Morning Digest: CDU’s Friedrich Merz set to be next Chancellor of Germany; Rescue team yet to contact workers trapped inside SLBC tunnel in Telangana, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on February 24, 2025

Germany’s conservatives won Sunday’s (February 23, 2025) elections, with their leader Friedrich Merz set to become the next chancellor, followed by the far-right AfD in second place after record gains, according to exit polls. If confirmed in the final count, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) roughly doubled its score to at least 19.5%, boosted by fears over immigration and security after a spate of deadly attacks blamed on asylum seekers.

No breakthrough was reported till 8 p.m. on Sunday (February 23, 2025) in the operation launched to rescue eight persons trapped for over 30 hours in an under-construction tunnel in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district. The personnel were trapped 14 km inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal of the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project on Saturday (February 22, 2025) morning, after a portion of its roof collapsed during excavation work with a tunnel boring machine (TBM).

Pope Francis remained in critical condition Sunday (February 23, 2025) and blood tests showed early kidney failure but he remains alert, and responsive and attended Mass, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old pontiff battles pneumonia and a complex lung infection.

Twelve Indians, deported to Panama by the U.S., returned to India from the Latin American nation on Sunday (February 23, 2025), officials said. The deportees arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, marking the first batch of Indians returning from Panama following their deportation by the U.S.

Pakistan was the nominal ‘home’ team for its must-win encounter against India. But in front of a near sell-out crowd, more than three-fourths of whom were decked in blue, the Men in Green got blown away by one of Virat Kohli’s classic ODI masterclass knocks as he belted out his best hits and reaffirmed his status as one of the greatest to have played this format.

The Trump administration said on Sunday (February 23, 2025) that it is eliminating 2,000 posts at the U.S. Agency for International Development and placing all but a fraction of others worldwide on leave.

Israeli tanks have moved into the occupied West Bank for the first time since 2002, shortly after the Defence Minister said troops will remain “for the coming year” in parts of the territory and indicated that Palestinians who have fled cannot return.