Digest for 27 October, 2025
Five Thalassemia-Affected Children Contract HIV After Blood Transfusions in Jharkhand
A major public health crisis has emerged in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, where five children with thalassemia have tested HIV-positive after receiving blood transfusions at a local blood bank. The incident prompted an investigation by a state medical team, which found initial evidence of contaminated blood transfusion and discrepancies at the facility. In response, Chief Minister Hemant Soren ordered the suspension of the district's civil surgeon and other officials, announcing financial aid and full treatment costs for the affected families.
Justice Surya Kant Recommended as Next Chief Justice of India
Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has formally recommended Justice Surya Kant, the senior-most judge after him, as his successor. Following convention, the recommendation was sent to the Union Law Ministry. Justice Kant is expected to become the 53rd CJI on November 24, following CJI Gavai's retirement. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019, Justice Kant will have a tenure of nearly 15 months. He has been part of benches that delivered landmark verdicts on Article 370, sedition law, and electoral transparency.
Commerce Minister to Visit Brussels to Advance India-EU Trade Pact Negotiations
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Brussels on October 27-28 for high-level talks aimed at providing political impetus to the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. The visit is crucial as both sides work towards a December deadline to conclude the comprehensive pact. Discussions with EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic will focus on key areas like market access and regulatory cooperation. A successful agreement would significantly impact bilateral trade, which stood at $136.5 billion in 2024-25.
Supreme Court Summons State Chief Secretaries Over Stray Dog Policy Non-Compliance
The Supreme Court has ordered the Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, except West Bengal and Telangana, to appear before it on November 3. The summons was issued due to their failure to file compliance reports on the court's August order regarding the management of stray dogs. The directive mandated the implementation of the Animal Birth Control Rules, which include sterilizing, immunizing, and releasing dogs back into their localities. The court's action addresses widespread administrative inaction on a pressing national issue.
Direct Flights Between India and China Resume After Four-Year Hiatus
Direct commercial air travel between India and mainland China resumed after a suspension of over four years, with an IndiGo flight departing from Kolkata for Guangzhou. Services were halted in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remained suspended amid subsequent border tensions. The resumption of the daily non-stop route is a significant step towards normalizing bilateral ties, expected to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people connections between the two nations and re-establish Kolkata as a key aviation hub.