As Punjab grapples with severe floods, the shortage of government-owned motorised boats has severely impacted the rescue and relief operations. NGOs and other philanthropic organizations have expressed concern over sarkaari boats being used to ferry politicians instead of aiding flood-hit villages. Shockingly, out of the total 257 boats available in the state, only 114 can be run in motorised mode, causing delays and inefficiencies in the relief efforts. The data shows uneven distribution of boats and engines, with districts worst-hit by floods having fewer resources compared to landlocked ones.
On Thursday, women workers from NDA constituent parties spearheaded a five-hour bandh across Bihar to protest derogatory remarks made about PM Modi's late mother during the Congress' "Voter Adhikar Yatra." Protests were held in districts like Nawada, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, and Darbhanga, with BJP leaders vocally condemning the incident and calling for an apology from the opposition leaders. PM Modi himself expressed being "deeply pained" by the incident and urged the people of Bihar to hold the opposition accountable.
In a tweet, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram praised the Centre's move to rationalise GST and cut rates but criticized the timing, calling it "8 years too late." He questioned the government's motives behind the sudden reforms, speculating about factors such as sluggish growth and upcoming elections. The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) also welcomed the changes as a victory for common people, with the party crediting sustained public and political pressure for the move. The government presented these reforms as a Diwali gift to the nation, aiming to ease household, farmer, and business costs and strengthen the economy.
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have announced significant rate cuts across multiple sectors, in what is being described as a Diwali gift for the nation. The revised GST slabs will ease the burden on the common people, with essential items of daily use like hair oil, toothpaste, dairy products, and baby products seeing a reduction in rates from 12% to 5%. The agriculture sector will also benefit greatly from this reform, with significant cuts in GST rates for items like tractors and bi-pesticides.
In a recent statement, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro sparked controversy by claiming that Brahmins in India are profiteering from Russia's oil trade. This statement has been met with backlash on social media, with many calling it casteist and anti-Hindu. The comment has also raised concerns about the strained diplomatic relations between the US and India over tariffs. The issue has snowballed online, with many using the hashtag #BrahminRussians to criticize Navarro's statement and satire memes surfacing on social media platforms.
In his first public appearance in a week, US President Donald Trump addressed rampant online speculation about his health by dismissing it as "fake news". He used this platform to announce the relocation of the US Space Command headquarters, effectively shifting the focus from his health to a major policy decision. Trump also took a swipe at his predecessor, Joe Biden, by comparing their respective public engagement and health statuses. Despite staying out of the public eye for a few days, Trump remained active on his social media platform, further disproving the death rumours.
Due to incessant rainfall, several parts of Punjab and Haryana have been put on a ‘red’ alert by the India Meteorological Department. The rising water level in the Beas river has also caused concern for the Kapurthala district administration, who have advised residents to move to safer locations. In other news, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil continues his protest at Azad Maidan despite Mumbai Police asking protesters to vacate the area. Similarly, despite being booked in a rape case, Punjab AAP MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra evaded arrest by fleeing in a white SUV.
The Delhi High Court has denied bail for activist Umar Khalid, student leaders Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, and four others accused in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. The court, led by Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, dismissed their pleas, stating that the long incarceration of the accused should not be a ground for their release pending trial. The Solicitor General argued that the accused were involved in a well-orchestrated criminal conspiracy to divide the nation on religious lines and cause national embarrassment at a global level.
U.S President, Donald Trump, made his first public appearance since rumors about his health began to swirl. At a highly anticipated press conference, Trump announced plans for a new U.S Space Command Headquarters to be built in Huntsville, Alabama, nicknamed 'Rocket City'. Amidst addressing the billion dollar project, Trump used the media Q&A session to dismiss 'fake news' about his supposed death and assert America's dominance in space against China and Russia. This decision is estimated to create over 30,000 jobs in Alabama and is expected to further strengthen American security in the 'high frontier'.
In a major announcement, President Trump has decided to shift the headquarters of the US Space Command from Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama. The move is expected to boost the economy with the creation of 30,000 new jobs and solidify America's position as a leader in space. The decision marks the end of a long-standing rivalry between Alabama and Colorado for the headquarters and is seen as a win for national security and technological innovation.