The United States has exempted smartphones and computers from President Donald Trump's global tariffs, narrowing the scope of levies that included a 125% tariff on Chinese imports and a 10% baseline tariff on other countries. This move provides significant relief to the tech industry, which had been bracing for increased costs. The exemptions were announced by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Additionally, a notice from the China Semiconductor Industry Association indicated that U.S. chipmakers outsourcing manufacturing to Taiwan would be exempt from China's retaliatory tariffs, as the country of origin would be classified as Taiwan. This development is expected to ease tensions in the ongoing trade disputes. (PC: Wikipedia)

On April 12, 2025, violent clashes erupted in Murshidabad, West Bengal, during protests against the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill. A father-son duo was killed with machetes, raising the death toll to three. The unrest began in Beldanga over an objectionable message on a Kartik Puja pandal's neon signboard. Mobs from both communities engaged in stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, damaging shops, houses, and a police vehicle. Police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and suspended internet services. Seventeen individuals were arrested, and six injured are receiving treatment. The situation remains tense, with heavy police deployment to prevent further escalation. (PC: PTI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued notices to take possession of assets worth ₹661 crore from Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of the National Herald, in a money laundering case involving Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. The ED alleges that AJL misused properties allocated for publishing by using them commercially, and that Young Indian, a company controlled by the Gandhis, acquired AJL's assets through questionable means. Congress has denounced the action as political vendetta, accusing the ruling BJP of misusing investigative agencies to target opposition leaders. The case, initiated by a complaint from BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, has intensified political tensions ahead of upcoming elections. (PC: @dir_ed)

Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was extradited from the U.S. to India after 16 years. Following his arrest, he was presented before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House, where the National Investigation Agency sought 20 days' custody; the court granted 18. Rana requested the court to prevent any counsel from seeking personal publicity through his case. The judge directed that Legal Services Counsels must not engage with the media regarding Rana's case, and their identities should remain confidential. Rana is detained in a high-security cell at the NIA's CGO Complex in Delhi, previously occupied by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. (PC: India Today)

Two individuals died and over 100 were arrested following violent protests against the Waqf Act in Murshidabad, West Bengal. Demonstrators, primarily from the Muslim community, blocked roads and disrupted rail traffic after Friday prayers, defying prohibitory orders. Clashes erupted when protesters hurled stones and incendiary devices at police, injuring several officers. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee clarified that the Waqf Act is a central law and declared it would not be implemented in the state. She urged the central government to address the unrest. The situation escalated in areas like Suti and Dhulian, prompting the deployment of the Border Security Force to restore order. (PC: Rising Kashmir & OrissaPOST)

On April 10, 2025, Google laid off hundreds of employees within its platforms and devices unit, which manages key products such as Android software, Pixel phones, and the Chrome browser. This follows a voluntary exit program offered by the company in January. A Google spokesperson explained that the move was part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations after combining the Platforms and Devices teams in the previous year. The goal is to enhance agility and effectiveness within the organization. Earlier in February, Bloomberg reported additional cuts in Google's cloud division, albeit limited to a few teams. These workforce reductions are part of broader restructuring efforts that began in January 2023, when Alphabet announced plans to eliminate 12,000 positions, representing 6% of its global workforce. Google did not respond to Reuters' request for additional comments. (PC: Boom)

A groundbreaking breast cancer drug, Capivasertib (Truqap), developed by AstraZeneca, has been approved for use in the NHS in England and Wales. This oral medication is targeted at hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer patients with specific genetic mutations. Capivasertib, when combined with hormone therapy, has shown promising results, increasing the time before disease progression. Clinical trials demonstrated a significant extension of progression-free survival, from 3.1 to 7.3 months. Experts are calling this a major step forward in personalized cancer treatment and recommend genetic testing for patients to access this life-changing treatment. (PC: The Guardian)

The Trump administration has launched an aggressive trade initiative to finalize 90 trade agreements within 90 days, aiming to stabilize markets and revive economic confidence after recent tariff shocks. However, experts and former trade negotiators are casting doubt on its feasibility. The plan faces major obstacles including limited staffing in key agencies, scheduling conflicts—such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent skipping EU meetings—and ongoing trade tensions with China. Analysts warn that meaningful trade deals typically require months or years, not days, raising concerns over the plan’s strategic depth and implementation capacity. (PC: Reuters)

On April 11, 2025, a powerful explosion at MMP Industries’ aluminium foil manufacturing unit in Nagpur’s Umred MIDC claimed five lives and injured eight others. The blast occurred in the polished tubing section while 87 workers were present. Three workers initially reported missing were later found dead, while two others died during treatment. A suspected buildup of flammable gases may have triggered the fire, which rapidly engulfed the facility. Firefighters struggled to contain the blaze. Authorities have sealed the plant and launched an investigation into possible safety violations and operational negligence by the factory management. (PC: ANI)

On April 11, 2025, a widespread outage disrupted India’s UPI-based digital payment systems, affecting major apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, and Paytm. Users across the country reported failed transactions and delays, sparking concern and frustration on social media. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) confirmed intermittent technical issues and assured that efforts were underway to restore normalcy. The outage highlighted the critical dependence on UPI for daily financial transactions. By late evening, NPCI announced the issue had been resolved and systems were stable, although users remained cautious about reliability going forward. (PC: Getty Images)