COAL has long been one of the largest sources of modern energy, powering industries, transportation, and most importantly, electricity generation. India, being one of the largest producers and consumers of coal, relies heavily on this fossil fuel to sustain its energy demands. Within India, Jharkhand holds a crucial position as one of the largest coal-producing states. With its vast reserves and mining infrastructure, Jharkhand plays a central role in meeting the country’s coal needs.

THERE has been a lot of heat generated, but very little light shed, by media reports in India, and to a lesser extent abroad, about the seemingly imminent sale by the US to India of the frontline fifth generation F35 multi-role fighter aircraft. The reports have claimed that a possible deal was announced during the meeting of Prime Minister Modi with President Trump during the former’s recent visit to the US.The trick lay in showing that the leaders of both the US and India had gotten at least some of what they wanted out of this much hyped visit.

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) and National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ), in a statement issued on February 17, have expressed their dismay at the attempt by the Railway Police and authorities to intimidate journalist Saumya Raj and prevent her from reporting the stampede deaths at the New Delhi Railway Station on February 16, 2025. Raj, who reports for the popular YouTube channel Molitics India, was asked for her press identity card which she produced but the authorities nevertheless demanded that she stop videoing.

IN yet another brutal incident in Kerala, RSS-BJP goons killed an active CITU worker in Pathanamthitta district on the night of February 16th. Thirty-four-year-old Jithin Shaji was stabbed to death while he was trying to mediate and sort out issues following a scuffle between two groups in Perunad Madathumoozhiyil. The next day, police arrested eight active RSS workers in connection with the murder.In a planned attack by an eight-member group of RSS workers, a sharp weapon was used to fatally stab Jithin.

PRIME Minister Modi’s visit to the White House on February 13 was meant to illustrate how close Modi was to his friend, Donald Trump, and to bask over the photo-op that it presented. Instead, what Modi’s short visit to Washington underlined was the subaltern status that India has been reduced to under Modi’s watch.There was no tearing hurry for the Indian prime minister to have an official meeting with President Trump.