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  • Trump greenlights some pro-immigrant moves amid broader anti-migrant crackdown

    Trump greenlights some pro-immigrant moves amid broader anti-migrant crackdown

    While President Donald Trump has taken a series of measures to restrict immigration into the U.S., particularly illegal immigration, he has also made a handful of less-scrutinized moves to help some immigrants on their way to becoming citizens.

    Trump ran on a platform of securing the southern border, deporting illegal immigrants and also shutting down parole programs introduced by the Biden administration to allow migrants to enter the U.S.

    Since taking office, he has also signed executive orders declaring a national emergency at the border and suspending refugee resettlement.

    HOMAN TAKES VICTORY LAP AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CROSSINGS PLUMMET DURING TRUMP ADMIN: ‘HE IS DELIVERING’

    President Donald Trump with Melania Trump (Jacob Safar/@yaakovsafar)

    But he made an apparent exception to the refugee resettlement pause this month when he signed an executive order accusing the South African government of allowing attacks on white Afrikaner farmers. 

    That executive order, which cut assistance to the South African government, was accompanied by a move to offer Afrikaners refugee status.

    ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS SKYROCKET UNDER TRUMP ICE COMPARED TO BIDEN LEVELS LAST YEAR

    “The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take appropriate steps, consistent with law, to prioritize humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admissions Program, for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination,” Trump’s order said. 

    “Such plan shall be submitted to the President through the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor,” he said.

    Trump’s administration also made a significant move affecting immigrants in the U.S. already, if they are applying for their green card.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE

    Citizenship US flag USCIS

     New U.S. citizens listen as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony inside the Robert N.C. Nix Federal Courthouse on October 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a short announcement on Jan 22, announcing that it was waiving the requirements that those immigrants applying for an adjustment to permanent legal status present documentation showing they have had a COVID-19 vaccine.

    Mandates for the COVID vaccine were controversial, and many Americans have declined to take it and pushed back against requirements that they do so. Now, those who are seeking to remain in the U.S. permanently have the ability to avoid the vaccine but still progress on the way to citizenship.

    “USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny related to proving a COVID-19 vaccination,” the announcement said. “USCIS will not deny any adjustment of status application based on the applicant’s failure to present documentation that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.”

    It is unclear if any additional moves by the Trump administration are incoming that could be viewed as pro-immigrant.

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    While some of Trump’s broader moves on immigration have cut legal forms of immigration, including parole and refugee limits, the main focus has been on cutting and disincentivizing illegal immigration.

    The Department of Homeland Security has dramatically increased illegal immigrant arrests in the interior, and numbers at the border have also dropped significantly, according to government data.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Adam Shaw is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.

    He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or on Twitter.

  • Russia frees US citizen detained on drug smuggling charges ahead of talks between Moscow, Washington

    Russia frees US citizen detained on drug smuggling charges ahead of talks between Moscow, Washington

    A U.S. citizen arrested in Russia earlier this month on drug smuggling charges has been released from Russian custody.

    Kalob Wayne Byers, 28, was detained on Feb. 7 at the Vnukovo airport in Moscow after cannabis-laced marmalade was allegedly found in his luggage by customs officials. Byers was traveling from Istanbul with his Russian fiancée, who was also taken into custody.

    It was not immediately clear whether Byers’ fiancée, identified by Russian media as Naida Mambetova, was also released. She was placed in pre-trial detention on the same charges.

    Russian authorities said Byers had attempted to smuggle a “significant amount” of drugs into the country. He was taken into custody on drug smuggling charges, punishable by up to a decade in prison.

    AMERICAN DETAINED IN RUSSIA IDENTIFIED AS KALOB WAYNE BYERS

    Kalob Byers, 28, was detained in Russia on Feb. 7 on drug smuggling charges. (Moscow City Court’s Press Office/Reuters)

    Byers, now freed from Russian custody, is staying in the U.S. embassy in Moscow as he awaits a flight home, his parents wrote on social media, according to Russian independent news outlet Meduza. A U.S. official confirmed that Byers was released to the embassy late on Sunday evening, according to The Associated Press.

    Russia freeing Byers appears to be part of an effort to ease tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

    When asked about Byers, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Moscow expects “to discuss restoring the entire complex of Russian-American relations” at the Saudi Arabia meeting “so certain events can be viewed in this context.”

    Tensions between the two countries had already begun to soften in recent weeks.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin (Left), US President Donald Trump (RIght)

    A U.S. citizen arrested in Russia earlier this month on drug smuggling charges has been released ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia between Moscow and Washington. (Contributor/Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

    Last week, President Donald Trump upended three years of U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia, stating that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war.

    Americans being arrested in Russia has become increasingly common in recent years, as relations between Moscow and Washington have soured because of Russia’s war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

    Some Americans have been released in prisoner exchanges, including Marc Fogel, a teacher from Pennsylvania who was jailed in Russia on drug charges. He was freed last week.

    US CITIZEN ALLEGEDLY CARRYING CANNABIS DETAINED IN MOSCOW, CHARGED WITH NARCOTICS SMUGGLING: RUSSIAN MEDIA

    Alexander Vinnik and Marc Fogel

    Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, left, was swapped for American teacher Marc Fogel, right. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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    Fogel was detained at a Russian airport in August 2021 when traveling to work at a school in Moscow. He was sentenced to 14 years behind bars for possession of drugs, which his family said was medically prescribed marijuana.

    He was released and flown back to the U.S. earlier this month in an exchange that included returning Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cryptocurrency expert who faced Bitcoin fraud charges in the U.S., to Russia.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • Flurry of state level bills embrace RFK Jr’s MAHA mission: ‘It took Bobby’

    Flurry of state level bills embrace RFK Jr’s MAHA mission: ‘It took Bobby’

    State-level lawmakers are introducing a wave of bills aimed at advancing priorities championed by new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Healthy Again” platform, in some cases citing the new administration’s support for these causes as the catalyst for their efforts. 

    Arizona, Kansas and Utah are examples of states doing this. The move is aimed at prohibiting junk food like candy and soda from school lunches and other federally funded food assistance programs, something Kennedy has expressed support for in the past. Others have included efforts to rid these programs of ultra-processed foods, certain additives and dyes.

    “It took Bobby to get into the position that he is in now for something to happen,” Arizona state Rep. Leo Biasiucci said during a press conference this month during which he introduced HB 2164. The bill seeks to ban several food dyes and other additives from school lunch programs in the state. “I can’t thank him enough for being the microphone … at the high level, to finally put a spotlight on this.”

    TRUMP’S ‘MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN’ COMMISSION TO TARGET AUTISM, CHRONIC DISEASES

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has the opportunity to rewrite federal dietary guidelines that are up for renewal. (Getty | iStock)

    Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Idaho, similarly touted the new administration as a reason why he thought his new bill to remove candy and soda from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, would be successful. The bill, HB 109, would require the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to seek a federal waiver to remove these items from SNAP. When asked by a fellow state lawmaker why he thought such a waiver to get rid of these foods would be successful, Redman cited a Trump administration that would be friendly to him.

    “I think that the chances are higher now with the new administration,” Redman said. 

    Wyoming, Kansas, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming have introduced similar bills aimed at reforming SNAP and school lunches.

    rfk jr white house

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as secretary of health and human services by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch on Feb. 13, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

    In addition to dietary-related legislation, several states have also taken steps to amend their vaccine rules. During Kennedy’s confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill, he was routinely grilled about his past skepticism towards vaccines. The new HHS secretary iterated to lawmakers at the time that he was not anti-vaccine, but rather “pro-safety.”

    Roughly a dozen states, including Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Texas have introduced a variety of changes.

    TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO BLOCK FEDERAL MONEY FOR SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES WITH COVID VACCINE MANDATES 

    Some of the new bills targeting state vaccine rules include protections for immunization exemptions, efforts to bolster vaccine transparency, revised requirements related to the administration of vaccines and efforts to hold vaccine manufacturers accountable for harmful side effects. Others prohibit any future COVID-19 vaccine mandates related to education, work or travel, with some providing an exception if state legislatures are able to pass a new bill requiring vaccinations for certain public health emergencies. 

    COVID vaccine

    A doctor holds a vial of the coronavirus vaccine, which was mandated at many levels amid the pandemic. (iStock)

    Meanwhile, bills expelling fluoride from public water systems are also being introduced at the state level, another change Kennedy has promoted in the past. 

    While states like Arkansas, Hawaii, New Hampshire, North Dakota and others have taken steps to introduce legislation preventing fluoride from being added to public water systems, other states, like Kentucky and Nebraska, are considering bills that would make fluoride optional.

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    At the federal level, the Senate’s Make America Healthy Again Caucus, which was formed to back the policies of Kennedy’s agenda, is reportedly readying a “package of bills” aimed at improving nutrition and the nation’s agriculture sector, according to Politico.

    “The MAHA Caucus is ready to get to work with Robert F. Kennedy Jr,” the group’s official X account stated on Friday after Kennedy’s confirmation by the Senate.

  • Top Russian, US officials begin talks on Ukraine war without officials from Kyiv

    Top Russian, US officials begin talks on Ukraine war without officials from Kyiv

    Senior Russian and U.S. officials met in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to discuss improving relations and an end to Moscow’s war in Ukraine – without representatives from Kyiv.

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov led the delegations that met at the Diriyah Palace in Saudi Arabia’s capital of Riyadh.

    Rubio was accompanied by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, while Lavrov brought along the Kremlin’s foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov. 

    Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and national security advisor Musaed al Alban were present for the start of the meeting but were expected to leave early in the talks.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center, sits next to U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, right, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, left, during a meeting with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, Feb. 18, 2025. (AP)

    Ukrainian officials are not participating in Tuesday’s meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Kyiv will not accept the outcome if his country is not in attendance at the meeting.

    The meeting symbolizes another significant step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. policy on isolating Russia. The event was meant to lead to a meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference

    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference at the Ukraine peace summit in Obbürgen, Switzerland, on June 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)

    Last week, Trump upended U.S. policy toward Ukraine and Russia, stating that he and Putin had agreed to begin negotiations on ending the war, which began in February 2022.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • The most dangerous threats CBP agents face as Trump increases enforcement

    The most dangerous threats CBP agents face as Trump increases enforcement

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    As President Donald Trump steps up border security and deportation efforts, agents with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are finding themselves under alarmingly sophisticated threats to their safety, an expert tells Fox News Digital.

    “The cartels are losing business. The encounters at the border are the lowest they’ve been in decades, and the cartels are not just going to give up that business quietly,” Lora Ries, director of the Heritage Foundation’s Border Security and Immigration Center, told Fox News Digital. 

    The comments come after it was reported over the weekend that CBP agents will no longer wear body cameras during field operations, a response to a post on Reddit that claimed it could help people track agents wearing the cameras with an application called BLE Radar, which uses Bluetooth to scan for such devices within a 100-yard radius.

    BORDER PATROL AGENTS TO STOP WEARING BODY CAMERAS AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA POST REVEALS ‘SECURITY RISK’

    This split shows President Trump and Border Patrol. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images and Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

    “Pending completion of investigation and risk mitigation, all Agents will stand down the use of their BWCs [body worn cameras] until further notice. Additional guidance and information will be disseminated as it is received,” a directive over the weekend announced.

    While the tracking of agents was presented as a way to help immigrants find soft spots on the border, it also opened up agents to threats to their safety, including from improvised explosive devices.

    Cartels could also make use of the tracking information to threaten the lives of agents, Ries noted.

    “It is possible that they could use the cameras… the low-level frequency interception to track the agents, harm the agents, and attack the agents,” Ries said.

    Ries also noted that the cameras played an important role in protecting field agents from false claims of abuse, providing key evidence they now won’t have after encounters with migrants.

    DAILY AVERAGE OF KNOWN GOTAWAYS AT SOUTHERN BORDER PLUMMETS, DOWN 93% FROM BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HIGHS

    ICE agent seen from behind in POLICE jacket

    An ICE agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed upon entering the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023, in New York City. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

    “I anticipate the number of claims of abuse are about to jump to exploit this lack of camera use,” Ries said.

    When it comes to cartels, Ries noted that there have been warnings sent out that cartels could use shooters on the other side of the border to target agents.

    “I just saw a memo about potentially using a shooter on the Mexican side to shoot at our agents and our military, so we have to assume that’s being planned and use countermeasures against it,” Ries said.

    Ries also noted that cartels have in the past effectively used drones to track CBP agents, though that threat could now be lower with the increased military presence at the border.

    Aside from the threats from cartels, CBP and ICE agents also face dangers from inside the borders of the U.S., Ries noted, pointing to leaks of ICE raids as an example of something that has recently endangered agents.

    border agent on cliff searching for migrants in border area

     A U.S. Border Patrol agent stands on a cliff looking for migrants crossing the border wall near Sasabe, Arizona. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

    “That subjects ICE agents to an ambush,” Ries said. “It’s one thing for aliens to flee, so when ICE shows up there’s no one there… worse would be if aliens stay here and attack ICE agents, that is a risk.”

    Such leaks of planned operations and technological vulnerabilities could continue to be a threat to the safety of agents as those opposed to Trump’s enforcement-driven agenda seek to undermine those plans, Ries said.

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    Countering such threats will not only take awareness and smart tactics during operations, but also help from Congress in order to secure funding to equip agents with enough resources to combat the dangers.

    “It’s technology, it’s equipment, it’s intel, and personnel… they can’t be out patrolling alone, they need to work together,” Ries said. “Congress is working, although too slowly, getting resources to CBP and ICE to continue to carry out these mass deportations. Congress needs to hurry up.”

  • Ramzan 2025: Telangana Government Allows Muslim Employees To Leave Work at 4 PM From March 2 to 31 To Offer Prayers

    Ramzan 2025: Telangana Government Allows Muslim Employees To Leave Work at 4 PM From March 2 to 31 To Offer Prayers

    The Telangana Government has issued a special order allowing all Muslim government employees, including teachers, contract workers, and staff from boards, corporations, and public sector organizations, to leave their workplaces early during the month of Ramzan. The decision permits these employees to leave offices, schools, and other government institutions at 4:00 PM from March 2nd to March 31st, 2025, to allow time for prayer during the holy month. However, the order specifies that this concession will not apply in cases where their presence is essential due to the exigencies of service. This move aims to provide Muslim employees with flexibility, enabling them to fulfil their religious obligations while ensuring the smooth functioning of government services. The Telangana Government has recognized the importance of supporting its employees during Ramzan, a period of fasting and prayer for the Muslim community.  Ramzan 2025: Telangana Government To Allow Muslim Employees To Leave Offices Early During Holy Month From March 2 to 31.

    Telangana Government Allows Muslim Employees To Leave Work at 4 PM 

    (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

  • Share Market Holiday on February 19? Will Stock Market Remain Open or Closed for Shiv Jayanti 2025? Know if Trading Will Happen on NSE, BSE on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Holiday

    Share Market Holiday on February 19? Will Stock Market Remain Open or Closed for Shiv Jayanti 2025? Know if Trading Will Happen on NSE, BSE on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Holiday

    While the banks in India will remain open on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, in observance of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti, the stock market will be open as usual. According to the share market holiday list by NSE, both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) are functioning as usual. This means, trading will take place on February 19, on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti on both stock exchanges. Bank Holiday on February 19: BankS To Remain Closed in Maharashtra on Wednesday on Occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Birth Anniversary.

    Share Market Holiday on February 19?

    (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

  • Jim Jones, head of FDA’s food division, resigns after job cuts at the agency

    Jim Jones, head of FDA’s food division, resigns after job cuts at the agency

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    The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s food division resigned on Monday after stating widespread cuts across the agency will make it challenging to meet the Trump administration’s desired changes, according to a report.

    Jim Jones cited the termination of 89 staffers in the food division, criticizing the layoffs over the weekend as “indiscriminate,” Bloomberg News reported Monday evening.

    “I was looking forward to working to pursue the department’s agenda of improving the health of Americans by reducing diet-related chronic disease and risks from chemicals in food,” he wrote in his resignation letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, according to the outlet.

    FDA BANS ARTIFICIAL RED DYE: WHAT THIS MEANS FOR CONSUMERS

    The head of the FDA’s food division, Jim Jones, resigned on Monday following layoffs within the division that he argues were “indiscriminate.” (FDA / Fox News)

    Jones said it would be “fruitless for me to continue in this role” because of the Trump administration’s “disdain for the very people” needed to make the changes it wants.

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Jones’ resignation, saying some “bureaucrats” are resistant to the “mandate delivered by the American people” in an email to Bloomberg News.

    “President Trump is only interested in the best and most qualified people who are also willing to implement his America First Agenda on behalf of the American people,” she told the outlet. “It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay.”

    FDA HQ sign in Marylnd

    Jim Jones allegedly said it would be “fruitless” for him to continue working as the head of the FDA’s food division because of the Trump administration’s “disdain” for the people needed to make its desired changes possible. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images / Getty Images)

    The staffers who lost their jobs over the weekend include employees with “highly technical expertise in nutrition, infant formula, food safety response,” Jones said in his letter, noting that 10 terminated staffers were responsible for reviewing potentially unsafe ingredients in food.

    Jones led a successful push to ban red dye No. 3, which had its authorization revoked by the FDA last month while former President Joe Biden was still in office.

    MILLIONS OF GRANOLA BARS RECALLED DUE TO ‘POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF METAL’: FDA

    FDA headquarter sign

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will lead the Department of Health and Human Services under President Donald Trump. (iStock / iStock)

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    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in as the Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday after running a “Make America Healthy Again” campaign with Trump.

    Trump has nominated Johns Hopkins surgeon Marty Makary to lead the FDA, although he has not yet been confirmed.

  • Bank Holiday on February 19: Banks To Remain Closed in Maharashtra on Wednesday on Occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Birth Anniversary

    Bank Holiday on February 19: Banks To Remain Closed in Maharashtra on Wednesday on Occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Birth Anniversary

    Banks in Maharashtra will remain closed on Wednesday, February 19, on account of the public holiday on the occasion of the Shivaji Jayanti. The state will observe Shiv Jayanti, which is celebrated every year to mark the birthday of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji. The state recognises this day as a public holiday, with various cultural events, processions, and official ceremonies taking place to honour the legacy of this great warrior and ruler. Share Market Holiday on February 19? Will Stock Market Remain Open or Closed for Shiv Jayanti 2025? Know if Trading Will Happen on NSE, BSE on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti Holiday.

    Bank Holiday on February 19: 

    (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter (X), Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

  • Balidan Mas 2025 Start and End Dates: When Is Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Balidan Divas? Know Brief History and Life of Shivaji Maharaj’s Son To Honour the Brave Ruler of the Maratha Empire

    Balidan Mas 2025 Start and End Dates: When Is Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Balidan Divas? Know Brief History and Life of Shivaji Maharaj’s Son To Honour the Brave Ruler of the Maratha Empire

    The Maratha Empire was one of the most powerful empires in India in the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the biggest and most well-known of the Marathas, Shivaji Bhonsle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was the ruler of the Maratha Kingdom. His harmonious blend of leadership, military genius, administrative skills, devotion, social welfare, ethical values and strategic vision created a legacy that was further carried on by his eldest son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj—the second ruler of the Maratha kingdom. He was crowned after the demise of Shivaji and ascended the throne in 1681. Sambhaji Maharaj’s administration focused on justice, welfare and efficient taxation. Every year, Balidan Mas is observed to mark Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s death anniversary. So, when is Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Balidan Divas 2025? In this article, we bring you Balidan Mas 2025 start and end dates, a brief history and life of Sambhaji Maharaj to honour the brave ruler of the Maratha empire.

    Balidan Mas 2025 Start and End Dates

    Balidan Mas is observed to commemorate the martyrdom of the Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. However, Balidan Mas 2025 start and end dates are yet to be announced. It must be noted that in 2024, Balidan Mas was marked from March 10 to April 8. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj died on March 11, 1689, at the age of 31. February 2025 Holidays and Festivals Calendar: Get Full List of Major Events in the Second Month of the Year. 

    Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s Life and Brief History

    Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was a fearless warrior who ascended the throne following his father, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s death. His rule was primarily shaped by the ongoing wars between the Marathas and the Mughal empire and the neighbouring powers such as the Portuguese Empire in Goa, Siddi of Janjira and Wadiyars of Mysore. It was in 1688 when he was captured by the Mughal forces and executed.

    Sambhaji Maharaj was born to the Maratha Emperor Shivaji and his first wife, Saibai, who died when he was only two years old. He was then raised by his paternal grandmother, Jijabai. He fought several battles from 1682 to 1688 to safeguard the Maratha empire. Within a few years after he came to power, he found people plotting his assassination and severe internal conflicts. However, he continued to expand his empire and protected Hindavi Swarajya, established his father. He was a symbol of courage, wisdom and resilience. His life and legacy teach valuable lessons in bravery, perseverance and patriotism. After the Mughals captured him, he was tortured for days and was executed in a painful manner. Even when death was so close, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s incredible courage and bravery won him honour.

    (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 18, 2025 11:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).