News@7: JDU's Manipur exit, Trump's new tariffs, West Bengal's HC move & more

1. In a setback to BJP, its ally Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United has withdrawn its support from the state government in Manipur. JDU, which has one MLA in Manipur, will now be in the opposition. The development also comes months after the Conrad Sangma-led National People's Party, which is in power in Meghalaya, withdrew support to the Biren Singh government.JDU won six seats in the 2022 Assembly election in Manipur, but months after the polls, five MLAs switched to the BJP, consolidating the ruling party's numbers. The BJP currently has 37 legislators in the 60-member Assembly. It is backed by five MLAs of the Naga People's Front and three Independents, giving it a comfortable majority.

2. U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports because fentanyl is being sent from China to the U.S. via Mexico and Canada. Trump voiced his latest tariff threats in remarks to reporters, at the White House a day after taking office without immediately imposing tariffs as he had promised during his campaign. Financial markets and trade groups exhaled briefly on Tuesday, but his latest comments underscored Trump's longstanding desire for broader duties and a new Feb 1 deadline for 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico, as well as duties on China and the EU.

3. The West Bengal government moved the Calcutta High Court seeking the death penalty of convict Sanjay Roy, challenging the order of the trial court that sentenced him to life imprisonment till death. The state’s move came less than 24 hours after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her disappointment with the verdict on Monday and announced her intent to challenge the judgment before a higher court.

The Sealdah court sentenced Roy to life imprisonment until death after he was convicted of raping and murdering a trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court also ordered Roy to pay a Rs 50,000 fine and directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 17 lakh to the family of the deceased doctor.

4. South African cricket great AB de Villiers has said he plans to return to cricket four years after retiring from all forms of the sport. The 40-year-old dropped a hint in a chat with freelance journalist and broadcaster Melinda Farrell on her YouTube show 'Running Between The Wickets. "I might still play cricket one day," said AB to Melinda's surprise. He quickly added that there was "no confirmation whatsoever", but he was contemplating a return. He excited cricket fans worldwide for several years with his audacious strokeplay.

5. At least 10 Palestinians were killed and nearly 40 others injured during a large-scale Israeli military operation in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The operation, which unfolded on Tuesday, involved multiple airstrikes and a significant ground incursion. Israeli forces, supported by drones, helicopters, and armoured bulldozers, targeted the city of Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as "extensive and significant," aimed at "defeating terrorism" in the region, which has long been regarded as a hub for Palestinian armed groups.

This escalation comes just days after a ceasefire was established in Gaza, raising concerns about the potential for renewed violence in the West Bank. On Monday night, tensions were further heightened as suspected Israeli settlers reportedly rampaged through Palestinian areas, deepening fears of instability in the region.