Morning Digest: Several casualties in Pakistan train attack, says Army general; Russia lays out demands for talks with U.S. on Ukraine, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on March 13, 2025

Russia has presented the U.S. with a list of demands for a deal to end its war against Ukraine and reset relations with Washington, according to two people familiar with the matter. It is not clear what exactly Moscow included on its list or whether it is willing to engage in peace talks with Kyiv prior to their acceptance. Russian and American officials discussed the terms during in-person and virtual conversations over the last three weeks, the people said.

The Chhattisgarh Government on Wednesday (March 12, 2025) approved a new rehabilitation policy for surrendered Maoists, which assures financial aid, education, employment and security to them, officials said. “The decision in this regard was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at his official residence here this evening,” they said.

“Twenty-one passengers and four paramilitary soldiers were killed by militants holding hostages after seizing control of a train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province,” an army general said on Wednesday (March 12, 2025). Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif told Dunya News TV that security forces killed all 33 militants present at the scene.

A Bill that seeks to amend the existing law governing exploration and production of oil and gas as well as delink petroleum operations from mining operations was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday (March 12, 2025). The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, is aimed at boosting investment in the sector. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in December last year.

The Delhi police on Wednesday arrested four illegal immigrants from Bangladesh involved in cheating people by luring them on the pretext of a fake dollar exchange scheme. The accused have been identified as Salim Khan, 41, Ali Hasan, 36, Kalam, 28, and Dholu Sheikh, 38.

Atishi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, wrote to Speaker Vijender Gupta on Wednesday, accusing him of “partisan treatment” towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs in the last Assembly session. She urged him to treat the Opposition legislators fairly in the upcoming Budget Session.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday (March 12, 2025) that an expected minerals deal would give the United States a “vested interest” in Ukraine’s security, although he stopped short again of promising formal guarantees. “I wouldn’t couch it as a security guarantee, but certainly, if the United States has a vested economic interest that’s generating revenue for our people as well as for the people of Ukraine, we’d have a vested interest in protecting it,” Mr. Rubio told reporters.