and ongoing talks to restore direct flights.
Columbia University to Pay $221 Million in Deal with US Govt Over Antisemitism Claims
Columbia University has agreed to a landmark $221 million settlement with the Trump administration to resolve claims of failing to combat antisemitism and to restore cancelled federal research funding. The deal includes a $200 million payment over three years and $21 million for civil rights violations. The university, which faced the loss of billions in government support, also agreed to significant reforms, including overhauling its disciplinary processes and reviewing its Middle East curriculum, marking a major development in campus free-speech debates.
Russian Passenger Plane Crashes in Amur Region, Killing All 49 Aboard
A Russian An-24 aircraft operated by Angara Airlines has crashed in a remote, mountainous area of the Amur region, killing all 49 people on board. The flight, carrying 43 passengers (including five children) and six crew members, was en route from Blagoveshchensk to Tynda when it disappeared from radar. Rescue helicopters located the burning wreckage on an inaccessible mountainside. Officials confirmed no survivors were found. An investigation into the cause of the crash, which occurred without any distress signal, has been launched.